Round 7 Preview – Peel Thunder v SubiacoFriday, May 18, 2018 - 6:13 PM - by Chris Pike

THE first Grand Final rematch for 2018 takes place this Saturday when the dual reigning premiers Peel Thunder host the undefeated Subiaco at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Peel and Subiaco have met in the past two WAFL Grand Finals and now this Saturday in Round 7 as the competition resumes from the State game break they will play for the first time in 2018 in Mandurah.

The Thunder beat the Lions in each of those last two Grand Finals giving Subiaco some added motivation to earn a measure of revenge and to keep their unbeaten run to start the 2018 season going.

The game will be televised live on 7mate from 2pm.

Peel comes into the game in sixth position on the ladder with a 2-3 record having so far beaten East Fremantle and Claremont this season while losing to Swan Districts, Perth and East Perth.

Subiaco, meanwhile, has had a dominant start to the season winning all five matches against East Perth, South Fremantle, Swan Districts, Claremont and West Perth by an average of 76 points.

There were nine players from the two clubs who took part in last Saturday's State game victory for the WAFL over the SANFL at Adelaide Oval by 26 points.

Just one of those came from Peel Thunder and that was dual premiership winning captain Gerald Ugle who had 15 possessions in WA's victory.

Angus Litherland (14 possessions, four marks), Rhys Waters (16 disposals, two goals), Kyal Horsley (21 touches, seven marks), Leigh Kitchin (19 possessions, five tackles), Chris Phelan (17 disposals, five tackles), Lachlan Delahunty (16 touches, nine hit outs), Aaron Heal (10 possessions, five marks) and Brad Stevenson (six disposals, one goal) were Subiaco's representatives in the State game victory.

Subiaco couldn’t have been more dominant over its opening five games of the season, especially the first four against East Perth, South Fremantle, Swan Districts and Claremont.

Across those five games, Subiaco has averaged a score of 134.2 points while conceding 58.2, both far and away the best in the competition. In contrast, Peel is averaging a score just 82.2 points themselves and 92.4 points against. That means they are kicking 52 points less a game and conceding 34 more.

Subiaco gets better as games go on as well across the season. The Lions have outscored their opponents over the first five matches by 44 points in first quarters, 83 in second terms, 109 in third quarters and then 144 in final stanzas.

Meanwhile, Peel has been outscored in each of the first three quarters across the season but has outscored its opponents by 14 points in last quarters.

Prior to the finals last year when Peel beat Subiaco in both the second semi-final and Grand Final, the Lions had won three straight against the Thunder and 10 of the previous 12 meetings. The problem is one of those losses was also the 2016 Grand Final.

The Lions have also enjoyed their visits to Bendigo Bank Stadium winning on the last six attempts and 23 of the 27 overall. Peel's last home victory against Subiaco came in Round 8, 2013 by nine points.

Peel's team will be strengthened to take on Subiaco at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday with Blair Bell along with Fremantle pair Ethan Hughes and Cameron Sutcliffe coming back into the line-up. James Kirby and Alex Cohen have also been added to the squad.

The Thunder will also be hoping to maintain the services of at least two of Danyle Pearce, Tom Sheridan and Shane Kersten as well.

From the Subiaco team that beat West Perth by 22 points a fortnight ago, Scott Hancock, Clancy Wheeler, Braden Fimmano and Daniel Leach have been added to the squad with Craig Hoskins going out.

PEEL THUNDER (2-3, 6th) v SUBIACO (5-0, 1st) – BENDIGO BANK STADIUM, SATURDAY 2.10PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – 7mate, Noongar Radio, Footy Radio