Round 1 Wrap: Perth d Peel Thunder

THE WAFL returned with a bang on Saturday after the delayed start to the 2020 Optus Premiership Season with four exciting matches which saw a thumping derby win for South Fremantle, and hard fought victories for Claremont, West Perth and Perth.

COVID-19 might have delayed the start of the 2020 WAFL season, but that only built the excitement for football's return on Saturday and not even some cold and wet weather was going to deter the spectators from turning out in droves given it was the first WAFL action since September last year.

They were treated to some cracking contests as well starting in Mandurah at David Grays Arena with Perth eventually shaking off Peel Thunder with four goals to three in the final quarter to prevail 10.10 (70) to 9.6 (60).

PEEL THUNDER 9.6 (60) lost to PERTH 10.10 (70)

The 2020 Optus WAFL Premiership Season finally got underway at Mandurah's David Grays Arena on Saturday and fittingly, it was a tight contest to mark the occasion between Peel Thunder and Perth.

Both teams are looking to improve in 2020 to return to finals action and each of them showed their share of good signs in their close battle on Saturday.

Virtually nothing separated the two teams for the first three quarters, but it was Perth who managed to kick four goals to three from Peel in the final term to end up winning 10.10 (70) to 9.6 (60).

It was a goalless first quarter from both teams with the Thunder and Demons managing three behinds apiece. The first goal of the contest then came three minutes into the second term courtesy of Peel recruit Hayden Yarran.

Perth responded soon after through Logan McDonald and then moved seven points ahead when Fraser McInnes marked his return to the Demons for 2020 by kicking truly.

The game was heating up, though, and Peel got the next two goals through Haiden Ballantyne and Blair Bell, before Perth ensured their narrow half-time lead with a goal from Marshall Jones.

McDonald's impressive debut for Perth continued to start the second half when he kicked two more goals, but Peel wasn’t going away and responded through Yarran and a returning Brad Holmes. The teams traded another goal too before three quarter-time with the Demons up by three at the last change.

Jones then kicked his second to give Perth a nine-point lead to start the last quarter before Chris Masten put them 15 points up. Peel kept fighting and got back within nine when Holmes kicked his third goal, but the Demons did enough to hang on.

Debutant Logan McDonald finished with three goals for Perth as did Fraser McInnes who has been granted permission to play with Perth for 2020 with the West Coast Eagles WAFL team unable to take part in the competition.

Marshall Jones was their other multiple goal scorer with two.

Chris Masten was outstanding for Perth showing he has plenty of run left in the legs racking up 30 possessions while Matthew Taylor compiled 20 disposals, Brady Grey 19, Brant College 16.

Christian Eyres was his typical workmanlike self in the ruck to celebrate his 100th game for Perth to finish with 38 hit outs.

You can see Perth this weekend when we take on East Perth at home.

Round 2 of the 2020 Optus WAFL Season

Perth v East Perth

Mineral Resources Park

Saturday 25^th August 2020

Reserves: 12.30pm

League: 3pm

Colts: 5.15pm