PEEL Thunder captain Brendon Jones says gelling with the Fremantle players through the alignment is one reason for the Thunder’s success.
The Thunder is coming off a strong start to the season and sits third on the ladder with five wins and three losses.
The club made history after winning four games in a row for the first time when they beat East Fremantle, Perth, East Perth and Claremont from rounds three to six.
The Thunder could be on track for their first ever finals appearance, with their best season coming in 2011 when they won seven games and finished in sixth spot on the ladder.
Jones said the Fremantle Dockers players who are at the club because of the alignment – which is now in its second season – were now starting to learn each others games and the team was gelling well.
“I think a blend of just having the alignment for a few more years and getting to know those guys and starting to gel together on the field is helping,” he said. “You just get to know the guys on the field and away from the field. They have come straight in and not missed a beat.”
The Fremantle Dockers are currently top of the ladder in the AFL having won eight consecutive games to start the season.
Docker’s draftees Lachlan Weller, Connor Blakely and Ed Langdon have been impressive thi season, averaging 21, 26 and 20 disposals respectively.
The three have constantly been named in the Thunder’s best and are pushing for AFL selection, should some of the regular 22 of the Fremantle Dockers get injured or lose form.
Docker Jacob Ballard has also starred this year averaging 26 disposals per game while Tendai Mzungu averaged 27 touches in the four games he played before earning a recall to the AFL. The Thunder meets the in-form Claremont Tigers at the Showgrounds this Saturday.
Despite starting the season with five consecutive losses, the Tigers have won three straight games. Claremont also has an impressive record at home, having won seven of the past eight games there.
Peel won the battle between the two sides in round six earlier this year by 27 points.
Jones said Peel Thunder were fresh after the WAFL had a bye following the stage game against South Australia.
The 29-year-old has continued the form which saw him win his third Dudley Tuckey Medal as Peel’s best and fairest last year, averaging 21 disposals.
He was also rewarded with a spot in the initial state squad.
“It’s [the season] gone pretty well at this stage, we have taken a lot of positives out so far,” he said. “We haven’t really changed much in sort of game style from last year and are just focusing on effort each week.
“I have been pretty happy with my own form, I’m just trying to play a role for the side and hopefully we can have our first finals berth this year.”
