DEMONS HOLD OFF THE THUNDER

By Mark Thornber

Photos by Gemma Boys

Round 1, Perth v Peel

At Brownes Stadium, Saturday 16 March 2013

Perth                           5.1        7.3       12.4      12.10    82

Peel                             1.4        5.5       8.10      9.16      70

Perth started their 2013 campaign in wining style with a hard fought 12 point win over Peel in warm conditions at Brownes Stadium on Saturday.

Perth hit the scoreboard early as new Captain Paul Bevan kicked truly at the 2 minute mark. This was soon followed by another to gun recruit Kyle Reimers as the home side was playing some great team football.

When wingman Michael Florio kicked his side’s 3^rd goal on the run the Demons had opened up a handy lead. Dan Murray was winning the ruck battle and was being well supported in the midfield by Chance Bateman, Brett Hodge and Alistair Smith.

Despite a late goal to the Thunder after the quarter time siren Perth had a comfortable lead at the first break kicking 5 goals 1 to 1 goal 4 for the term.

The second quarter saw Peel slowly trim Perth’s lead mainly through Kristen Thornton, who was looking dangerous up forward for the Thunder. Perth though did respond with a brilliant goal on the run to Reimers that bounced through from 60 metres.

The Demons continued to win the centre clearances as Hodge especially was throwing himself into everything in the first half. After receiving a couple of 50 metre penalties resulting in goals the Thunder managed to reduce Perth’s lead to just 10 points at half time.

Kicking with a slight breeze the home side came out really firing in the second half and it wasn’t long before both Michael Mather and first gamer Matthew Boyle snapped truly to again provide the home side with a mini break.

The backline was holding up well with recruit Jared Risol looking good in defence and the ever reliable Matthew Tedesco rebounding well off half back. After a quiet first half Brennan Stack sparked into life kicking a clever goal and then setting up sharp shooter Simon Donovan for another.

As with the trend of the match though Peel edged back with a couple of late goals just before three quarter to close within 3 goals after Perth kicked 5 goals to 3 in the third quarter.

Perth Coach Damien McMahon pleaded with his young side to continue the pressure on their opponents in his three quarter time address. With Peel coming home with a strengthening breeze and both sides tiring in the warm conditions the last quarter was always going to be a hard fought affair.

Perth had their chances early in the term to really seal the result, however missed some set shots at goal as the Thunder just kept coming. The visitors closed within 12 points in the final term, however with Vice Captain Daniel O’Sullivan playing an inspired last term and Murray being able to drop back in defence to take a number of game saving marks the Demons managed to run out winners by 12 points despite just kicking 6 points to Peel’s 1 goal 6 for the term.

There were plenty of good signs for Perth on the day with Hodge, Smith, O’Sullivan, Bateman and the returning Dene White all producing match winning efforts in the midfield. Tedesco was rock solid all day in defence and was well supported by Kane Ransted who seems to have re-invented himself as a long kicking and attacking half back.

Murray played an outstanding game on the ball all day with Reimers, Donovan and Fraser McInnes all chipping in up forward booting 6 goals between them.

Perth had a number of players making their league debut for the club in Matthew Boyle (1534), Mitchell, Leyendekkers (1535), Daniel Murray (1536), Kyle Reimers, (1537), Jared Risol (1538), Michael Sinclair (1539), and Jackson Sketcher (1540).

Next week Perth has a bye before they return home to Brownes Stadium to play the Bulldogs.

Goals: Reimers 3, Donovan 2, Stack, McInnes, Bevan, Mather, Boyle, Florio, Sinclair 1.

Best: Hodge, Smith, O’Sullivan, White, Tedesco, Murray.