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Round 5 Match Report – East Perth v Peel ThunderTuesday, May 1, 2018 - 10:28 AM - by Chris Pike
EAST Perth's impressive resurgence this WAFL season continued on Sunday with the Royals making it three consecutive victories beating Peel Thunder by 66 points at Leederville Oval.
The season couldn’t have started worse in Round 1 on Good Friday for East Perth with a 118-point defeat at the hands of Leederville Oval co-tenants Subiaco.
However, considering what the Lions have also done since to South Fremantle, Swan Districts and Claremont, that defeat doesn’t look too bad from the Royals and their response has been impressive.
It was a strong showing once more on Sunday from East Perth against Peel as the two AFL aligned clubs did battle to set the stage later in the day for the first ever Western Derby between West Coast and Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Peel was still right in the contest trailing by just 16 points having kicked five consecutive goals to claw back from 46 points down late in the third quarter.
But East Perth steadied from there to end up kicking nine of the last 10 goals of the contest to end up winning 21.8 (134) to 10.8 (68).
The win improves East Perth to a 3-1 record in fourth position for the season while Peel, the reigning premiers of the past two seasons, slip to a 1-3 record in sixth spot.
There were star performers for East Perth all over the field and none better than Will Schofield at centre half-back who finished with 27 possessions, six marks and five entries inside-50.
Fraser McInnes continued his strong form in the ruck with 21 disposals, four marks, 14 hit outs and a goal while the Royals midfielders got on top too led by Julian Ameduri who not only put the clamps on Ben Howlett, but also had 22 possessions and 11 tackles.
Mark Hutchings put up his hand for a West Coast AFL recall amassing 33 possessions to go with 14 marks and six tackles while captain Patrick McGinnity kicked four goals along with 27 touches, eight marks and four tackles.
Brayden Ainsworth also finished with 26 possessions, Will Maginness 21, Kurt Mutimer 18, Francis Watson 18, Oscar Allen 18 and Josh Rotham 17 to go with 12 marks.
Matthew Allen was impressive in attack for the Royals booting five goals from 19 possessions and eight marks. Shayne Hille, Sharrod Wellingham, Jarrod Brander and Tarir Bayok all kicked two goals apiece.
Tom Sheridan fought hard in the middle for Peel finishing with 29 possessions and six marks with Danyle Pearce picking up another 26 disposals.
Traye Bennell also collected 21 possessions to go with seven marks and six tackles with Tom North ending up with 21 disposals, Ben Hancock 19, Gerald Ugle 18 and Michael Apeness 16 to go with five marks and 37 hit outs.
Leroy Jetta, Kaine Ah Chee, Ryan Nyhuis and Luke Strnadica all kicked two goals each for Peel. Strnadica, in particular, showed encouraging signs taking some strong contested marks in his 15 disposals and eight marks to go with his couple of goals.
Warm conditions greeted the teams for the early start at Leederville Oval and it took 10 minutes for the opening goal of the contest, which came courtesy of Ryan Nyhuis for Peel.
East Perth answered soon after courtesy of Matthew Allen before Tarir Bayok added a second for the Royals, and then Shayne Hille a third from close range.
A clever move and classy snap from Nyhuis steadied things for the Thunder but the Royals were still five points up by quarter-time.
A big mark flying in from the side of the pack to Fraser McInnes and then a good finish put East Perth 11 points back in front to start the second quarter.
Peel did get the next of the contest through Leroy Jetta, but it was all the Royals there for the rest of the half with Allen adding his second and third goals, Patrick McGinnity his second and Hille his second after the siren to make the margin 35 points.
That became 41 points with a goal in the opening minute of the third quarter to McGinnity. Soon after it was 46 points with Sharrod Wellingham finding space inside-50 and kicking truly.
The game appeared over at that point but Peel showed some spark with the next five goals courtesy of Michael Apeness, Jetta, Kaine Ah Chee, Luke Strnadica and Brayden Lawler.
It was game on again at that stage with the Thunder back within 16 points. But by three quarter-time East Perth had restored its control after goals to Wellingham, Bayok and McGinnity to be 36 points up at the last change.
Peel did kick the first goal of the last term after a strong contested mark to big man Strnadica. But that was their last goal of the contest with East Perth finishing the game with goals to Will Maginness, Nathan Blee, Allen (two) and Jarrod Brander (two) to win by 66 points.
The reserves contest started the day at Leederville Oval on Sunday morning with East Perth defeating Peel Thunder 13.11 (89) to 10.5 (65).
Braydn Furmark kicked five goals for East Perth and Nathan Eaton two.
Will Young compiled 28 possessions for the Royals, Ben Miller 27, Mitch Dobson 27, Nelson Waite 26, Jaxon Cahill 23, Stan Wright 20, Harley Stack 20, Ryan Burrows 20 and Callan England 20.
Nick Merritt booted three goals from six kicks for Peel with Brad McGowan and Brett Milward also kicking two goals apiece.
Keegan Power finished with 22 possessions for the Thunder, Michael Tassone 19, Michael Humble 19 and Lloyd Meek 15 to go with six tackles and 19 hit outs having been dropped from the league side.
East Perth will look to make it four straight wins up against East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday with the Sharks having lost their past two games against South Fremantle and Swan Districts by a combined 184 points.
Peel Thunder now sits at 1-4 to start the season heading into a home clash at Bendigo Bank Stadium against Claremont on Saturday.
EAST PERTH 4.1 10.4 15.7 21.8 (134)
PEEL THUNDER 3.2 4.5 9.7 10.8 (68)
EAST PERTH – Goals: M Allen 5; McGinnity 4; Hille, Wellingham, Brander, Bayok 2; Maginness, Blee, McInnes, Ah Chee.
Best: McGinnity, Schofield, Hutchings, Ameduri, M Allen, McInnes, Ainsworth.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Jetta, Ah Chee, Nyhuis, Strnadica 2; Lawler, Apeness.
Best: Sheridan, Pearce, Hancock, Apeness, Strnadica, Nyhuis, Bennell.
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