PEEL Thunder kick started their year with a business luncheon at Bendigo Bank Stadium for their sponsors and members on Friday.
The club took the opportunity to highlight up and coming footballers and new recruits from interstate to the Thunder and the impact the side will have on this year’s WAFL competition.
Peel Thunder coach Trevor Williams said the work of the past few years will hold the club in good stead heading into 2012.
“2012 will be a ground breaking year for us,” he said.
“It is my belief that this is our best playing list.”
Williams said despite a few lacklustre seasons, he has confidence in the new direction of the club.
“Three years ago the club took a new direction- the playing group has taken time but the side are as confident and fit as they have ever been and we have the right quality people here.”
But Williams made no mistake in thinking the hard work was done.
“It is going to take a lot of hard work to get to the finals in 2012 but the future is bright and we have some work to do.”
In a newsletter assigned to members, the club said it is hopeful for “the first of many years of finals action.”
“The club has managed to retain most of the squad which improved considerably in 2011, but added to this are our own mature aged colts, some quality local players and new recruits, both local and interstate who hopefully bring not only their football skills, but their football experiences which if shared positively will be of great benefit to our young squad,” the club said.
Ex-Peel Thunder and East Perth footballer Pat Travers will make his return this year with East Perth footballer Brendan Hancock and Claremont midfielder Matt Orzel also set to don the Thunder guernsey.
After securing the three senior level players, each with more than 100 games under their belt in the WAFL league level, Peel Thunder said it has struggled before in attracting players of high quality making the recruitments a “positive outcome” for the squad and supporters.
“Jamason Daniels, Mitch Keddell and James Bristow will also put on the Peel Thunder jumper in 2012, having played in the VFL, whilst Clint Garlett is the WAFL 2010 Rising Star and Jack Geary a 19-year-old, two-time premiership player from the Bendigo Football League will join them and look certain to have an impact on the competition,” a Peel Thunder spokesperson said.
Garlett and former Swan David Johnson have headed to the club to look for a better opportunity in 2012.
Keddell has come to the club as a VFL-premiership winner in 2011 from Port Melbourne and hopes are high the architecture student will be a great addition to the side’s midfield.
Another recruit set to light up the field is former Australian Boomer Ben Smith.
The 204cm ruckman is making a quick transition to the sport following his basketball career, but injury has hampered the start to his season.
An ankle injury is keeping the promising big man in a moon boot on the sidelines, but Williams is confident the Thunder faithful will see him take the field.
“While he is restricted through his injury, we expect to see him up and running in a late start to the season.”
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