WAFL 2024: Peel Thunder assert dominance with 35-point win over in form Claremont

Peel Thunder have retained their position on top of the ladder with a dominant 35-point win over Claremont at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday. Fighting to keep their finals hopes alive the Tigers started the game in fierce fashion but fell away in the second half to to be over-run 17.10 (112) to 11.11 (77). It was a costly loss for Claremont, who would’ve been inside the top five had they defeated the powerhouse Thunder outfit. Claremont got off to a confident start as a quick snap from Jack Musika got the Tigers on the scoreboard within the first 90 seconds. Peel Thunder were under all sorts of pressure and struggled to find clean connections before Will Brodie provided some breathing room getting boot to ball off a stoppage in the goal square. The Tigers raced away with the lead piling on three unanswered goals before a Sebit Kuek set shot stemmed the flow to bring the margin back to 14 points at the end of the first term. It was a fiery start to the second quarter as tempers boiled over and umpires fought to control the game. A goal to Tiger’s forward Zac Mainwaring was followed by an off-the-ball indiscretion which resulted in a free kick to Talon Delacy who kicked a second goal without the ball going back to the centre square. The ruck battle between Max Knobel (31 hitouts, 15 disposals and four clearances) and Oliver Eastland (23 hitouts, 13 disposals and seven tackles) was enthralling as both big men fought to provide first supply to their midfielders. Peel clawed their way back into the game and began to dominate the territory battle locking the ball inside their forward half as momentum started to swing the way of the home side. Claremont’s confidence was ripped away as Peel put their foot on the accelerator, Scott Tuia (two goals), Matthew Taberner, Nathan Wilson and Nathan O’Driscoll all stepped up to share five unanswered goals and snatch a three-point lead at the major break. Taberner opened the second half with two back-to-back goals before Patrick Voss kicked his first major for the game. The Tigers struggled to find the flow they started the game with through the middle as the quality of Peel’s Dockers Will Brodie (38 disposals, eight clearances and a goal) and Karl Worner (27 disposals, 10 intercept possessions) shone through. Maunel’s second goal gave Claremont a desperately needed boost to reduce the margin back to 20-points as the Tigers struggled to keep Peel at bay. Putting their slow start to bed Peel were relentless and found another level in the final quarter as Kuek added to his tally with a second goal and Tuia kicked two more majors. Tiger’s Musika and Jye Bolton (28 disposals and four clearances) refused to give up coming through with a late goal each but a monster goal on the run from 70m out from Wilson put the icing on Peel’s afternoon as they ran out 35-point winners. SCOREBOARD PEEL THUNDER 2.3, 7.4, 11.9, 17.10 (112) CLAREMONT 4.5, 6.7, 7.8, 11.11 (77) Goals – PEEL THUNDER: 4 S Tuia 3 M Taberner 2 O Jones 2 S Kuek 2 N Wilson W Brodie L Colton N O’Driscoll P Voss CLAREMONT: 3 A Manuel 2 T Delacey 2 J Musika J Bolton A Davis C England Z Mainwaring Best – PEEL THUNDER: S Tuia M Knobel K Worner W Brodie M Taberner N O’Driscoll CLAREMONT: J Bolton A Manuel C England O Eastland S Alvarez Umpires: J Gibb L Jargo B Laycock M Pongracic Crowd: 1000 at Lane Group Stadium