Sunday Round 18 McDonald's WAFL ResultsSunday, July 26, 2015 - 7:22 PM - by Chris Pike

ONE of the WAFL games of the season took place on Sunday with Peel Thunder kicking the last five goals inspired by captain Brendon Jones to beat Swan Districts by 11 points to all but lock away an historic finals appearance.

Peel looked in control of the contest at Bendigo Bank Stadium leading by as much as 39 points in the second quarter and still by 26 at half-time, but Swans came out inspired in the second half and looked headed for victory leading by 19 points midway through the final term.

However, the Thunder weren’t going away and kicked the final five goals, with skipper Jones booting the one to put them in front, as they went on to win 17.9 (111) to 15.10 (100).

Peel already is having the best season in the club's history with 10 wins now for the first time and the Thunder sit comfortably two games clear inside the top five with four games remaining meaning they are all but locked away to make a historic first finals appearance.

Swan Districts remains in fifth position despite the loss but is only percentage ahead of South Fremantle and a game clear of Claremont who are breathing down their necks.

Jones was simply outstanding for Peel putting in a best on ground performance made up of a career-best 39 possessions, eight marks and the match-winning goal in the final quarter.

Gerald Ugle also had a career-best day for Peel kicking five goals while Leroy Jetta was terrific with 23 possessions and three goals, including two of the last three goals of the game.

Brady Grey had a big game for Peel as well with 33 possessions, six tackles, six inside 50s and a goal while a host of his Fremantle teammates had good games including Ed Langdon (24 disposals), Connor Blakely (24), Paul Duffield (23), Lachie Weller (21) and Jacob Ballard (21).

Zac Clarke worked hard spending most of the game in the ruck for Peel and had 13 disposals, seven marks, 36 hit outs and two goals while Zac Dawson had a solid game in defence in his second game back injury.

Tendai Mzungu also did well for Peel with 23 possessions and a goal as he had a tremendous battle with Nathan Broad who had 22 disposals and a goal for Swan Districts.

Matthew Jukes proved Swans' most effective forward kicking four goals to have now booted 21 goals in his eight games this season. Ricky Cary also had a big impact in the second half for Swans kicking three goals with Matt Rogers adding two to go with his 19 disposals.

Ryan Davis was instrumental in Swans' second half performance and he had 21 possessions and two goals for the game with Aaron Elari gathering 27 disposals in his 100th WAFL appearance.

Adam Faulkner picked up 23 touches for Swan Districts, Warrick Wilson 21, Jacob Burnham 18, Matt Riggio 18 and Captain Tallan Ames 18 to go with nine marks.

The early 11.40am start didn’t lessen the intensity both teams played with from the opening bounce but Peel had the advantage of the breeze in the first quarter and took advantage getting the first goal from Irishman Sean Hurley when a blistering pass from Grey found him straight in front.

While Swans got their only goal for the first quarter from a 50m penalty to Tim Geappen, Peel was playing exciting football with quick ball movement that suited Gerald Ugle finding plenty of space.

He ended up kicking three first quarter goals to lead by 21 points at quarter-time and the breeze then lessened in favour of the end Swans was kicking to, and the Thunder were able to continue on with the momentum.

Despite Swans getting an early goal through Rudy Riddoch following a horror kick in defence from Mzungu, the Thunder kicked four goals in the next nine minutes through Mzungu, Jetta, Grey and Clarke to open up a commanding 39-point advantage.

Two goals before half-time to Swans from Jukes and then another from Joel Houghton in between Ugle's fourth for Peel had the visitors back within 26 points at the main break.

It was an inspired Swans outfit that came out after half-time with the move of Cary deep into the forward-line and Davis to across half-forward paying dividends for coach Greg Harding.

The margin all of a sudden was just two points when Davis kicked truly from a tight angle with Swans having kicked four goals in the first eight minutes of the third term.

Peel got a steadying goal through Blakely, but it didn’t stop Swans' momentum with Jukes taking a big mark in the goal square to kick his third goal, and Davis then nailing his second from well outside 50 to put the black-and-whites in front for the first time in the match.

Peel regained an eight-point lead with steadying goals from Ugle and Clarke, but again Cary kicked truly just before three quarter-time to leave scores all tied heading into the final term.

It was then a remarkable fourth quarter between two teams trying to show their finals worth. It was Swans who made the first break with the first three goals with Jukes kicking his fourth, Rogers his second and Cary his third all in the first 12 minutes with the visitors in control by 19 points.

The game appeared over but nobody told that to the Thunder and they went on to finish full of running kicking the last five goals of the game with Duffield kicking one quickly out of a pack and Langdon delivering wonderful running effort.

Jetta then marked near goal and kicked one from a tight angle before skipper Jones nailed the go-ahead goal at the 23-minute mark and Jetta added his third that proved to be the sealer.

Swan Districts' colts started the day at Bendigo Bank Stadium with a 13.7 (85) to 8.15 (63) victory over Peel Thunder with Tim Yorkshire and Dylan Smith kicking three goals apiece for Swans, and Josh Cipro two goals.

Ben Gillard finished with 21 possessions for the black-and-whites, Jarrod Shorter 20, Yorkshire 17 and Cipro 17.

Karl Collard, Noah Hura and Brett Milward all kicked two goals apiece for the Peel with Haydn Matthews racking up 28 possessions, Josh Schoenfeld 27, Keegan Power 22, Hura 20 and Brandon Penny 16.

Swan Districts reserves closed the day at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Sunday with an 18.13 (121) to 8.5 (53) victory over Peel Thunder.

Usual ruckman Jake Nuich continued his impressive recent form for Swan Districts as a key target in attack kicking five goals to go with 17 possessions and 10 marks.

Steven Wityk also kicked four goals for the black-and-whites, Dylan Nelson three, Chad Daniels two, Sean Fletcher two and Jackson Slater two.

Albert Dean compiled 36 possessions for Swans, Jason Daniels 33, Ben Whitsed 28, Jacob Coniglio 26, Brandon Erceg 21 and Levi Ridley 20.

Brennan Gillam had a day out for Peel kicking five of the Thunder's eight goals while Corey Morris gathered 23 possessions, Harrison Tyler 21 and Jamahl Mulholland 21.

ROUND 18 McDONALD'S WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
West Perth 13.12 (90) defeated Claremont 12.8 (80)
South Fremantle 11.5 (71) lost to East Perth 28.9 (177)
Subiaco 25.17 (167) defeated Perth 5.4 (34)
Peel Thunder 17.9 (111) defeated Swan Districts 15.10 (100)

RESERVES
West Perth 17.13 (115) defeated Claremont 10.11 (71)
South Fremantle 13.12 (90) defeated East Perth 10.7 (67)
Subiaco 19.13 (127) defeated Perth 4.4 (28)
Peel Thunder 8.5 (53) lost to Swan Districts 18.13 (121)

REDiMED COLTS
West Perth 9.2 (56) defeated Claremont 7.8 (50)
South Fremantle 8.10 (58) lost to East Perth 10.12 (72)
Subiaco 7.5 (47) lost to Perth 9.10 (64)
Peel Thunder 8.15 (63) lost to Swan Districts 13.7 (85)