O'Meara shines in Demons delight
Perth's yo-yo season continued when they did best in blustery conditions to beat Peel by 10 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium.
The 15.7 (97) to 12.15 (87) victory continued a trend by the Demons to win games they were tipped to lose to while losing to teams they were expected to beat.
In recent weeks Perth have beaten league leaders Claremont and West Perth but lost to Swan Districts and East Perth, who are below them on the premiership ladder.
Precocious teenager Jaeger O'Meara was outstanding in his WAFL debut for the Demons, impressing AFL talents scouts at the ground to watch the 17-year-old Dongara recruit in his first senior match.
O'Meara is too young for this year's national draft but has nominated for consideration under the Greater Western Sydney trade incentive scheme that will allow him to join an AFL club later this year.
AFL clubs can offer draft picks, players or both for one of four special selections that can be used on eligible players like O'Meara born between January and April, 1994.
O'Meara quickly picked up the pace of the game and finished with four goals in a livewire performance sure to attract further attention from potential AFL suitors.
The Demons grabbed the early initiative with Matt Moody kicking the visitors opening goal three minutes into the first quarter.
Exciting West Coast teenager Scott Lycett replied for the Thunder soon after but Perth rattled on the next five goals to open up a 29-point break at the first change.
Peel issued a strong challenge with the first three goals of the second term to Brad Holmes, Ash Thornton and Lycett, reducing the margin to just eight points.
But Simon Donovan kicked truly for the Demons with O'Meara adding two more to cap what was an outstanding first half.
The Thunder, kicking with a two to three-goal, paid a hefty penalty for wayward kicking in the second stanza.
Perth outscored the Thunder by four goals to one in the third term and turned for home 24 points clear after leading by 18 at half time.
