FREMANTLE-listed player Michael Barlow pulled off one of the best, if not the best, individual performances WAFL spectators will see this season when he annihilated the East Perth Royals to lift Peel Thunder to victory on Saturday.
While other players slaved away in the wet and wild conditions Barlow shone out above the rest.
The Dockers midfielder tallied a colossal 44 disposals, 14 tackles, three goals and one behind in a powerhouse display that buoyed Peel to a 5.9 (39) to 3.7 (25) win in a low scoring affair.
Barlow matched East Perth’s goals tally off his own boot, further pressing his claim for Fremantle re-selection.
The dominant display from the Fremantle veteran comes a week after he tallied 39 touches for Peel, taking his total disposals to 83 in just two games.
Battling through the challenging conditions, East Perth jumped out to an early lead booting two goals to Peel’s one in the first quarter.
But the Thunder’s defence was able to use the conditions and clamp down on East Perth, keeping the Royals goalless in the next two quarters as they stretched out to a 13-point lead at three quarter time.
The weather did not ease up as teams continued to push through in the fourth, with both booting just one goal to give Peel Thunder the victory.
Key backman Sam Collins continued his run of good form, with a 17 disposal and seven mark performance.
He teamed up well with Cam Sutcliffe who played his season debut for Peel Thunder and amassed 25 touches.
Rory O’Brien (21 disposals) and Bradley Walsh (23 disposals) were also influential for Peel in the match.
Collins’ strong season so far could be rewarded with a Fremantle call-up next week, with the Dockers set to miss young defender Alex Pearce for the remainder of the season after he broke his tibia against Richmond on Saturday night.
Peel Thunder play East Fremantle next week in a bid to jump the Sharks on the ladder.
East Fremantle currently sits in third on the WAFL ladder, one game above the Thunder who find themselves in fourth spot.