WAFL 2024: Peel Thunder shore up top spot with 74-point win over West Coast

Peel Thunder shored up their spot at the top of the WAFL ladder by continuing their recent run of dominance over West Coast, beating the Eagles by 74 points at Lane Group Stadium. Having not come within twelve goals of the Thunder in their previous four meetings, the last-placed Eagles were competitive at times in the first half but surrendered a 10-goal to two second-half run to the ladder leaders, who ran out 18.8 (116) to 6.6 (42) winners. West Coast’s senior contingent outnumbered Peel’s on the day, with the visitors putting 13 AFL-listed players on the park opposed to the hosts’ twelve. But the quality of Peel’s Dockers shone through against their largely-inexperienced opponents, with Pat Voss continuing his push for a senior berth with six goals as Will Brodie (34 disposals) and Neil Erasmus (30 disposals, six tackles) dominated in the midfield. Andrew Gaff (26 disposals) again gave his all and Ryan Maric (24 disposals) had some nice moments on the wing but the Eagles did not have many winners on the day. The contest was influenced by a howling breeze blowing towards the southern end of the ground, with 16 of the game’s 21 majors to three-quarter-time kicked at the scoring end. Matt Taberner and Tom Emmett slotted two goals apiece as the Thunder kicked the first five of the afternoon but the early highlight was Nathan O’Driscoll marking his return from a knee problem by hitting the scoreboard, with the whole Thunder team coming to celebrate with the wingman after his set shot sailed through the major opening. A first goal at league level from Luke Yeo, the cousin of West Coast star Elliot, gave the Eagles a response at the end of the opening term and they had their moments kicking with the wind in the second, coming up with three of the first four goals of the quarter to close the gap. At the other end, Voss had one of the goals of the season taken away from him, being pinged for running too far in the last gasp of his four-bounce solo effort down the wing which ended with him dribbling the ball home, but he kicked truly as the half-time siren sounded to ensure his side took a 23-point lead into the main break. Voss opened the second half with two more goals in the span of a minute, following up on a thumping finish from Nathan Wilson, as the Thunder all but ensured the four points by stacking on six goals in the third term. Trailing by 49 points at the final break, West Coast were unable to cut into their deficit despite having their turn at the scoring end, with a trademark O’Driscoll drop punt goal from deep in the pocket giving the Thunder a perfect end to their good day. SCOREBOARD PEEL THUNDER 6.3, 8.4, 14.6, 18.8 (116) WEST COAST 1.1, 4.5, 6.5, 6.6 (42) Goals - PEEL THUNDER: P Voss 6 M Taberner 4 N O’Driscoll 3 T Emmett 2 C Tregenza N Wilson C Simpson. WEST COAST: A Reid 2 S Lucassen 2 L Yeo E Sambo. Best - PEEL THUNDER: P Voss W Brodie N Erasmus H Davies T Emmett M Taberner. WEST COAST: H Sparks A Gaff R Maric J Culley. Injuries - PEEL THUNDER: B Bell (knee). WEST COAST: K Barker replaced in selected side by R Maric (AFL). Umpires: C Snadden B Evans D Cox. Crowd: About 2000 at Lane Group Stadium.