Peel Thunder recruits Victorian brothers, athletics champion ahead of 2025 WAFL season

Peel Thunder have recruited three new players to their league side ahead of the 2025 WAFL season.

Archie Caldow will call Lane Group Stadium home after moving across the country from Ballarat.

The 192cm utility is a former athletics national champion.

He also represented Victoria Country and had a dominant year with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Coates League.

Archie said he couldn’t be happier to make the move to Peel Thunder in 2025.

“I am super excited to get over on the big ovals and play with a quality outfit coming fresh off a League Premiership," he said.

"I am looking forward to further my development and playing quality Senior football in a variety of positions and roles. In terms of how I describe my playing style, I am a hard running, team-oriented utility that can play a variety of positions on the field.”

Sam Skinner GM Football Operations said Archie will be an asset to the team.

“Firstly, Archie is a quality character, he has fitted in seamlessly and is already a popular person amongst the players and staff, he sets high standards," he said.

"His football quality and athletic upside is highly touted, we look forward to watching him run and up and down Lane Group Stadium. Archie goes out his way to build relationships with others, has a strong presence and highly driven to succeed.

"Moving across the country is a big effort, this represents his eagerness to develop his football and join our strong environment. It will be great to welcome the Caldow family to the Thunder in 2025.”

Peel have also recruited two brothers from Wodonga, Victoria.

Josh and Jack Mathey played for the Wodonga Bulldogs in the Ovens and Murray FNL.

Josh, 21, is an inside midfielder and already holds three best and fairest awards with the Wodonga Bulldogs and represented Collingwood in the VFL in 2024.

His younger brother Jack, 19, is a forward midfielder and had a strong season with Wodonga last year.

Sam Skinner shared an insight into Jack and Josh’s journey to Peel Thunder.

“Both Josh and Jack are two quality people and natural footballers, simply love their football and suit the environment we have built at Peel Thunder," he said.

"The Ovens & Murray FNL is a quality league, Josh has one of the best current football CV’s in that competition, for his age and position. Like Josh, Jack is a competitor and will not shy away from a contest. I believe he has plenty of untapped potential."

"(Josh) broke into a VFL program last year. He would get-up at 4am for work as a plumber to complete a full-days’ (wake-up early to give himself enough time to leave early for training), drive 3-hours to Collingwood training, 3-hours back home, get home at 11pm and then wake up for work the next day.”

Josh said they couldn't wait to make the move to Mandurah.

“The thing that excited us when we came over was the feel of the club, a country footy feel while still being super professional. It felt like our home club straight away."

“To be able to jump at an opportunity like this and attack it with my brother is something that’s really special. Jack and I are best mates and we are super close so to be able to move away with Jack and my partner Georgia is an extremely exciting chapter in our lives.”

The 2025 WAFL season begins on April 5.