WAFL First Semi-Final ResultsSunday, September 11, 2016 - 11:38 PM - by Chris Pike

PEEL Thunder is just one win away from its first ever WAFL Grand Final after beating West Perth by 60 points in Sunday's first semi-final at HBF Arena.

Having made history last Sunday by winning the club's first ever final downing East Perth by 49 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium, Peel backed it up at HBF Arena on Sunday defeating last year's grand finalists West Perth 15.15 (105) to 7.3 (45).

While Peel had 17 Fremantle-listed players for a second straight week, it was their ability to perform as a team combined with the five WAFL-listed players that helped them dominate the contest.

Peel will now take on South Fremantle in next Sunday's preliminary final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with the winner to advance to the Grand Final to take on Subiaco at Domain Stadium.

Meanwhile, West Perth's 2016 season is over with two finals defeats after qualifying from third position.

The win was Peel's first at Joondalup since 2006 and just the Thunder's third in 23 attempts at the ground. West Perth had won its previous 11 home games against Peel and its last 12 overall against the Thunder.

It took 12 minutes for the game's first goal and that came to Peel through one of five non Fremantle-listed players Blair Bell. West Perth answered through Rohan Kerr and the teams continued to trade goals with Peel leading by just three points early in the second term.

The Thunder went on to kick the last two goals of the first half to lead by 14 points at the long break and then the only four goals of the third quarter. By the time Michael Apeness goaled 30 seconds into the last quarter, Peel was leading by 51 points.

West Perth's almost two-quarter goal drought finally ended four minutes into the final term when Andrew Strijk kicked truly but Peel still managed six goals to four in the last term to secure the 60-point victory and a place in the preliminary final.

Peel captain Gerald Ugle delivered one of his best performances of the season with four goals from 19 possessions and seven marks while Bell also kicked three goals from 18 touches and six marks, and Brayden Lawler two majors.

The Thunder ruckmen also dominated with Zac Clarke ending up with 20 possessions, six marks and 37 hit outs, and Jonathon Griffin 10 touches, 21 hit outs and two goals as West Perth decided to go into the contest without a recognised ruckman.

Peel's midfield also dominated with Connor Blakely racking up 35 possessions while Matt de Boer finished with 31 disposals (nine tackles), Rory O'Brien 29, Ed Langdon 27 (11 marks), Darcy Tucker 26, Josh Deluca 26, Nick Suban 23, Tendai Mzungu 22 and Harley Balic 21.

The Thunder defence also held firm led by Alex Silvagni, Sam Collins, Josh Bootsma and Ethan Hughes.

Andrew Strijk kicked three last quarter goals for West Perth to finish with 15 possessions and 10 marks for the afternoon.

Aaron Black gathered 28 possessions for the Falcons to go with seven marks, six tackles and a goal while Steven Browne also had 28 disposals and 11 marks, and Rohan Kerr 26 touches, 14 marks and a goal.

Corey Chalmers finished with 24 possessions and eight marks as well for West Perth with captain Jay van Berlo contributed 20 disposals, six marks, six tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Tyler Keitel spent a lot of the game in the ruck and had 16 touches, seven tackles and 10 hit outs while Kody Manning contributed 18 possessions and Joe Morrow 18 to go with 12 marks.

Kerr and Trent Manzone both played their last games with West Perth after four years with the Falcons while it appears likely that premiership pair Chris Keunen and Luke Tedesco have also played their last games having been overlooked at selection.

The first semi-final action began at Medibank Stadium with East Perth beating South Fremantle 16.8 (104) to 11.5 (71). That sees the Royals advance to next Sunday's preliminary final against Perth while the season is over for the Bulldogs.

East Perth had to beat East Fremantle in the final round just to qualify for the finals and then the Royals beat Swan Districts last week in the elimination final and backed it up against the Bulldogs on Sunday.

The Royals started strongly and kicked six goals to one in the second quarter to lead by 36 points at the main break. The Bulldogs fought back strongly and got to within a goal early in the last term but East Perth responded to kick away and win by 33 points.

Sam Powell-Pepper, Nelson Waite, Harley Stack and Matthew Young all kicked two goals each for East Perth.

Young also finished with 24 possessions for the Royals while Mitch Dobson gathered 22 disposals, Stan Wright 21, Alex Di Placido 19, Powell-Pepper 17 and Harley Stack 17.

Shai Bolton was again terrific for South Fremantle with four goals from 19 possessions. Andre Coutinho and Zane Sumich also booted two goals each for the Bulldogs.

Dylan Brown finished with 22 possessions for South Fremantle while Caleb Datson collected 19 disposals.

Then in the reserves first semi-final also at Medibank Stadium, East Fremantle kept its season alive beating South Fremantle 14.10 (94) to 6.6 (42).

South Fremantle has won two of the last three reserves premierships but started to struggle for depth as 2016 rolled on and some injuries mounted to the senior playing list and unlike Claremont last week and now East Fremantle, they had players required at league level too.

East Fremantle finished the season in fourth place before holding on to beat Subiaco last week and now defeat South Fremantle by 52 points to advance to next Sunday's preliminary final against Claremont.

Andrew Stokes and Jacob Green both kicked three goals apiece for East Fremantle with Lewis Krakouer chipping in with two to go with 21 disposals and five tackles.

Jake Solomon did well in the ruck for the Sharks with 17 touches, five marks and 22 hit outs while Miles Franklin had 27 possessions, Tom Hooker 25, Mitch Boyle 25, Jake Schleicher 24, Matthew Bannister 24, Tyler Chalwell 23, Aaron Holmes 21 and Jesse Adamini 20.

Jordan Matera and Jesse Mirco both kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle from limited opportunities.

James Laurino racked up 35 possessions for the Bulldogs, Tim Stewart 26, Jake Florenca 26, Matthew Ah Siu 23, Bailey Matera 22, Adam Guglielmana 22, Abel Brown 18 and Chris Luff 18.

Young ruckman Tim English was again impressive for South Fremantle with 20 disposals and 18 hit outs.

WAFL FIRST SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
LEAGUE
West Perth 7.3 (45) lost to Peel Thunder 15.15 (105)

RESERVES
South Fremantle 6.6 (42) lost to East Fremantle 14.10 (94)

REDiMED COLTS
South Fremantle 11.5 (71) lost to East Perth 16.8 (104)