PEEL Thunder’s goal kicking power will be amplified on Saturday when ex-Subiaco forward and reigning Bernie Naylor medalist Shane Yarran debuts for the side.
The former Lion booted 54 goals to the lead the WAFL last season, which resulted in his selection at pick 61 by the Fremantle Dockers in the 2015 national AFL draft.
The explosive goal kicker has had an interrupted start to his first season on an AFL list, after undergoing rehab to return from a knee injury he sustained in the 2015 WAFL grand final.
He is now back to full fitness and will use Peel Thunder as his launching pad to strive for a Fremantle debut, with plenty of openings appearing in the Dockers’ side.
Peel fans can expect goals and a crafty forward presence from Yarran, who played 39 games across two seasons for Subiaco’s league side, booting 93 goals.
But the Thunder could miss the impact midfielder Connor Blakely can have on a game.
The second-year Fremantle player notched 29 disposals and a goal for Peel last week, in his first game back from a foot injury.
The impressive performance earned him a spot in the Dockers’ 22 for this Saturday’s clash with Adelaide.
But the wound of losing Blakely could be healed by the presence of experienced Fremantle defender Garrick Ibbotson, who has been named in Peel Thunder’s starting line-up to take on Perth.
Ibbotson has played 155 games for Fremantle, but found himself out of the line-up after the Dockers’ poor start to 2016.
Ed Langdon, Matt de Boer, Tendai Mzungu and Alex Silvagni join Blakely as outs for the Thunder, but have not been named in Fremantle’s 22.
