Thunder claim fourth WAFL flag with massive win over Tigers

Peel Thunder put an exclamation point on a dominant season with a one-sided Sullivan Logistics WAFL Grand Final victory over a shellshocked Claremont at Optus Stadium.

The minor premiers led from start to finish to claim their fourth WAFL flag and second in three years with an emphatic 62-point triumph – 16.17 (113) to 7.9 (51)

The Thunder capped off a historic weekend for their AFL alignment club Fremantle, which qualified for just the second AFL Grand Final in their history.

Fourteen AFL-listed players lined up for Peel including several hoping to play two deciders in as many weeks with defender Brandon Walker, ruckman Sean Darcy, winger Nathan O’Driscoll and veteran midfielder Jaeger O’Meara doing their chances no harm.

But their performances were overshadowed by a masterclass from Jeremy Sharp, who missed out winning the Sandover Medal by four votes on Monday night.

Sharp was a worthy recipient of the Simpson Medal, finishing with 27 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal.

He collected eight of a possible nine Simpson Medal votes, edging out young teammate Cooper Simpson by two.

Peel Thunder star Jeremy Sharp won the Simpson Medal for best on ground in the grand final. Credit: Adam Crane/Salt Diaries

Veteran utility Bailey Banfield was also influential with his ball-winning ability and relentless pressure, tallying four votes.

Peel were out of the blocks quickly on the way to a powerful six-goals-to-one opening term including two majors to young key forward Charlie Nicholls.

Nicholls kicked three for the match to put his name in lights as an exciting player for the future for Fremantle.

At the other end, key back Hugh Davies was marking anything in his way.

The Thunder’s blistering pace was too hot for Claremont to handle as their runners took control of the match, with Sharp at his brilliant best with an equal game-high eight touches, four inside 50s and a goal to help his team to a 33-point quarter-time lead.

Prized recruit Lachlan Tardrew started to have a big say in the contest in the second term, finding plenty of the footy and providing strong defensive pressure.

First-year Docker Tobyn Murray, who kicked the opening goal of the match, produced another classy finish early for the Thunder’s first goal of the second quarter.

Livewire Kyelan Sanders, in just his second game back from a foot injury, then joined the party with a brilliant long-range set shot.

After six consecutive majors to the Thunder which saw the margin blow out to 46 points, Claremont finally got their second through Jack Musika to give the underdogs some brief respite.

Young gun Jaren Carr kicked his second for the Thunder before turning provider, grabbing the ball out of the centre and bursting through the middle of the ground before finding returning tall Corey Tregenza who slotted one through from the pocket.

It was the first of back-to-back goals for Tregenza who was right place, right time for the next as he soccered one through from the goal square with Peel producing another six-goal quarter to make it a 59-point margin at half-time.

The break did little to halt the momentum with Peel taking two possessions and less than a minute for their first goal of the second half through skipper Jack Sears.

Sears’ vice-captain Scott Tuia then kicked his second with a beautiful snap from the pocket of the run and it was getting ugly.

At the other end, Brandon Walker’s defensive efforts continually thwarted Claremont’s attacking opportunities as the Dockers defender put his hand up for an AFL Grand Final call up.

Sam van Rooyen, the younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob, kicked a couple of third-quarter goals for the Tigers but the damage was well and truly done, with 47 points the margin with a quarter to play.

PEEL THUNDER 6.6 12.9 14.12 16.17 (113)

CLAREMONT 1.3 3.4 5.9 7.9 (51)

GOALS – Peel Thunder: C Nicholls 3, S Tuia 3, T Murray 2, J Carr 2, C Tregenza 2, K Sanders, J Sharp, J Sears, C Simpson

Claremont: S van Rooyen 2, Z Mainwaring 2, T Delacey, J Musika, A Waterman

BEST – Peel Thunder: J Sharp, B Banfield, J O’Meara, B Walker, C Nicholls

Claremont: A Pearce, S Alvarez, C England, B Rogers, Z Mainwaring, G Gale.

UMPIRES: Curtis Snadden, Matthew Adams, Lachie Fahey-Gilmour, Ben Laycock

CROWD: TBC at Optus Stadium