View source for Peter Matera

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1969}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Peter Matera
| image =
| alt = 
| caption = 
| nickname = Roo
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|4|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Wagin, Western Australia]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = [[South Fremantle Football Club|South Fremantle]] ([[West Australian Football League|WAFL]])
| height = <!-- ### cm -->
| weight = <!-- ### kg -->
| position = Wing
| statsend = 2002
| years1 = 1987-1990
| club1 =  [[South Fremantle Football Club|South Fremantle]]
| games_goals1 = 60 (88)
| years2 = 1990–2002
| club2 = {{AFL WC}}
| games_goals2 = 253 (217)
| games_goalstotal = 313 (305)
| sooyears1 = 1989–1997
| sooteam1 = [[Western Australia Australian rules football team|Western Australia]]
| soogames_goals1 = 5 (4)
| careerhighlights = *2× [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|AFL Premiership player]]: ([[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992]], [[1994 AFL Grand Final|1994]])
*[[Norm Smith Medal]]: (1992)
*5× [[All Australian team]]: (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997)
*[[John Worsfold Medal|West Coast Club Champion]]: (1997)
*[[Indigenous Team of the Century]] 2005
*[[Australian Football Hall of Fame]], inducted 2006
*[[VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century]] 2007
}}

'''Peter Matera''' (born 3 April 1969) is a former [[Australian rules football]]er who played for the [[West Coast Eagles]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). He is regarded as one of the greatest West Australians and indigenous players being a member of the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] and [[Indigenous Team of the Century]] as well as being 5 time [[All-Australian]] and 2 time premiership player.

Best known for his [[running bounce|run and carry]] playing style he is best remembered for his best on ground performance in the [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992 Grand Final]] which won him the [[Norm Smith Medal]].

==Early life==
Matera was born in [[Wagin, Western Australia]]<ref>[https://www.wafootballhalloffame.com.au/inductees/6cf60560-4be1-11e9-92bc-63b3d5a6bd15_peter-matera HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Peter MATERA]</ref> to an indigenous ([[Noongar]]) mother and an Italian father.<ref>[https://www.afl.com.au/news/477026/peter-matera-deadly-files-write-off We got the keys to the city: AFL great Peter Matera on WA in the 90s] By Dr Sean Gorman 1 August 2020</ref> He has seven siblings (Walter, Frank, Michael, Gino, Phillip, Gerard and Carmel), two of which were his older brother [[Wally Matera]], and younger brother [[Phillip Matera]], who both played football at the elite level. Matera played soccer as a youngster and was influenced by the success of Wally in playing Australian rules football.

Matera was recruited from [[South Fremantle Football Club|South Fremantle]] in the [[West Australian Football League]] (WAFL) with the 4th selection in the [[1989 VFL Draft|1989 National Draft]].

== AFL career ==
He made his debut in 1990 for West Coast. Playing just five games in his debut season for the Eagles, Matera broke through as a star youngster in 1991, finishing fourth in the [[Brownlow Medal]] and earning [[All-Australian]] honors. Matera followed up with an excellent 1992, unlucky to miss AA honours once more but capped off the season with an outstanding finals series.

=== Finest hour ===
Peter Matera permanently etched his name into football folklore with his outstanding performance in the [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992 Grand Final]]. The West Coast Eagles captured their first premiership on the back of Matera's excellent five goal effort from the wing. The image of Matera "setting sail for home" is considered by many{{By whom|date=August 2022}} to be the definitive moment in West Coast history. Matera collected the [[Norm Smith Medal]] for his best on ground performance.

=== Prime of career ===
Matera continued to establish himself as one of the games legitimate stars and most dangerous players throughout the mid-1990s. His outstanding goal sense and reading of the play made Matera a true game breaker. Selected as an All-Australian again in 1993 and 94, Matera also was something of a surprise{{To whom?|date=August 2022}} runner up in the 1994 [[Brownlow Medal]] count, polling 28 votes, including four straight best of ground performances. Matera was also a key member of West Coast's second premiership team in 1994 – while he did not repeat his 1992 heroics, it was later revealed he played the Grand Final under much duress due to a stress fracture in his leg.

=== Moving back ===
With his trademark speed on the decline, 1996 saw Peter Matera reinvent himself as a half back flank with great success. This part of his career is often overshadowed by his outstanding years as a wingman but Matera made a fine defender and once again enjoyed All-Australian status in 1996 and 1997. Matera was named on a wing in West Coast's team of the decade in 1996.

=== Brother Phil ===
1996 also saw Matera joined at West Coast by his younger brother Phillip. A fine player in his own right, Phillip was a speedy [[forward pocket]] who emerged from his brother's shadow later in his career to be regarded as one of the better goal sneaks of his time. Affectionately known as "Fido", Phil Matera retired after the 2005 season playing 179 games and kicking 389 goals for West Coast.

=== Club Champion at last ===
After four top five finishes in the strong West Coast team of the 1990s, Matera won his first [[John Worsfold Medal|Club Champion Award]] in [[1997 AFL season|1997]]. Finishing two votes clear of fellow Eagles' champion [[Dean Kemp]]. Despite only winning the award once, Matera's consistency throughout the 1990s elevates his status amongst West Coast greats.

=== The Demon decision ===
The most controversial moment of Peter Matera's career came in late 1997 when he shocked the football world by declaring his intentions to leave the West Coast Eagles and join the [[Melbourne Football Club]] via the pre-season draft for the 1998 season. Citing a desire to play more at the [[MCG]], Matera's announcement triggered major public outcry in [[Western Australia]] and saw many of his longtime Eagles teammates, including captain [[John Worsfold]] visit Matera's home (which was staked out by the media).{{citation needed | date = August 2022}} Days after news of Matera's defection broke, he did a back flip, agreeing to stay on at the West Coast Eagles.

=== Winding down ===
Matera's form declined once he reached his 30s. Most of his premiership teammates retired around him leaving Matera one of only a handful of experienced Eagles left by the turn of the century – Matera was named a vice captain of the club in 1999, holding this position for three seasons. The team's fortunes took a turn for the worse in 2000 and 2001, missing the finals for the first time since 1989. Matera, while still finishing top 10 in the Club Champion award was not the outstanding performer he was in his prime. 2002 saw the return to the club of legendary Eagles captain [[John Worsfold]], this time in the role of senior coach. Worsfold's return saw the side return to the finals and saw Matera, aged 33, regain some fine form and it appeared he may play on in 2003. To some surprise and disappointment, late in the preseason of 2003 Peter Matera drew the curtain on his illustrious career, succumbing to a persistent thigh injury which had rendered him unable to reach peak fitness.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tears flow as Matera calls it quits |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tears-flow-as-matera-calls-it-quits-20030318-gdve67.html |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=[[The Age]]  |date=18 March 2003}}</ref>

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|South Fremantle]] and represented Western Australia in state football on 5 occasions.

==Statistics==
:<ref>[https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/P/Peter_Matera.html Peter Matera's player profile at AFL Tables]</ref>

{{Australian rules football statistics legend|p=y}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1990 AFL season|1990]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 37 || 5 || 3 || 3 || 45 || 16 || 61 || 16 || 3 || 0.6 || 0.6 || 9.0 || 3.2 || 12.2 || 3.2 || 0.6 || 0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1991 AFL season|1991]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 26 || 32 || 25 || 401 || 134 || 535 || 87 || 56 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 15.4 || 5.2 || 20.6 || 3.3 || 2.2 || 18
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1992 AFL season|1992]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 23 || 31 || 22 || 349 || 110 || 459 || 63 || 65 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 15.2 || 4.8 || 20.0 || 2.7 || 2.8 || 9
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1993 AFL season|1993]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 20 || 23 || 24 || 317 || 124 || 441 || 74 || 43 || 1.2 || 1.2 || 15.9 || 6.2 || 22.1 || 3.7 || 2.2 || 10
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| scope=row bgcolor=F0E68C | '''[[1994 AFL season|1994]]'''<sup>#</sup> || {{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 24 || 21 || 20 || 305 || 108 || 413 || 77 || 68 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 12.7 || 4.5 || 17.2 || 3.2 || 2.8 || 28
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1995 AFL season|1995]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 20 || 31 || 15 || 284 || 82 || 366 || 74 || 40 || 1.6 || 0.8 || 14.2 || 4.1 || 18.3 || 3.7 || 2.0 || 13
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1996 AFL season|1996]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 24 || 9 || 10 || 339 || 119 || 458 || 98 || 71 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 14.1 || 5.0 || 19.1 || 4.1 || 3.0 || 9
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1997 AFL season|1997]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 21 || 7 || 8 || 336 || 132 || 468 || 93 || 39 || 0.3 || 0.4 || 16.0 || 6.3 || 22.3 || 4.4 || 1.9 || 21
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1998 AFL season|1998]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 21 || 17 || 13 || 294 || 81 || 375 || 76 || 55 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 14.0 || 3.9 || 17.9 || 3.6 || 2.6 || 6
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[1999 AFL season|1999]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 16 || 8 || 6 || 196 || 92 || 288 || 71 || 37 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 12.3 || 5.8 || 18.0 || 4.4 || 2.3 || 8
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2000 AFL season|2000]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 17 || 22 || 12 || 216 || 88 || 304 || 63 || 39 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 12.7 || 5.2 || 17.9 || 3.7 || 2.3 || 1
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 AFL season|2001]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 19 || 2 || 4 || 245 || 67 || 312 || 69 || 42 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 12.9 || 3.5 || 16.4 || 3.6 || 2.2 || 3
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2002 AFL season|2002]]
|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}
| 30 || 17 || 11 || 4 || 212 || 76 || 288 || 44 || 57 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 12.5 || 4.5 || 16.9 || 2.6 || 3.4 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 253
! 217
! 166
! 3539
! 1229
! 4768
! 905
! 615
! 0.9
! 0.7
! 14.0
! 4.9
! 18.9
! 3.6
! 2.4
! 126
|}

==Honours and achievements==
'''Team'''
* '''2× [[List of VFL/AFL premiers|AFL premiership player]] ({{AFL WC}})''': [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992]], [[1994 AFL Grand Final|1994]]
* '''2× [[McClelland Trophy]] ({{AFL WC}})''': [[1991 AFL season|1991]], [[1994 AFL season|1994]]

'''Individual'''
* '''[[Norm Smith Medal]]''': [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992]]
* '''[[John Worsfold Medal]]''': [[1997 AFL season|1997]]
* '''5× [[All-Australian team]]''': [[1991 All-Australian team|1991]], [[1993 All-Australian team|1993]], [[1994 All-Australian team|1994]], [[1996 All-Australian team|1996]], [[1997 All-Australian team|1997]]
* '''4× [[Interstate matches in Australian rules football|State of Origin]] ([[Western Australia Australian rules football team|Western Australia]])''': 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997
* '''[[Australian Football League]] [[Indigenous Team of the Century|Indigenous Team of the Century 1904-2003 – Wing]]'''
*'''[[Italian Team of the Century#The team|Italian Team of the Century - Wing]]'''

== Life after football ==
In August 2005, Matera was named on the wing of the [[Indigenous Team of the Century]]. Matera said of the honour:

<blockquote>[[Stephen Michael]] was my idol as a kid, and we used to hear all about how good [[Polly Farmer]] was so to be recognised with them is an honor.</blockquote>

After leaving the football world following his retirement, Matera dabbled in coaching in South Western WA before signalling his intentions to return to the game in a larger capacity. Despite being linked by some to the vacant assistant coaching position at West Coast, Matera took on an assistant coaching and mentoring role at the [[East Perth Football Club]] in the WAFL for the 2006 season.

On 10 March 2006, Matera was inducted into the [[Western Australian Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Peter MATERA |url=http://www.wafootballhalloffame.com.au/inductees/5030-peter-matera |website=WA Football Hall of Fame |publisher=[[West Australian Football Commission]] |access-date=10 August 2019}}</ref>

On 22 June 2006, Matera became the first ever career West Coast Eagle to be inducted into the [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]]. Considered one of the highest honours in Australian Football, Matera was pleased to receive the recognition

<blockquote>To be inducted in the highest level of football and accolades as in the Hall of Fame is one of those things that just caps off my career. This more or less finishes my career on a high.</blockquote>

In early 2015, the [http://materafoundation.org.au Matera Foundation] was formed to assist Aboriginal Australians in finding employment.

In 2019, it was announced that Matera would join the AFL Tribunal in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=AFL 2019: Peter Matera becomes the first indigenous member of AFL tribunal jury|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-peter-matera-becomes-the-first-indigenous-member-of-afl-tribunal-jury/news-story/f9b63b4d6e95f97381604f7b897085ec|work=Fox Sports|date=5 July 2019 |access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref>

In May 2022, Matera was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Healey |first=Catherine |date=2022-05-30 |title=West Coast Eagles great Peter Matera in hospital after suffering 'severe heart attack' |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/west-coast-eagles-great-peter-matera-in-hospital-after-suffering-severe-heart-attack/news-story/82a98e0fb2fc8e0ea9caa99776527f42 |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{AFL Tables}}
*{{AustralianFootball}}
*{{WAFL FootyFacts}}
*[http://materafoundation.org.au Matera Foundation]

{{1992/94 West Coast Eagles dual premiership players}}
{{Norm Smith Medal}}
{{John Worsfold Medal winners}}
{{navboxes
|title = Peter Matera in [[All-Australian team|<span style="color:gold;">All-Australian teams</span>]]
| titlestyle = background:green; color:gold;
|list1=
{{1991 All-Australian team}}
{{1993 All-Australian team}}
{{1994 All-Australian team}}
{{1996 All-Australian team}}
{{1997 All-Australian team}}
}}
{{navboxes
| title = Peter Matera in Western Australian State of Origin teams
| titlestyle = background:gold; color:black;
| list1 ={{1991 Western Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1992 Western Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1993 Western Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1997 Western Australia State of Origin players}}
}}
{{1989 VFL national draft}}
{{AFL Indigenous Team of the Century}}
{{AFL Italian Team of the Century}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matera, Peter}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Indigenous Australians from Western Australia]]
[[Category:Norm Smith Medal winners]]
[[Category:South Fremantle Football Club players]]
[[Category:West Coast Eagles players]]
[[Category:West Coast Eagles premiership players]]
[[Category:Western Australian Sports Star of the Year winners]]
[[Category:All-Australians (AFL)]]
[[Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Western Australian State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football]]
[[Category:John Worsfold Medal winners]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia]]
[[Category:West Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:People from Wagin, Western Australia]]
[[Category:VFL/AFL premiership players]]