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Round 22 – East Fremantle v Peel Thunder Match ReportMonday, August 21, 2017 - 9:26 AM - by Chris Pike
EAST Fremantle was on target for its third win of the WAFL season on Saturday to stay off the bottom of the ladder but Peel Thunder turned on a huge last quarter to win by 13 points and secure third position.
East Fremantle returned to East Fremantle Oval on Saturday to host the reigning premiers and the Sharks were in search of their third win of 2017, and first against a team other than fellow wooden spoon contender Perth.
The Sharks then appeared on target for the upset victory through the opening three quarters leading by four points at half-time and 31 points at three quarter-time.
But with the breeze behind them and having had a disappointing opening three quarters kicking just three goals, Peel got rolling in the fourth term booting seven goals to nil to end up winning 10.8 (68) to 8.7 (55).
It's a big win for Peel as well because a loss would have seen the Thunder back in the logjam fighting over a finals place alongside Swan Districts, East Perth, West Perth and Claremont.
But now with the win, Peel improves to a 11-8 record on the season and are guaranteed of finishing in third position. That means the Thunder already know they will be facing South Fremantle in a qualifying final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the opening week of the 2017 finals.
It was a tough loss to take for East Fremantle who had put in such a strong performance for three quarters to be in a winning position. Adding to that was Perth beating East Perth at the same time leaving the Sharks a game clear in bottom spot with one game of the season remaining.
Despite the win not being overly impressive from Peel, it was crucial and now sets up this week for them to have a trial run against South Fremantle before that qualifying final.
The other big positive was the return of star forward Leroy Jetta. He only had five kicks and a goal but will be better for the run and ready to make an impact come finals time.
Ruckman Jonathon Griffin had a big say in the final result too finishing with 17 possessions, four marks, 36 hit outs and two goals. Brett Milward also kicked two goals for the Thunder.
Haydn Matthews continued his impressive form this season for Peel with another 25 possessions, five tackles and a goal with Tom Sheridan finishing with 23 disposals, nine tackles and seven marks.
Calvin Thorne played likely his best game for 2017 with 22 possessions and five marks while Traye Bennell gathered 20 disposals, Rory O'Brien 20 and Garrick Ibbotson 19 in defence to go with seven marks.
East Fremantle captain Jamie McNamara kicked two goals from 18 possessions with Tom Bennett outstanding stepping into the role left vacant by Jayden Schofield running off half-back. He kicked two goals to go with 23 disposals and seven marks.
Jack Perham worked hard in attack for 18 touches, 10 marks and a goal as well while Matthew Watson split his time between the ruck and forward for 19 disposals, eight marks, 12 hit outs and a goal.
Cameron Eardley showed his importance to East Fremantle's midfield compiling 29 possessions upon return from suspension while Jesse Crichton again enjoyed the freedom to play as a free-wheeling on-baller amassing 28 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal.
Jonathon Marsh had another 25 possessions for the Sharks and Dion Anthony had it 28 times while Ambrose Ryan amassed 25 disposals, Carl Green 21, Joel Kalajzic 19, Miles Franklin 19 and retiring great Andrew Stephen 19.
Peel opened the game in ominous fashion with the first two goals in the first six minutes. Just a minute later East Fremantle got on the board thanks to Jesse Crichton but there wouldn’t be another goal in the opening with the Thunder leading by seven points at quarter-time.
The Sharks opened the second term with a goal to debutant, and son of former Docker and Cat, Stephen, Dillon O'Reilly kicked truly. The Sharks then added the only other goal of the first half to captain Jamie McNamara and held a narrow four-point lead at the main break.
East Fremantle then had the advantage of the breeze in the third quarter and took full advantage kicking five goals to one. 
Tom Bennett, Jack Perham, Bennett again, Matthew Watson and McNamara all goaled for the Sharks to see the home team leading by 31 points at the last change and appearing on track for the win.
The breeze wasn’t going to do all the work for the Thunder and they came out determined to improve at the same time, and it worked in the last quarter.
Two goals in a minute to Blair Bell and Rory O'Brien had the Thunder back within 17 points by the eight-minute mark. It was then just 11 points when Leroy Jetta goaled, five with a goal to Jonathon Griffin and Peel hit the front with 19 minutes on the clock with Haydn Matthews kicking truly.
Peel went on with it from there with two more goals to Brayden Lawler and Aaron Naughton to have come from 31 points down at three quarter-time to win by 13.
East Fremantle heads to Steel Blue Oval this Saturday looking to end its season with a win and to get off the bottom of the ladder while upsetting Swan Districts' finals hopes in the process.
Peel Thunder hosts South Fremantle at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday with both teams unable to move from third and second on the ladder respectively while set to play one another the following week in the qualifying final.
EAST FREMANTLE 1.1 3.2 8.5 8.7 (55)
PEEL THUNDER 2.2 2.4 3.4 10.8 (68)
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: McNamara, Bennett 2; O'Reilly, Watson, Perham, Crichton.
Best: Crichton, Eardley, Marsh, Bennett, Perham, Anthony, Ryan.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Milward, Griffin 2; O'Brien, Jetta, Lawler, Naughton, Bell, Matthews.
Best: Matthews, Griffin, Thorne, Sheridan, O'Brien, Bennell, Ibbotson.
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