Happy 500th for Peel Thunder with hard-fought win over South Fremantle in Mandurah

Peel Thunder celebrated their 500th match with a fourth win on the trot in a see-sawing and scrappy affair against South Fremantle at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah.

With Swan Districts nipping at their heels after thrashing West Coast, the Thunder needed a victory to hold onto fifth spot and did so, prevailing 10.12 (72) to 8.10 (58).

But it wasn’t without a scare. South snatched back the lead against the breeze with two quick goals early in the last term, the second to Bernie Naylor medallist Mason Shaw (two goals), who capped a successful return to the league side.

But in his comeback from serious kidney surgery, AFL top-10 draft pick Jye Amiss converted a crucial long-range goal after a sling tackle free-kick to finish with two and help set the win in motion.

Fellow Dockers draftee Matt Johnson kicked the sealer at the 29-minute mark after Jimmy Miller’s second made things interesting.

Veteran Connor Blakely (31 disposals) and Neil Erasmus (20) both stood up in the final term with the game on the line, winning some important clearances and driving the ball inside 50.

To make matters worse for South Fremantle, tough nut Jarrad Doney limped off late in the opening half with the assistance of two trainers after a suspected left knee injury, the result of a collision with Crowden, and took no further part in the match.

“He’s got a slight MCL,” Bulldogs coach Todd Curley told Seven.

Thunder draft prospect Jed Adams, an 18-year-old from South Mandurah, did some good things down back in his league debut up against grand final hero Miller who was held goalless for three quarters before kicking two in the last.

Ethan Hughes was also important behind the ball in the third quarter especially around stints on the wing.

Sandover medallist Haiden Schloithe (20 and a goal) went head-to-head with Blakely in an intriguing midfield battle with both players among their team’s best.

South’s Hamish Free did a great job in the ruck against Lloyd Meek, who found plenty of the footy but was down on his usual dominance, while former Eagle Brendon Ah Chee was another big performer in a losing cause.

Forgotten Fremantle midfielder Mitch Crowden had 10 first-quarter disposals in a massive start to the match before finishing with 28.

In his first WAFL appearance since round 19, 2019, Travis Colyer (two goals) dropped a mark in the goal square early before making it for it with a tougher conversion midway through the second term to give the Thunder the lead.

The third quarter was a low-scoring affair, despite the conditions getting better, with Blair Bell kicking the first major nearly 19 minutes in after two Bulldogs behinds before the visitors struck late through Caleb Datson to cut the margin to four points at the final change.

Schloithe gave Peel and their Meek a let off early in the last when he missed a sitter from the edge of the goalsquare after a silly 50m penalty from the Dockers-listed ruckman.

SCOREBOARD

PEEL THUNDER 2.3, 5.4, 6.6, 10.12 (72)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.3, 4.5, 5.8, 8.10 (58)

GOALS - Peel Thunder: R Smith 2 T Colyer 2 J Amiss 2 E Hughes B Bell S Sturt M Johnson. South Fremantle: M Shaw 2 J Miller 2 H Free H Schloithe S Verrier C Datson.

BEST - Peel Thunder: C Blakely M Crowden E Hughes L Henry N Erasmus T Thorne. South Fremantle: B Ah Chee H Free T Blechynden H Schloithe M Shaw S Verrier.

INJURIES - Peel Thunder: Nil. South Fremantle: J Doney (knee).

UMPIRES: C Snadden, T McPhee, R Shelton

CROWD: About 1500 at Lane Group Stadium