WAFL 2024: Peel coach Adam Read said James Aish played his role and brought experience to young backline
Peel coach Adam Read admits that their 10-point win over South Fremantle was a “weird one” but was glad with how his team adjusted in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder looked in danger of being knocked off the top of the ladder against South Freo in the clash between two top-five sides.
A slow start was made up for by a fourth quarter effort, knocking the home side out of the top five.
“A weird one, happy to walk away with the four points obviously,” Read told The West Australian.
“Game probably didn’t look like the way we wanted it to, and I’d credit South to that.
“Thought they came in with a really clear plan, and they executed it quite well, and it took us a while to adjust.
“At three-quarter time we had 24 entries, which would almost be a world record low.
“So it was pleasing to finish the last quarter with a better field position, but I thought we just struggled with our skill execution today.”
The side was boosted with the inclusions of James Aish (28 disposals, four marks, two tackles) and Neil Erasmus (35 disposals, eight clearances, seven tackles) into the side this week.
Read said that Aish’s experience helped bolster their young backline.
“James (Aish) played down back where he’s been playing at AFL, I thought he held himself really well today,” he said.
“Someone that experienced is really good, because if you look at our back line, we’ve got Bo Allan and Joel Brown, two 17-year-olds playing.
“James’ got 180 odd games of AFL experience behind him, it really helps those guys to help our backline get organised, so I was really happy with his game.
Camera IconNeil Erasmus competes for the ball. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West Australian
“Similarly Raz, coming back from AFL duty last week…his ability to absorb a tackle and take a hit stood out for me.”
In a up and down game for the Thunder, the side struggled with forward entries all match.
Their play from centre bounces helped keep them in the match when South looked in danger of causing an upset.
“Some of our basic execution, you miss a handball, then all of a sudden it’s a ground ball, it brings more pressure,” Read said.
“Where center bounces, you win that and there’s a lot more open space, so you’re actually able to get it to the outside a bit better and get those entries.”
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