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Fremantle Dockers’ Jye Amiss not thinking about AFL call-up despite successful return for Peel Thunder

Headshot of Jordan McArdle
Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
Jye Amiss returned from a kidney injury to play for Peel Thunder on Saturday.
Camera IconJye Amiss returned from a kidney injury to play for Peel Thunder on Saturday. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

As he made a successful return to footy after three months on the sidelines, Jye Amiss proved he’s the man for the moment with a big late goal to spark Peel Thunder’s WAFL win.

And may well be called upon to produce it on a much bigger stage for Fremantle’s finals campaign in the coming weeks.

Amiss stood up late with the game on the line in his first appearance since undergoing serious kidney surgery, nailing a huge long-range goal to follow another beauty just before half-time when the rain and wind was at its worst.

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With Matt Taberner sidelined with a calf injury and Josh Treacy out with illness, the 19-year-old will come into contention for the Dockers’ upcoming finals campaign.

But he was more looking to build consistency in the WAFL after such a long lay-off, before thinking about an AFL call-up.

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“I’m just looking to start playing consistent footy again, obviously I’ve had 12 weeks off,” Amiss told The West Australian.

“I’ll just keep building on that and have a good stint of footy and see what happens.”

Taberner helped out on the interchange in a coaching role as he recovers from a calf issue which is expected to rule him out for the AFL home-and-away season at least.

WAFL - Peel Thunder vs South Fremantle Bulldogs at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Jye Amiss celebrates a goal with team mate Blair Bell
Camera IconAmiss celebrates one of his two goals with Blair Bell. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

Amiss got through 75 minutes of game time and was feeling pretty good after contributing to the Thunder’s fourth win in a row to keep them in the top-five.

“I was pretty keen to get back out there, I had a really good rehab period to get my body right,” he said.

The East Perth and Busselton product started slowly in tough conditions for a key forward before slotting through a mid-range set shot just before half-time as torrential rain and strong winds wreaked havoc in Mandurah.

Every teammate got around him in a special moment, but he reckons his final-quarter goal was tougher given the situation.

“It was a really nice moment,” Amiss reflected.

“I’ve missed being out there with the boys over the last 12 weeks.”

Thunder coach Geoff Valentine described Amiss’ finishing as “elite” and highlighted how much they were needed.

WAFL - Peel Thunder vs South Fremantle Bulldogs at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Jye Amiss listens to Fremantle team mate Matt Taberner at the quarter time break
Camera IconWAFL - Peel Thunder vs South Fremantle Bulldogs at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah. Pictured - Peel's Jye Amiss listens to Fremantle team mate Matt Taberner at the quarter time break Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

“He’s elite, isn’t he?” Valentine said.

“It’s one of the things he probably does better than anyone. That goal in the second quarter when the breeze really picked up, it was howling across the ground and he kicked it almost gun-barrel straight.

“He’s finishing skills were fantastic today and we needed them, so for him to ice a couple of goals like that was super.”

Hulking forward Treacy missed his second game in a row through illness, two weeks apart, in a worrying sign.

Treacy hasn’t played since the round-14 win over Perth on July 23 but Valentine was hopeful he’ll be back either against Claremont next week or West Coast the week after.

“I think he’s battling some viral thing which just hasn’t allowed him to come up, so I think he’ll be right to get back on the training track this week and we’ll go from there,” Valentine said.

“If we don’t have him back next week, he won’t be far away. The problem now is the de-load and how much training he needs.”

Amiss was one of a dozen Dockers playing for Peel’s league side to go with young talls Sebit Kuek and Eric Benning in the reserves.

Premiership defender Joel Hamling (illness) and rebounder Nathan Wilson (COVID) are both expected to face the Tigers next Saturday at Revo Fitness Stadium.

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