THE Fremantle Dockers expected decision to rest a host of players for Saturday’s game against Port Adelaide may be causing controversy in the AFL but spare a thought for Peel Thunder.
Peel Thunder will play its first final in the club’s 19-year history against West Perth on Sunday but the event is likely to be overshadowed by the Fremantle Dockers’ decision to rest players for the final round of the AFL season.
The AFL has approved Fremantle to rest players against Port Adelaide this week with the number now the question.
Fremantle previously rested several players against St Kilda in the final round of the 2013 season to focus on the first round of finals.
Despite losing to St Kilda by 71 points Fremantle recalled 10 players the following week to defeat Geelong at Skilled Stadium; a result that inevitably helped the Dockers secure a path to the grand final.
The St Kilda game, like this season, coincided with the first round of WAFL finals, however on that occasion it didn’t affect Peel Thunder with the club not in finals contention.
This season is a different story with Peel Thunder finishing the home and away season in third position to look a genuine premiership chance.
On the weekend against South Fremantle 11 Dockers-listed players took to the field for Peel Thunder.
That number has regularly been higher throughout the season with 14 out of the 22 players lining up for Peel on the Dockers list the week previous.
If the Dockers do chose to rest close to 10 players Peel will have to call on players from Reserves or even Colts level.
This will leave the side terribly undermanned with just three of the players who took to the field for the Reserves on the weekend having played League this season.
Peel Thunder coach Cam Shepherd said he would wait and see what eventuates ahead of the West Perth clash.
“When or if they chose to go down that path we will address it then,” he said.
“If it does happen we have faith in our young men to perform.”
His opposition coach Bill Monaghan said they would prepare for the best possible Peel Thunder outfit.
“It’s out of our control and in some way out of Peel’s control as well,” he said.
“We have to prepare for the best and be respectful of what Peel can put out on the park [as those who come in will want to win].”
Monaghan said he still expected eight or nine Fremantle-listed players to line-up for Peel despite the Dockers resting up to 11 players.
“If they rest five or six players, there were three or four that didn’t play last week who can come in [Michael Walters, Zac Clarke, Alex Pearce and Matt Taberner].
“You also never know with Connor Blakely.”
West Perth has been surrounded in its own controversy with Channel 7 refusing to broadcast any West Perth games this season due to the Channel Nine logo.
This is despite West Perth signing an agreement with Channel Nine in March 2014 before Channel Seven had the broadcasting right.
Peel Thunder will take on West Perth at 2.10pm on Sunday at HBF Arena.
