Phillip Matera facts for kids

Phillip Matera (born 27 November 1975) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He was known for his speed and goal-kicking skills.

Playing Career Highlights

Phillip Matera started his professional football journey in 1996. He played as a forward pocket, which is a player who stays close to the goal to score points. Standing at 171 cm tall, he became one of the best small forwards in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Family Footy Connection

Phillip comes from a family of talented footballers. His brothers, Peter and Wally, also played in the AFL. Phillip was the third Matera brother to play for the West Coast Eagles.

Top Goalkicker and All-Australian

Phillip was a very important player for the West Coast Eagles. He was the club's leading goalkicker five times: in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. His speed and ability to put pressure on opponents often helped create scoring chances for his team.

In 2003, Phillip had an amazing season. He kicked 62 goals and was chosen for the All-Australian team for the first time. This team is made up of the best players from across the league each year. In 2004, he continued to play well, kicking 61 goals.

Retirement from the Game

In 2005, injuries made it harder for Phillip to play. He still managed to kick 39 goals in 19 games that season. Sadly, he had to miss the 2005 AFL Grand Final because of an injury.

On November 23, 2005, Phillip Matera announced he was retiring from AFL football. He had a long-term back injury that made it difficult to continue playing. He decided to focus on his electrical contracting business, which he had started in 2003.

Phillip finished his career with 389 goals from 179 games for the West Coast Eagles. This makes him the fourth-highest goalkicker in the club's history. After retiring as a player, he later became an assistant coach at the Claremont team in December 2009.