Peel Football League celebrate Landmark win

The league joined the WA Country Football League 11 years ago and has had their sights set on a division one win from the start.

But despite notching wins in every other division across the competition, an A-section win was always out of reach.

However, that changed when a prolific last quarter lifted the Peel Cavaliers to a 30-point victory over the South West in the grand final on Sunday, allowing Peel to hoist the championship shield for the first time.

Peel Football League general managed Geoff Hiller said the win was both elating and validating for the league.

“We’ve been trying to achieve that win for years, so it’s a fantastic feeling to finally get there and be number one,” he said.

“The coaches and players all performed really well and it’s something the entire league and region can be proud of.”

Hiller attributed the side’s win to “getting the program right” in the lead up to the carnival.

“We created what we feel is a really solid program this time around so we’ll look to keep that program moving forward,” he said.

“From the coaching to the selection process it was all really well done by everyone who played a part in it.

“We also had the fortune of having a terrific playing group together – the boys played exceptionally well throughout the entire carnival.”

Peel went through the championships undefeated, beating the South West, Lower South West and Upper Great Southern sides in the qualifying rounds before beating the South West again in the final.

Prior to their loss, the South West had won the last five division one grand finals and was out for their 21^st win overall, a Landmark record.

“It’s good to be able to say we knocked off a side that is undoubtedly the best in the history of the carnival,” Hiller said.

“It only takes one look at the record book to know how good they are, so to be able to win our first title against such a quality side is great.”

The final was a roller coaster affair with each side playing good football in different times during the match.

Peel stormed out of the gate with a blistering first quarter before the South West turned it around in the second to take the lead into half time.

A late surge from Peel in the later stages of the third quarter gave them an eight-point lead at the final break, before they blew the South West away in the final term to take a 30-point win.

Joel Houghton (six goals) and Brad Holmes (four goals) were vital up forward for the Cavaliers while Brendon Jones earned best on ground for his work in the midfield.