Brian Peake
Encyclopedia
Brian Francis Peake OAM
(born 4 December 1953 in South Perth
, Western Australia
) is a former Australian rules football
er. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League/West Australian Football League/WA State League (WANFL/WAFL/WASL) and in the Victorian Football League
. He also played State of Origin
football for Western Australia from 1978 to 1987, captaining the side in 1979, 1980, 1986 and 1987. Peake was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
in 1990, and inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2004.
in 1977 and captaining the All-Australian side in 1979 and 1986. Peake played over 300 games for the Blue and Whites and holds the record for six club Best and Fairests. Peake moved on late in his career to the Perth Football Club
to be the second West Australian behind Barry Cable
to reach 400 games of senior league football. Peake has been named a WAFL Hall of Fame Legend.
club Geelong
midseason in 1981. Amidst much hype he was flown to Kardinia Park by helicopter for training where a crowd of 3000 fans awaited his arrival. In 1982 he was promoted to team captain after just 13 VFL games, although he gave up this position a year later to club game record holder Ian Nankervis
. Widely regarded as one of the most in-form players in the country at the time, Peake was paid $1,000 a game (high by 1980s standards). After the 1984 season, Peake returned to Western Australia, where he continued to play for a further six seasons.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 4 December 1953 in South Perth
South Perth, Western Australia
South Perth is a residential suburb 3 kilometres south of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, which adjoins the southern shore of Perth Water on the Swan River...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
) is a former Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League/West Australian Football League/WA State League (WANFL/WAFL/WASL) and in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He also played State of Origin
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
football for Western Australia from 1978 to 1987, captaining the side in 1979, 1980, 1986 and 1987. Peake was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1990, and inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
West Australian Football Hall of Fame
The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise and enshrine those who have made a significant contribution to Australian rules football in Western Australia...
in 2004.
WAFL career
The son of Laurie Peake, who also played for East Fremantle, Peake was versatile ruck-rover, half-forward flanker or centreman. He had a long and successful career with East Fremantle where he made his debut in 1972, playing in three premiership winning sides (1974, 1979 and 1985), winning a Sandover MedalSandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League...
in 1977 and captaining the All-Australian side in 1979 and 1986. Peake played over 300 games for the Blue and Whites and holds the record for six club Best and Fairests. Peake moved on late in his career to the Perth Football Club
Perth Football Club
The Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club plays its matches at Lathlain Park.-History:...
to be the second West Australian behind Barry Cable
Barry Cable
Barry Cable is an Australian former Australian rules footballer who played in the West Australian National Football League and Victorian Football League . Cable played as a rover. He won the Sandover Medal three times while playing with the Perth Football Club.-Club career:Cable played 225 games...
to reach 400 games of senior league football. Peake has been named a WAFL Hall of Fame Legend.
VFL career
Peake transferred to Victorian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
club Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
midseason in 1981. Amidst much hype he was flown to Kardinia Park by helicopter for training where a crowd of 3000 fans awaited his arrival. In 1982 he was promoted to team captain after just 13 VFL games, although he gave up this position a year later to club game record holder Ian Nankervis
Ian Nankervis
Ian J. Nankervis is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League . Nankervis played for Geelong for 17 seasons and was captain from 1978 to 1981, and again in 1983. Nankervis holds the record of most senior level games for Geelong with 325 VFL...
. Widely regarded as one of the most in-form players in the country at the time, Peake was paid $1,000 a game (high by 1980s standards). After the 1984 season, Peake returned to Western Australia, where he continued to play for a further six seasons.