Fremantle’s partnership with WAFL club Peel took another few steps forward at this morning’s intra-club match with four Thunder players helping to boost the numbers for the practice match.

Three of the four Peel players, Paul Bower, Marlon Motlop and James Hawksley, have had experience at AFL level before, while Brad Holmes has been a prolific goalkicker in the state competition.

Peel product Hayden Ballantyne said today’s intra-club match was another example of how both clubs could benefit from the partnership.

“The Peel boys get to have a taste of playing to our game plan and then bring some of what they take from the experience back to WAFL level,” he said.

“They also get a step ahead of everyone else in WAFL.

“They’ve got a scratch match into their legs and they get to know a few of the AFL boys who will be down there playing with them this year.”

Bower, who played 60 games at Carlton since being drafted in 2005, played on his Peel teammate Marlon Motlop, who spent time on Port Adelaide’s list at AFL level.

The former Blue said that trying to fit into a foreign game plan had its challenges.

“It’s very tough, but it was a bit easier to come to terms with after quarter time,” Bower said.

“A lot of the talk from the Freo boys was extremely helpful. It was a really good experience to play with a lot of quality skillful players.”

Bower said he and his Thunder teammates would benefit greatly from the match.

“It was great to be amongst the AFL players today and it will hold us in good stead for the upcoming WAFL season,” he said.

Hawksley, who played 23 games in his time at the Brisbane Lions, took the mark of the day in the intra-club.

From 2014, the Freo Dockers will be aligned with the Peel Football Club for at least five years.

As of next season all players on Fremantle’s list will have Peel as their host WAFL club, allowing Fremantle players not playing at AFL level to play and train together at one WAFL club as opposed to being spread across the nine WAFL clubs.