A disastrous fourth term led to Peel Thunder’s demise as East Perth stormed home to claim a 33-point win at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Peel trailed by just one point at the three-quarter-time break but was dominated by a rampant Royals outfit in the fourth.
Tom Lamb booted four goals in the final term as East Perth finished 5.13 (43) to 11.10 (76) winners.
Three takeaways
1. Sam Collins should be wearing a Fremantle jumper
The key defender was at intercepting best on Saturday, taking 13 marks and collecting 26 disposals as Peel’s best player on the field. Collins shut down East Perth’s key forwards for the majority of the game and rarely put a foot wrong. The former Box Hill Hawk has been stiff not to get a call up in the AFL for Fremantle yet, but performances like his one against the Royals should earn him a spot soon.
2. Fourth quarter fade out hurts
Coming off a bye it would have been fair to assume Peel had more run in their legs than East Perth, but it was all Royals in the fourth quarter as they piled on six goals in the last. Peel completely lost their structure in the period and poor entries to the forward line cost them in the end.
3. Traye Bennell is a gun in the making
The 22-year-old midfielder was prolific for the Thunder and showed his ability to find the football with 26 touches. But perhaps what impressed most about Bennell’s game was his efficiency, with almost all of his kicks hitting a target. Unfortunately he was less efficient in the scoring tally, booting zero goals and five behinds on the day. But his overall game had plenty to like about it and he will continue to develop into a top player at the Peel Thunder Football Club.