The WAFL Eagles battled hard all day but were unable to match Peel Thunder's experience on Sunday, falling to the visitors by 22 points at Mineral Resources Park.
The wind and rain made for a scrappy display, with a bigger-bodied and more experienced Peel getting over the line for their fourth consecutive win, managing 8.7 (55) to 4.9 (33) on the day.
Midseason Eagles' recruits Oliver Francou and Marcus Herbert shone in their new colours, having only arrived at the club on Thursday.
Herbert found plenty of the football, managing a team-high 23 touches and four tackles, showing off his silky skills around the contest and making a case early for senior selection.
Francou (20 disposals and seven tackles) impressed in his WAFL debut, while Elijah Hewett (22 disposals) and Fin Macrae (19 disposals and eight tackles) were important for the home side.
West Coast started well kicking into the breeze, with some elite pressure to lock the ball into their forward half, but while they attacked well, they were unable to convert on the scoreboard.
The intensity grew as the game progressed, with Peel kicking the first goal of the game against the Eagles momentum, through Leon Kickett.
West Coast responded off the boot of Lucca Grego, the youngster slotting a lovely goal on the run from outside 50, before Tyler Brockman kicked his first to give the Eagles a nine-point lead at quarter time.
Peel stepped it up a notch in the second, kicking two goals to West Coast’s none, with captain Jack Sears kicking his first of three goals for the day, to hold a minor two-point buffer at the main break.
While the Eagles remained competitive and battled hard all day, an experienced Peel outfit adapted better to the conditions and were able to convert in front of goal when the Eagles couldn’t.
Sears was pivotal for Peel with his three goals, while Lachie Tardrew starred with a game-high 29 touches.
The Eagles take on Claremont next Saturday at Revo Fitness Stadium, bouncedown from 1:10pm.
WEST COAST EAGLES: 2.4 2.6 3.7 4.9 (33)
PEEL THUNDER: 1.1 3.2 6.5 8.7 (55)
GOALS
West Coast Eagles: Grego, Brockman, Gross, Owies
Peel Thunder: Sears 3; Murray 2; Kickett, Polmear, Bryce
BEST
West Coast Eagles: Herbert, Hewett, Gross, Francou, Macrae, Lucassen
Peel Thunder: Banfield, Simpson, Tardrew, Tuia, Sears, Murray
