Peter Schwab
Encyclopedia
Peter Schwab is a former Australian rules football
er and coach in the VFL/AFL.
from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals. Schwab was used mainly as a utility.
after an uncharacteristic act. Schwab has also spoken about players such as Anthony Rocca
and Jason Cloke
being suspended before a Grand Final. Hawthorn won the game in his absence, in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest Grand Finals of all time.
, before becoming the head coach at Hawthorn in 2000. He took Hawthorn into the finals in his first year. They eliminated Geelong in the first elimination final, but the following week they were eliminated by Kangaroos in the semifinal. He took the Hawks to the finals again in 2001, where they eliminated Sydney in the elimination final and they eliminated Port Adelaide in the semifinal. They eventually lost to Essendon in a thriller at the MCG in the Preliminary Finals. In 2002, Hawthorn just missed out of the finals, finishing 10th. In 2003, Hawthorn just missed out of the finals again, finishing 9th. Between coaching stints, Schwab had a brief role as marketing manager at Hawthorn as the club entered into financial losses and a merger crisis. He also had a short stint heading up the umpiring panel.
's Match Review Panel. As of 2006, he also coached Australian rules football at prominent Melbourne School Wesley College, Melbourne
. In February 2007, Schwab joined AFL Victoria as its Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, Schwab makes "special comments" for ABC radio and writes for "The Age".
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 and coach in the VFL/AFL.
Playing career
Recruited from Bennettswood, he played with HawthornHawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals. Schwab was used mainly as a utility.
1989 Grand Final suspension
After being part of the 1983, 1986 and 1988 flags with Hawthorn, Schwab missed the 1989 VFL Grand Final1989 VFL Grand Final
The 1989 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and the Geelong Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 30 September 1989. It was the 93rd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
after an uncharacteristic act. Schwab has also spoken about players such as Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca
Anthony Rocca is a former Australian rules footballer who has played with the Sydney Swans and Collingwood in the Australian Football League...
and Jason Cloke
Jason Cloke
Jason Cloke is an Australian rules footballer, who played in the Australian Football League with the Collingwood Football Club.-Career:...
being suspended before a Grand Final. Hawthorn won the game in his absence, in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest Grand Finals of all time.
Coaching career
In 1992 he became assistant coach at the Richmond Football ClubRichmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, before becoming the head coach at Hawthorn in 2000. He took Hawthorn into the finals in his first year. They eliminated Geelong in the first elimination final, but the following week they were eliminated by Kangaroos in the semifinal. He took the Hawks to the finals again in 2001, where they eliminated Sydney in the elimination final and they eliminated Port Adelaide in the semifinal. They eventually lost to Essendon in a thriller at the MCG in the Preliminary Finals. In 2002, Hawthorn just missed out of the finals, finishing 10th. In 2003, Hawthorn just missed out of the finals again, finishing 9th. Between coaching stints, Schwab had a brief role as marketing manager at Hawthorn as the club entered into financial losses and a merger crisis. He also had a short stint heading up the umpiring panel.
Resignation
In 2004, with Schwab having announced pre-season that the Hawks would win the premiership, he found the Hawks in last position on the ladder then he was sacked by the board, led by then president, a tearful Ian Dicker after Round 17, 2004 when Hawthorn were smashed by Kangaroos by 80 points. Peter Schwab had a chance to stay for the rest of the season but he declined it. Then caretaker coach Donald McDonald took the job for remainder of the 2004 season. Schwab had a year to go on his contract, which was paid out in full by the club. His legacy remains one of great debate at Glenferrie.Current
In 2005, Schwab took the job as chairman of the Australian 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...
's Match Review Panel. As of 2006, he also coached Australian rules football at prominent Melbourne School Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
. In February 2007, Schwab joined AFL Victoria as its Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, Schwab makes "special comments" for ABC radio and writes for "The Age".