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WAFL 2022: Peel Thunder follow up with Geoff Valentine after big win over East Perth in Mandurah

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Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Fremantle pair Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe joined Peel Thunder training at Cockburn on Wednesday night.
Camera IconFremantle pair Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe joined Peel Thunder training at Cockburn on Wednesday night. Credit: Fremantle FC

Geoff Valentine highlighted the synergy between Peel Thunder and their AFL affiliate Fremantle after his team got their season back on track with a massive win over East Perth in Mandurah on Saturday.

The Thunder coach said it had been a great week for his players, who trained alongside dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe and fellow Dockers stars Michael Walters and Matt Taberner on Wednesday night at Cockburn.

Fifteen Fremantle-listed players then gave up their bye weekend to line up for Peel, 12 in the league and another three in the reserves, with both teams tasting victory over the Royals.

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Peel’s 65-point win — 18.9 (117) to 7.10 (52) — in two-time premiership hero Blair Bell’s 100th appearance was their fifth of the season and sees them back in the top five, jumping ahead of Swan Districts.

“It was actually a really good week,” Valentine said.

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“We changed things up a little bit and had a really good review on the Monday night after the Swan Districts loss last week which was really positive and insightful from our players.

“We headed up to Cockburn on Wednesday and trained as a group with guys like Nat and ‘Sonny’ (Michael Walters) coming out to join us and ‘Tabs’ (Matt Taberner) as well.

“There was a really good energy about the place so to get a couple of wins in both league and reserves today was really pleasing.”

Valentine paid tribute to Bell on his milestone, describing him as one of the club’s greatest ever players.

With Dockers key forward/back-up ruckman Josh Treacy lasting less than two minutes with what appeared to be a significant ankle injury, the 188cm Bell was forced to go into the ruck at times against 205cm giant Scott Jones and didn’t think twice.

“We’ve only had two 100-plus game players to play in both premierships, that’s Blair Bell and Brayden Lawler,” Valentine said.

WAFL - Peel Thunder vs East Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's milestone man Blair Bell is chaired off by Lloyd Meek and Joel Hamling
Camera IconWAFL - Peel Thunder vs East Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's milestone man Blair Bell is chaired off by Lloyd Meek and Joel Hamling Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

“To lose Josh Treacy early and know that you’re not going to ruck ‘Tabs’, we were like ‘what have we got?’ then told Belly to get into it.

“There’s not even a blink of the eyelid, he’s straight into it.”

Treacy finished the day in hospital with Valentine unsure of the severity of his setback.

“It’s some type of lower-leg injury, it’s not a knee but that’s as much as I know,” Valentine said.

Livewire Joel Western (four goals) and Fremantle teammate Matt Taberner (three) enjoyed successful returns from hamstring and back injuries respectively, combining for seven majors.

Taberner is set to face Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, while Western put his hand up for the injured Sam Switkowski’s spot with a brilliant performance.

WAFL - Peel Thunder vs East Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Joel Western gathers the ball
Camera IconWAFL - Peel Thunder vs East Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Joel Western gathers the ball Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

“It’s great to have a player like Matt Taberner come back, he’s a fantastic fella and he’s played 40-odd games for the club including a premiership,” Valentine said.

“Like Nat Fyfe was a couple of weeks ago, he was very giving with his time and energy.

“We got him off in the last few minutes just to make sure he was available for AFL selection next week.”

Former South Fremantle small forward Guy Barnes (four goals) also hit the scoreboard, while Dockers Liam Henry, Ethan Hughes, Matthew Johnson and Neil Erasmus did the damage in the midfield with Lloyd Meek dominant in the ruck.

For East Perth, Hamish Brayshaw tried hard in a well-beaten engine-room with a game-high 35 possessions, Angus Schumacher was good in variety of roles and ex-Falcon Tom Medhat (three goals) continued his fine debut season at the club.

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