Big scalp tonic for rising Peel
Peel’s gritty win over East Perth at Medibank Stadium on Saturday is the sort of result that can set up the success-starved Mandurah club’s season, according to defender Josh Bootsma.
The 9.16 (70) to 7.5 (47) result gave the Thunder three consecutive victories for the first time since 2009 and they rose to the unfamiliar position of second on the WAFL ladder. Peel overcame a Royals outfit fired up for veteran co-captain Craig Wulff’s 250th game and inaccuracy in front of goal to triumph.
The visitors were also one man down in the second half after Colin Sylvia (concussion) didn’t emerge from the rooms after the long break.
Peel kicked just two goals to half-time, despite a dominant second term, but put their foot down in the second half when they outscored East Perth seven goals to three.
Bootsma, who was elevated into the Peel leadership group this season, was proud of his teammates.
“We were up against it in the first quarter and probably halfway through the second,” he said.
“Teams could go either way. We could either fold away or we could stand tall and go for winning the game. I felt that the boys stood up and we were good all round.
“I guess it just shows our character as a group.”
Bootsma admitted it wasn’t ideal not being able to train with the Fremantle players under the alignment, but believed they were building as a team.
He hoped the win over the Royals would be season-defining.
“We just want to be one of the teams that go high,” he said.
“We are not talking about finals yet because it’s only early in the season but that’s every- one’s ultimate goal.
“We’ve got big bodies in the midfield.
“We just wanted to be hard at it and it shows when we’re hard at it, we can mix it with the best of them.”
Bootsma, who was sacked by Carlton last season for social media misconduct, said he wasn’t even thinking about an AFL return and was enjoying his time at Peel.
“I just want to put in a good performance week in, week out,” he said.
“I’ve felt like I’ve done that this year so far and I’ve just got to build from there.”
Bootsma and second-year Docker Alex Pearce were the only talls in the Peel back line with Tanner Smith (concussion) being unavailable.
Michael Apeness and Jack Hannath were also missing as forward targets but the Thunder small brigade were able to overcome their absence.
Eagle Brant Colledge was outstanding again with 38 disposals as he closes in on an AFL call-up.
