Peter Metropolis
Encyclopedia
Peter James Metropolis is a former Australian rules football
player and administrator. He played 159 games for the Subiaco Football Club
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL), including the 1973 premiership, and later served as president of the club.
in Perth
, playing in the school's First XVIII. He then went to the University of Western Australia
where he played for the university's football team, winning the colts best and fairest
and the senior best and fairest in consecutive seasons, playing mainly as a wingman. Falling into Subiaco's recruitment zone
, he made his debut in 1965, and was switched to the centre the next season. Metropolis finished equal with Ross Gosden in the Outridge Medal, Subiaco's best and fairest
, but Gosden was awarded the medal on countback.
Metropolis was selected in WAFL representative sides three times, but was only able to play once – against Tasmania in 1970 – missing out due to a hamstring injury the other times. He served as captain of Subiaco in 1971 and 1972. He stood down in 1973 after Ross Smith
was recruited as captain-coach, but still served on the selection committee as one of the most senior players. Metropolis played as a reserve
in Subiaco's 1973 premiership victory over . He announced his retirement from the club after the game, and was awarded life membership.
He was appointed playing coach of Victoria Park in the Sunday Football League (SFL) in 1974. He returned to Subiaco with a part-time role as assistant coach in 1975 under David Parkin
, but continued playing for Victoria Park until a knee injury forced his retirement in 1976.
In 1991, Metropolis was elected to the committee of Subiaco. He was elected President of the club in 1997, a role in which he served until 2004, presiding over the club's move from Subiaco Oval
to Leederville Oval. He currently serves as a vice-patron of the club, and works as a civil engineering consultant.
for Western Australia, and Daniel
, who played 114 games for the West Coast Eagles
and in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
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...
player and administrator. He played 159 games for the Subiaco Football Club
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL), including the 1973 premiership, and later served as president of the club.
Playing career
Metropolis began his football career at Wembley JFC. He attended Scotch CollegeScotch College, Perth
Scotch College , is one of Australia's leading independent schools for boys, situated in Swanbourne, Western Australia, Australia. The school is a member of the Public Schools Association and is now a Uniting Church school, although it was founded in 1897 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, playing in the school's First XVIII. He then went to the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
where he played for the university's football team, winning the colts best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
and the senior best and fairest in consecutive seasons, playing mainly as a wingman. Falling into Subiaco's recruitment zone
Zoning (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, zoning refers to a system whereby a given area, either region or lower-level football league, is reserved exclusively for one club....
, he made his debut in 1965, and was switched to the centre the next season. Metropolis finished equal with Ross Gosden in the Outridge Medal, Subiaco's best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
, but Gosden was awarded the medal on countback.
Metropolis was selected in WAFL representative sides three times, but was only able to play once – against Tasmania in 1970 – missing out due to a hamstring injury the other times. He served as captain of Subiaco in 1971 and 1972. He stood down in 1973 after Ross Smith
Ross G. Smith
Ross G. Smith is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League .Smith played with St Kilda as a courageous rover. He won the Brownlow Medal in 1967 and captained Victoria at the 1972 Perth Carnival...
was recruited as captain-coach, but still served on the selection committee as one of the most senior players. Metropolis played as a reserve
Interchange (Australian rules football)
Interchange is the term used to describe a team position in Australian rules football, consisting of the players who are off the ground at any time...
in Subiaco's 1973 premiership victory over . He announced his retirement from the club after the game, and was awarded life membership.
He was appointed playing coach of Victoria Park in the Sunday Football League (SFL) in 1974. He returned to Subiaco with a part-time role as assistant coach in 1975 under David Parkin
David Parkin
David Parkin is a former Australian rules footballer and four-time premiership coach.- Pre-football career :He attended Melbourne High School and during his time there, was the school vice-captain and captain of football....
, but continued playing for Victoria Park until a knee injury forced his retirement in 1976.
Post-playing career
Metropolis returned to his junior club Wembley as coach in 1976, serving in that role for two seasons in which the club finished runner-up and won a premiership. He was appointed reserves coach at Subiaco in 1979, and also served as a runner and selector for the club. After senior coach Peter Burton was sacked midway through the first week of the 1980 season, Metropolis took over for one game, against , which the Lions lost. He was replaced by Ken Armstrong for the rest of the season.In 1991, Metropolis was elected to the committee of Subiaco. He was elected President of the club in 1997, a role in which he served until 2004, presiding over the club's move from Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
to Leederville Oval. He currently serves as a vice-patron of the club, and works as a civil engineering consultant.
Family
Metropolis had two children with his wife Tina: Dayna, who played netballNetball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
for Western Australia, and Daniel
Daniel Metropolis
Daniel Metropolis is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers between 1992 and 2001.-Career:...
, who played 114 games for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
and in the Australian 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...
(AFL).