Match Report – Royals deliver Thunder more heartbreakSaturday, June 26, 2021 - 10:34 PM - by Charlie McCormack

EAST Perth has backed up its win before the bye against reigning premiers South Fremantle by storming home to overrun Peel Thunder on Saturday to make it consecutive wins for the first time in 2021.

East Perth finished all over the top of a Peel team who appeared to have the game in hand most of the day with a stirring comeback win in a heart-stopping clash at David Grays Arena in Mandurah.

The Royals trailed by 33 points at half-time after being comprehensively outplayed but turned the tables on their opponents after the long break to run out winners 13.10 (88) to 12.9 (81) and keep their faint finals hopes alive. 

Eddie Simpson was the hero for the visitors, taking a pack mark in the goal square at the 30-minute mark of the final quarter and converting from point blank range to give his side the lead. 

Returning skipper Jackson Ramsay was outstanding for East Perth, racking up 32 disposals and nine inside 50s in a well-rounded performance while fellow midfielders Angus Scott (27 disposals) and Stan Wright (22 disposals) were also influential. 

Jayden Magro was also sensational for the Royals, with the small forward kicking four second-half goals to be a match-winner. 

For Peel, Fremantle-listed duo Connor Blakely and Stefan Giro were terrific early, dominating around the clearances but faded after half-time, while Lloyd Meek rucked well in an enthralling duel with East Perth big man Scott Jones. 

Veteran Will Schofield was resolute in defence, holding Simpson quiet before leaving the field with a head knock early in the last quarter after going back with the flight in a wonderful piece of courage. 

Peel started strongly, enjoying a dominance in field position and capitalising on the scoreboard, kicking the first two goals through Bailey Banfield and Blakely to open up a 14-point buffer at the first break. 

The Thunder would continue their ascendency in the second stanza, as the Royals shot themselves in the foot with errant kicking out of defence, gifting Peel some easy goals as they extended their lead to beyond five goals at half-time and looked in full control of the game. 

But the Royals would hit back hard in the third term, improving their ball movement with overlap run through the corridor to kick the first three goals of the quarter to storm back into the contest. 

Ramsay was sensational in the term, providing the impetus for the comeback, winning 10 disposals for the quarter and dominating in the midfield. 

When Nick Merritt goaled just before three quarter-time, the margin was slashed to just nine points and the visitors looked to have all the momentum going into the final quarter. 

Brayden Lawler kicked a steadying goal to open the final quarter but the Royals would answer emphatically, slamming on three majors in five minutes to take the lead.

Peel would respond and looked like they would hang on to victory when Ben Hancock kicked truly at the 26-minute mark before Simpson stepped up to kick the winner and break Thunder hearts once again. 

ROYAL GUNS MAKE WELCOME RETURN
East Perth travelled to Mandurah boosted by the inclusions of captain Jackson Ramsay and tough on-baller Nick Robertson, who both returned after injury layoffs. The pair were influential, with Robertson providing plenty of grunt playing in the midfield and up forward while Ramsay showed his class, putting in arguably a best on ground display with 32 disposals. The duo have been sorely missed by the Royals during the first half of the season and it will be hoped that both can help East Perth make an unlikely charge towards the finals in the run home.     

HEARTBREAK AGAIN FOR THUNDER 
For the third consecutive game, Peel have suffered defeat by less than eight points. The string of losses have dealt a bitter blow to the Thunder’s finals chances, who now find themselves three games outside the top five. After being overran by Claremont a fortnight ago, the match with the Royals followed a similar script, with Peel struggling to contain the swell of opposition momentum in the final term. At their best, the Thunder have shown themselves to be a scintillating team to watch, but they would rue the missed opportunities over the past month to make their mark on the competition.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 12

PEEL THUNDER            3.3    9.6    9.8    12.9 (81)
EAST PERTH            1.1    4.3    8.5    13.10 (88)

PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Banfield, Blakely, Giro 2; Lawler, Hancock, Western, Lake, Sears, Valente.
Best – Blakely, Meek, O'Driscoll, Schofield, Pina, Banfield, Watson, Giro.
EAST PERTH: Goals – Magro 4; Simpson 2; Hille, Ameduri, Edwards-Baldwin, Ajang, Robertson, Merritt, Jones.
Best – Ramsay, Scott, Magro, Schumacher, Ameduri, Wright, Simpson.