Peter Matera facts for kids

Peter Matera (born 3 April 1969) is a famous former Australian rules football player. He played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Many people think he is one of the best players from Western Australia and one of the greatest Indigenous players ever. He is even in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Peter was known for his amazing speed and how he could run with the ball. He is especially remembered for his incredible game in the 1992 AFL Grand Final. His performance helped his team win, and he received the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player on the field.

Early Life and Start in Football

Peter Matera was born in Wagin, Western Australia. His mother was Indigenous (Noongar people), and his father was Italian. He grew up with seven brothers and sisters. Two of his brothers, Wally Matera and Phillip Matera, also became professional football players.

When he was young, Peter played soccer. But he saw how well his older brother Wally was doing in Australian rules football. This inspired Peter to switch sports. He was later chosen to play for South Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). In 1989, the West Coast Eagles picked him in the National Draft.

Peter Matera's AFL Career

Peter Matera joined the West Coast Eagles in 1990. He played only a few games in his first year. But in 1991, he became a rising star. He finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal count, which is a big award for the best player in the league. He was also named an All-Australian, meaning he was one of the best players in the country.

His Best Game Ever

Peter Matera made history in the 1992 AFL Grand Final. The West Coast Eagles won their very first championship, and Peter was a huge reason why. He played on the wing and kicked five goals, which is amazing for a player in his position. People still remember the image of him "setting sail for home," which means he was running fast towards the goal. For his outstanding performance, Peter won the Norm Smith Medal.

At the Peak of His Career

After 1992, Peter Matera continued to be one of the AFL's most exciting players. He was very good at knowing where the ball would go and scoring goals. He was again named an All-Australian in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, he almost won the Brownlow Medal, finishing second. He was also a key player when the West Coast Eagles won their second championship in 1994. Even though he was playing with a leg injury, he still helped his team win.

Changing His Role

As Peter got older, his famous speed started to slow down a little. In 1996, he changed his playing position. He became a half-back flanker, which is a defensive role. He was very successful in this new position. He was named an All-Australian again in 1996 and 1997. In 1996, he was also chosen for the West Coast Eagles' Team of the Decade.

Playing with His Brother Phil

In 1996, Peter's younger brother, Phillip Matera, also joined the West Coast Eagles. Phillip was a fast forward player who was great at kicking goals. He became known as "Fido" and was one of the best goal-kickers of his time. Phillip played 179 games and kicked 389 goals before he retired in 2005.

Winning Club Champion

Peter Matera was always a consistent player for the Eagles. After finishing in the top five for his club's best player award many times, he finally won the John Worsfold Medal (the Club Champion Award) in 1997. He was just two votes ahead of another Eagles legend, Dean Kemp. Winning this award showed how important Peter was to the team throughout the 1990s.

A Big Decision

In late 1997, Peter Matera made a surprising announcement. He said he wanted to leave the West Coast Eagles and join the Melbourne Football Club. He wanted to play more games at the MCG, a famous stadium. This news caused a lot of discussion in Western Australia. Many of his teammates, including captain John Worsfold, visited him to talk about it. A few days later, Peter changed his mind and decided to stay with the West Coast Eagles.

Winding Down His Career

As Peter Matera entered his 30s, his performance slowly started to decline. Many of his teammates who won championships with him retired. By the early 2000s, Peter was one of the few experienced players left. He became a vice-captain of the club in 1999. The team had some tough years in 2000 and 2001, missing the finals.

In 2002, his former captain, John Worsfold, returned to the club as the new coach. This helped the team improve and reach the finals again. Peter, at 33 years old, played some good games that year. It seemed like he might play on in 2003. However, before the 2003 season started, Peter Matera announced his retirement. He had a thigh injury that made it hard for him to be fully fit.

Peter Matera played 253 games for the West Coast Eagles and kicked 218 goals over 13 seasons. He also played 60 games for South Fremantle Football Club and represented Western Australia five times in state football.

Career Highlights and Awards

Peter Matera achieved many great things in his football career:

Team Awards

• 2× AFL Premiership player (West Coast): He helped the West Coast Eagles win the championship in 1992 and 1994.
• 2× McClelland Trophy (West Coast): The Eagles won this award for being the best team at the end of the regular season in 1991 and 1994.

Individual Awards

• Norm Smith Medal: He won this medal in 1992 for being the best player in the Grand Final.
• John Worsfold Medal: He was named the West Coast Eagles' best player in 1997.
• 5× All-Australian team: He was chosen as one of the best players in the league five times (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997).
• 4× State of Origin (Western Australia): He represented his home state of Western Australia four times.
• Australian Football League Indigenous Team of the Century 1904-2003 – Wing: He was named in the best team of Indigenous players from the last century.
• Italian Team of the Century - Wing: He was also named in the best team of Italian-Australian players.

Life After Football

After he retired from playing, Peter Matera stayed involved in football. In August 2005, he was honored by being named on the wing of the Indigenous Team of the Century. He said it was a great honor to be recognized with players he looked up to, like Stephen Michael and Polly Farmer.

Peter also tried coaching in Western Australia. In 2006, he became an assistant coach and mentor at the East Perth Football Club in the WAFL.

On 10 March 2006, Peter Matera was inducted into the Western Australian Football Hall of Fame. A few months later, on 22 June 2006, he became the first player who spent his whole AFL career at the West Coast Eagles to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. This is one of the highest honors in Australian Football. Peter said it was a perfect way to end his career.

In 2015, the Matera Foundation was started. This foundation helps Aboriginal Australians find jobs. In 2019, it was announced that Peter would join the AFL Tribunal in 2020. This group makes decisions about player behavior.

In May 2022, Peter Matera had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.