Match Report – Thunder storm home to beat EaglesSunday, August 22, 2021 - 12:26 PM - by Charlie McCormack

PEEL Thunder stormed home after trailing by 43 points to kick the next eight goals to find its best form of the latter part of the season for a stunning two-point comeback win over West Coast Eagles.

The Thunder and Eagles might have been out of finals contention coming into Saturday's clash at Mandurah's David Grays Arena, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of intrigue coming into it coinciding with the last round of the AFL home and away season.

With both clubs anchored on four wins as well and desperate to try and avoid a wooden spoon finish in 2021, it was always going to be fascinating to see how it played out and it was the Eagles who looked on track to get their fifth win of the season.

West Coast dominated with nine goals to two in the opening half to head into the half-time break with a 38-point advantage, but the game then took a dramatic turn in the second half the way of the Thunder.

Despite having lost nine of their past 10 games this season, the Thunder came out and kicked eight unanswered goals in the second to turn that deficit into a lead, and the eventual 10.16 (76) to 11.8 (74) victory.

Blair Bell put the Thunder into the lead at the 22-minute mark of the final term after a strong mark and finish before young star Tyrone Thorne snapped a goal to extend the margin out to eight points.

Lennon Marlin would respond immediately with a goal for the Eagles but they ran out of time as the Thunder were able to clinch a famous comeback victory. 

Tough midfielder Michael Randall was outstanding for Peel, kicking two goals to go with 37 disposals, 11 marks and five inside 50s to be the most consistent player on the ground across the four quarters.

Thorne (25 disposals, two goals) was also superb for the home side, lifting in the final term to help his side over the line while Bell provided a strong target up forward to finish with seven marks and a crucial final term goal.

Stefan Giro also gathered 26 possessions for the Thunder, Ben Hancock 24, Jackson Merrett 22, Taylin Duman 22 and Ethan Hughes 20.

For the visitors, Bailey Williams was an enormous presence in the ruck, finishing with a massive 58 hit outs as well as seven marks and two goals to be the dominant player on the ground in the first half. 

Fellow AFL-listed duo Xavier O’Neill (32 disposals) and Brayden Ainsworth (31 disposals) benefitted from the silver service from Williams while Zane Sumich was solid in defence with 24 touches and eight marks. 

Ben Johnson also collected 29 possessions, Lennon Marlin 21, Joey Deegan 20 and Mitch Curnow 20 while Hamish Brayshaw finished with 19 disposals and 11 tackles.

West Coast made a fast start in Mandurah, making the most of Bailey Williams’ dominance in the ruck and some clever ball use to kick five goals to one in the first quarter. 

The sides traded goals to begin the second stanza, before the Eagles kicked three quick majors, including two to Williams, as the margin extended out to 38 points at half-time.

Cooper Nitschke waltzed into an open goal to blow the margin out to 43 points early in the third term as the Eagles looked in complete control of the contest. 

But the Thunder began to work their way back into the contest, as they managed to neutralise the Eagles stoppage dominance and would kick consecutive goals through Ethan Hughes and Ben Hancock. 

And when Michaell Randall slotted a set shot from a tight angle, the momentum was all with the Thunder as they went to the final term just 20 points down.  

Tyrone Thorne would keep the comeback rolling for the Thunder, kicking his first goal for the day before winning a centre clearance and setting up a Jack Sears major with a bullet pass.

The ball remained locked in the Peel front half, but the Thunder would squander a host of chances to hit the front and it seemed as though they could be left to rue another close loss.

But the weight of final quarter dominance finally told on the West Coast defence, as goals to Bell and Thorne would put the Thunder ahead and despite some tense final moments, they would run out winners.

TALE OF TWO HALVES 
With the Eagles leading by over six goals at long break and seemingly in cruise control you could be forgiven for thinking they would go on to seal a comfortable victory. But what transpired in the second half at David Grays Arena was one of the biggest momentum swings seen in the competition this season, as Peel kicked eight consecutive goals in the second half. After dominating the stoppages off the back of Bailey Williams in the first half, the Thunder were able to neutralise his hit outs, as their inside midfielders Michael Randall and Ben Hancock got to work and their forward line began to look more dangerous with better supply.

SORE CONCA SHOWS HIS WORTH 
It was announced during the week that after 150 AFL games, Fremantle-listed defender Reece Conca would not be receiving a contract extension from the Dockers for next season. Conca ran out for Peel against the Eagles, and despite battling a groin concern throughout the game, he played through and finished with 15 disposals in a solid performance in defence. Should the 29-year-old not receive another opportunity at the top level, his leadership qualities and versatility would prove an asset for any WAFL club in 2022, whether that be the Thunder, or the club he was drafted from in Perth. 

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 20

PEEL THUNDER                1.5    2.9    6.12    10.16 (76)
WEST COAST EAGLES            5.2    9.5    10.7    11.8 (74)

PEEL THUNDER: Goals – Thorne, Randall 2; Bell, Hancock, Lake, Sears, Hughes, Duman.
Best – Randall, Thorne, Hancock, Merrett, Giro, Hughes, Giro.
WEST COAST EAGLES: Goals – Williams, Nitschke 2; Winder, O'Neill, Ainsworth, Garlett, Marlin, Flint, Deegan.
Best – Williams, O'Neill, Marlin, Sumich, Brayshaw, Ainsworth, Johnson.