THE LATEST draft prospect to earn a senior berth was Clay Hall, who mixed it with AFL-listed players in Peel Thunder’s 65-point thumping of Perth on Saturday. A final quarter procession saw the Thunder run out comfortable victors, with their 17-year-old debutant building into the contest nicely.

Hall, the son of 74-game West Coast and Geelong forward Derek, played through midfield and has plenty about him at 189cm. He cut his teeth as a winger last year before transitioning to the inside, and famously gave up playing in the Under 17 Futures showcase to help Peel qualify for the Colts decider.

After a full preseason with the ones, he was named captain in the Thunder’s junior ranks and took only one game to earn promotion to League level. We put Hall’s maiden senior outing under the Player Focus microscope this week.

Peel Thunder, Western AustraliaMidfielder

Clay Hall

Height: 189cm

Weight: 87kg

DOB: 12-05-2005

2023 WAFL LEAGUE – ROUND 2
PEEL THUNDER 10.17 (77) def. PERTH 1.6 (12)

Player Focus: #47 Clay Hall (Peel Thunder)
Stats: 16 disposals (10 kicks, 6 handballs), 1 mark, 6 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

FIRST QUARTER

Despite starting on the bench, Hall produced one of his more productive quarters in the first upon being introduced to the midfield battle. He showcased his smooth movement and piercing left-foot skills straight away, marking a kick-in before setting off and hitting a bullet pass to defensive wing.

Sauntering from contest to contest, Hall could have been a touch tighter on his direct opponent and more hard in contested situations, but held his width well with more time at the stoppages. While normally composed in possession, he was often forced to rush in the frantic early stages.

Hall ended up attending two of three centre bounces in the opening term, not having a massive presence there but still putting up strong numbers of four kicks, a handball, one mark, and a breach of either arc.

SECOND QUARTER

Again starting on the pine, Hall came into the game for Ben Hancock after three minutes and got his first touch within five. It was another instance of the teenager looking sharp with ball in hand, as he cut a hole through traffic and dished off calmly.

While assured and classy in wider expanses, Hall had a few instances of spending possession before he had it as he fumbled at the contest, or was wrapped up immediately when he did manage to reel the loose ball in.

He seemed to grow in confidence though and found a hunger for the tough stuff, with one of his highlights for the half a terrific double effort. First, Hall spoiled from behind on Perth’s defensive 50 exit, then followed up to win the ground ball and wheel away to help his side re-enter the attacking arc.

His flashes of outside run also came to the fore, albeit without the usual polish. In one play, Hall streamed away at half-back and hit a short pass to Sebit Kuek, continuing on to get the ball back before sending his next kick out on the full. Still, the signs were there.

THIRD QUARTER

Most onlookers and perhaps even both sides involved would concede that the third term was largely a forgettable one, with Peel adding six behinds to Perth’s one in a scrappy period under the Mandurah sunshine.

Hall started on the field though, attending the sole centre bounce and being wrapped up at the second repeat stoppage to start the second half. Despite not finding many free possessions, Hall showed better signs in his contested application, albeit if exits and green ball were hard to come by.

FOURTH QUARTER

Starting on the field once more, Hall bookended his game nicely by hitting the scoreboard as Peel piled on the pain. He attended two of six centre bounces after starting on-ball and joined in on the Thunder’s scoring procession with his first senior goal late in the piece.

In a forward 50 turnover sparked by Liam Henry, Hall was assisted by Josh Treacy and finished with aplomb via a left-foot snap over his shoulder, before celebrating duly. Perhaps Fremantle fans would like to see more of that in future, though with a tinge of purple.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Hall put forward a promising League debut and seemed to grow in confidence as the game wore on, getting stuck in at a greater rate among the cut and thrust of midfield. Many in WA thought the teen had a case for National Academy selection, though he seems to be doing just fine without said honour.

Despite proving himself as a capable on-baller at Colts level, accumulating strong numbers, Hall still looks most dangerous on the outside. The situations where he could carry the ball in transition, change angles, or take time to hit a target by foot were where he was most effective.

His greatest strengths are his running capacity and kicking, which are hindered by the contested nature of senior midfield minutes. If he can begin to find exits at stoppage and manufacture the space he needs, he’ll be a gun as he already has little trouble getting his hands on the ball.

It must not be forgotten, though, that Hall is a kid on debut, so with all things considered he can be extremely proud with how he fared. Prizing his maiden senior goal was a great moment, and Hall clearly has the class to stay the course at League level.

He’ll likely prove a key piece for Western Australia at the Under 18 National Championships and will inevitably be on the draft radar with more of the same form. He was sorely missed in the Colts side too, which lost by 47 points to the Demons this week.