Sunday Anzac Round WAFL ResultsSunday, April 26, 2015 - 5:30 PM - by Chris Pike

PEEL Thunder might have narrowly missed moving to the top of the WAFL ladder but Sunday's 27-point win over Claremont at Bendigo Bank Stadium continued their best ever start to a season.

The WAFL's Anzac Round began on Saturday with East Perth recording a thumping 20.18 (138) to 5.5 (35) win over Perth at Lathlain Park and it was another standalone fixture on Sunday which saw Peel win its fourth straight match downing Claremont 16.12 (108) to 11.15 (81) in Mandurah.

The Anzac Round in the WAFL will now conclude with two massive fixtures on Monday that sees West Perth take on Swan Districts at Joondalup's HBF Arena and then South Fremantle play East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval in the first Fremantle derby of 2015.

Following a tight first quarter, Peel got on top of Claremont to end up leading by 46 points midway through the last term and that would have been enough for them to leapfrog Subiaco to the top of the ladder, but the Tigers kicked the last three goals of the match to leave them in second spot.

However, Peel has now won four matches for the first time in the club's history since entering the WAFL in 1997 and the 4-1 start represents the best opening to a season ever as well. And on the other side, Claremont remains winless now in 2015 after five matches.

Peel captain Brendon Jones worked tirelessly once again for 28 possessions while Fremantle small forward Hayden Crozier put his hand up for an AFL recall in a strong showing with his 27 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Jacob Ballard was the leading possession-winner on the ground with 29 disposals as well for Peel with Connor Blakely gathering 24 disposals, Tom Sheridan 23 and Brady Grey (in an intriguing battle on Jack Bradshaw).

Alex Pearce continued his good form in defence for Peel with the second-year Fremantle backman doing well to hold former AFL big man Kepler Bradley goalless and to nine disposals.

Peel's small forwards were lively with Gerald Ugle ending up kicking three goals, Max Duffy three (20 possessions, nine marks) and Leroy Jetta two while resting ruckman Jack Hannath kicked two from just five kicks for the game.

Peel was also down a player from just before quarter-time onwards after defender Alex Silvagni went down with a hamstring injury in his first match of the season having just overcome another hamstring complaint.

Matthew Davies was Claremont's best setting up play off half-back and finishing with 23 possessions while Ryan Neates had it 23 times, Corey Yeo 22, Oliver Tate 21 and Ryan Lim 19.

Darcy Cameron provided a good target in attack for Claremont finishing with three goals in the continued absence of the suspended Beau Maister and with Mark Seaby playing a second game back in the reserves.

Jack Bradshaw also booted two goals for the Tigers from 19 disposals while Ian Richardson worked hard as a high half-forward finishing with 19 disposals, six marks, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Brandon Franz had the big job up against either of Peel's ruckmen in Jonathon Griffin, Hannath or Craig Moller when they were forward and battled manfully.

It took just 30 seconds for stand-in Claremont skipper Richardson to mark and goal from outside 50 but Peel soon responded through Craig Moller.

The Tigers booted the next two goals through Cameron and Bradshaw, but the Thunder then got on a roll with the next three starting with a snap out of the pack to Hannath, and consecutive majors to Ugle.

Peel lost Fremantle defender Silvagni just before quarter-time and his direct opponent Cameron was able to add his second goal of the term to bring Claremont back to within four points at quarter-time.

Peel big man Hannath snapped his second goal in congestion for the game to start the second term as the Thunder threatened to take control of the contest, but the Tigers managed to kick goals each time the game appeared slipping out of their grasp.

Anton Hamp and Mitch Andrews both took marks near the goal square and converted, and Neates made the most of a 50m penalty but Peel still managed the last three goals of the half through Jetta, Ugle and Sheridan to lead by 20 points at the long break.

Peel threatened to blow the game open further during the third quarter and did kick the only three goals of the term through Ballard, Crozier and Josh Deluca, but Claremont kept pressing and could have been a lot closer than 31 points at three quarter-time had it not been for the nine behinds kicked.

The Thunder then booted four goals in the first 15 minutes of the last quarter and were up by 46 points but Claremont finished strongly with goals to Keifer Yu, Cameron and Haydn Busher to bring the final margin back to 27 points.

Peel's reserves recorded its first win of the season holding on to beat Claremont 10.14 (74) to 9.13 (67). The win is the Thunder's first in the reserves since Round 13 last year.

Ben Hancock, Jarrod Bowman and Mitchell Wallace all kicked two goals each for Peel with Cruize Garlett racking up 30 possessions, Hancock 20, Nathan Fahey 19, Mitch Gill 19, Harrison Tyler 18, Bowman 18, Laine Wilkins 17 and Corey Morris 17.

Kaiden Gilbert kicked three goals for Claremont with Alexander Manuel and Shane McAdam booting two apiece.

Mark Seaby had 17 disposals and 43 hit outs as well for the Tigers with Chaz Flint gathering 26 possessions, Tom Willett 22, Francis Watson 22, Harrison McCracken 22, Harrison Court 21, Ben Higgs 21, Cameron Palmer 20, Reece Maxwell 19, Isaac Baum 18 and Manuel 18.

Claremont's colts started the day at Bendigo Bank Stadium with a hard fought 11.7 (73) to 8.13 (61) win over Peel despite not kicking a goal in the final term and the Thunder booting four to close the gap considerably.

Declan Mountford kicked three goals for Claremont with Ben Delaporte adding two while Morgan Davies gathered 21 possessions, Bailey Rogers 20, Brynn O'Connor 18, Jake Waterman 17 and Russell Wynne 17.

Michael Humble kicked two goals and had 24 possessions for Peel with Nicholas Merritt also booting two majors and Josh Schoenfeld also racking up 28 disposals, Mitchel Curnow 24, Haydn Matthews 23, Hayden Davis 21 and Keegan Power 18.

ANZAC ROUND WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
Perth 5.5 (35) lost to East Perth 20.18 (138)
Peel Thunder 16.12 (108) defeated Claremont 11.15 (81)

RESERVES
Perth 16.8 (104) defeated East Perth 6.6 (42)
Peel Thunder 10.14 (74) defeated Claremont 9.13 (67)

COLTS
Perth 13.11 (89) defeated East Perth 7.7 (49)
Peel Thunder 8.13 (61) lost to Claremont 11.7 (73)