Peel's milestone man Blair Bell is chaired off by Lloyd Meek and Joel Hamling
Camera IconPeel's milestone man Blair Bell is chaired off by Lloyd Meek and Joel Hamling Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

WAFL Round 9: Peel Thunder put on season-best performance against East Perth

Telissa RyderMandurah Coastal Times

Thunder struck both on and off the field on Saturday as Peel smashed East Perth by 65 points at Lane Group Stadium.

It was a milestone match to remember for Blair Bell, who celebrated his 100th game with the club, and Fremantle Dockers forward Matt Taberner made his return to the footy field after a back injury.

It was an arm-wrestle in the first quarter with plenty of pressure, Freo’s Josh Treacey going down early and helped off the field by two trainers with a suspected ankle injury.

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Goals from Sam Sturt, Liam Henry and Guy Barnes gave Peel a short-lived lead before East Perth’s Thomas Medhat put one away.

A late behind from Henry left the margin at just one point heading in the second quarter.

WAFL - Peel Thunder vs East Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Matt Taberner celebrates a goal
Camera IconWAFL - Peel Thunder vs East Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Matt Taberner celebrates a goal Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

It was the Joel Western and Taberner show early in the second term, with the duo kicking three goals and a behind between them just seven minutes in.

Peel continued to break away as the quarter unfolded, with Barnes putting through his second and third goal and Taberner kicking his second to sit 33 points up at half time.

Despite a number of skill errors and turnovers in the wet conditions, Peel were still able to broaden the margin to 57 points in the third quarter, with six goals to the opposition’s two.

East Perth seemed to perk up in the last term but Peel weren’t taking their foot off the gas with another goal from Taberner, one from Neil Erasmus and a fairytale finisher from Blair Bell.

The scoreboard reflected a season-best performance from Thunder, 11.13 (117) to East Perth’s 7.10 (52).

Taberner proved he’s AFL-ready with three goals and 12 disposals, with Barnes and Western both putting up four goals each, and Henry notching up 17 disposals and two goals.

Man of the hour Blair Bell said it couldn’t have gone better.

“It was great to get the win in both grades and to bounce back from a tight loss last week,” he said.

“Humbled at all the support from the club, family and friends, and happy to get to the milestone after debuting in 2013.

“There are many more young players that will reach the milestone, with the quality at the club and people within and around the club supporting them.”

There was also a great result for the reserves, taking down East Perth by seven points, but the colts couldn’t quite bring home a third win, going down by 14 points to the Royals.

Now back in the top five, round 10 will see Peel Thunder up against the high-flying East Fremantle at the WACA on June 25.