West Coast beat Peel Thunder at Optus Stadium

Peel Thunder 6.14 (50) lost to West Coast Eagles 11.11 (77)

HISTORY was made with the first ever home and away season game at Optus Stadium.

The West Coast Eagles added to the occasion with their first ever WAFL victory, beating Peel Thunder by 27 points.

The game was held on Saturday afternoon in the build-up to the AFL Western Derby between West Coast and Fremantle later that evening, and it turned out to be a great occasion as the crowd began to trickle in.

The Eagles were hunting their first ever win after a Round 1 loss to Perth while the Thunder were looking to remain undefeated having beaten West Perth.

West Coast captain Fraser McInnes opened proceedings with a goal four minutes in.

Jackson Merrett responded for Peel and then Ryan Bennell put the Thunder in front before West Coast finished the opening quarter with the last two goals through Jarrod Cameron and Jake Waterman to be eight points up at the first change.

That lead grew to 21 points when Waterman kicked two more goals to start the second term with the Eagles still leading by 15 points at the main break.

When Waterman added his fourth and Jarrod Brander kicked truly also, West Coast was up by 25 points at three quarter-time and that grew to 31 points when Waterman booted his fifth to start the last term.

West Coast would go on to win 11.11 (77) to 6.14 (50) win both teams now holding 1-1 records after two rounds.

Dual Peel premiership captain Gerald Ugle kicked two goals with Ryan Bennell also kicked two majors for the Thunder.

Tom North gathered a team-high 28 possessions for Peel with Mitch Crowden finishing with 26 touches, Luke Valente 19, former Shark Ben Harding 19, Bailey Banfield 18, Ben Hancock 17, Brett Bewley 17 and Sam Sturt 17.

For the second straight week to open the WAFL season, Jake Waterman kicked five goals for the Eagles from 19 possessions and nine marks.

Jackson Nelson was impressive off half-back for West Coast with 27 possessions with Matthew Allen finishing with 25 disposals, Brendon Ah Chee 24, Hamish Brayshaw 22, Josh Smith 20, Andrew Fisher 19, Mitch Curnow 19 and captain Fraser McInnes 18.