Wally Matera facts for kids

Walter John Matera (born 9 September 1963) is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the West Coast Eagles and Fitzroy in the AFL. He also played for South Fremantle in the WAFL.

Wally Matera's Football Journey

Wally Matera began his football career with South Fremantle. He joined the team in 1982 when he was 18 years old. Three years later, in 1985, he won the award for the team's best and fairest player.

Playing for the West Coast Eagles

After playing well for South Fremantle, Wally joined the West Coast Eagles. This was in 1987, the Eagles' very first season in the league. In their first game, Wally was the top scorer for the Eagles. He kicked 4 goals in that exciting match. He played with the Eagles for a couple of seasons.

Time in Victoria

After his time with the West Coast Eagles, Wally moved to Victoria. There, he played for the Fitzroy team. He stayed with Fitzroy until the end of the 1990 season. After leaving the AFL, he played briefly for the Prahran team in Victoria.

Return to South Fremantle

Wally Matera then returned to Western Australia. He rejoined his old team, South Fremantle. He continued to play exceptionally well. He won the best and fairest award two more times, in 1992 and 1993. In 1992, he was made the team's vice-captain. The next year, in 1993, he became the captain of South Fremantle.

A Family of Footballers

Wally Matera comes from a family of talented Australian rules footballers. His younger brothers, Peter and Phillip Matera, also became professional players. They both followed in Wally's footsteps and played for the West Coast Eagles.

The Next Generation

Wally's sons, Brandon and Bailey, have also become Australian rules footballers. Brandon played in the AFL for the Gold Coast Suns and the Fremantle Dockers. He also played in the WAFL for South Fremantle, Peel, and Subiaco. Bailey has played for South Fremantle and Subiaco. Both Brandon and Bailey were part of the Subiaco team that won the WAFL premiership in 2021.