In his youth, Peatling played for amateur club Pennant Hills in the AFL Sydney Premier Division, and won a premiership for the club alongside future teammate Kieren Briggs.[2] Peatling went through the GWS Giants Academy,[3] and eventually represented the Allies in the AFL Under 18 Championship, playing 36 games and averaging 14 disposals.[4] He played for the Giant's VFL team in the 2021 season,[5] averaging 22 possessions including a 33-disposal game against Port Melbourne.[6]
AFL career
Greater Western Sydney
After being passed over in two drafts, Peatling was selected by the Giants in the 2021 mid-season draft, becoming the club's first-ever mid-season draft selection.[7] Peatling made his debut against Port Adelaide in round 20 of the 2021 season,[8] collecting 19 disposals to go with 7 marks.
Peatling's true breakout season came in 2024, kicking off when he came on as the substitute for Sam Taylor against St Kilda and took a game-saving mark.[9] Peatling came in clutch again later in the year against Melbourne with a career-best 28 disposals and 11 tackles, one of which came at a critical stage of the game against future teammate Alex Neal-Bullen.[10] Peatling improved upon his career-best tackle number with 12 in the qualifying final loss to Sydney. He finished the year with 18 games, the most thus far in his career. Peatling received four-year offers from Adelaide, Collingwood, Melbourne, St Kilda, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs at the end of his breakthrough season, as well as a four year offer to remain at the Giants.[11] On the third of October, Peatling chose Adelaide and formally requested a trade.[12]
