Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Brian Francis Peake

Known as
Brian Peake

Born
5 December 1953 (age 70)

Place of birth
South Perth, WA (6151)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 27y 197d
Last game: 30y 271d

Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 82 kg

Senior clubs
East Fremantle; Geelong; Perth

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 27, 7

Recruited from
East Fremantle (1981); Geelong (1985); East Fremantle (1990)

State of origin
WA

Hall of fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame (2013); Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame (2004)

Family links
Brett Peake (Son)

Brian Peake

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
East FremantleWAFL1972-1981, 1985-19893052930.96
GeelongV/AFL1981-198466490.7447%15.445.654.3617
PerthWASFL19901090.90
WASFL1972-1981, 1985-19903153020.96
V/AFL1981-198466490.7447%15.445.654.3617
Total1972-19903813510.92

AFL: 9,276th player to appear, 3,543rd most games played, 2,091st most goals kickedGeelong: 813th player to appear, 266th most games played, 167th most goals kicked

Brian Peake made his East Fremantle debut on 29 April 1972 against Perth, and immediately caught the eye as much for his mature temperament and toughness as for his undoubted football ability.

Peake truly began to blossom as a player in 1973 when he made his interstate debut, and in the following season's winning Grand Final he was many observers' choice as best afield, although the Simpson Medal was split between team-mate Gary Gibellini and Dave Pretty of Perth.

Quick, tough, aggressive, and displaying tremendous endurance, Brian Peake was a dominant force for East Fremantle throughout the 1970s, winning the club's fairest and best award an incredible five times in succession between 1976 and 1980, as well as a Sandover Medal in 1977. He was a prominent contributor to the club's 1979 Grand Final defeat of arch rivals South Fremantle, and his performances for Western Australia were also of the highest order. In one game against Victoria in 1978 he had 23 kicks compared to two by his illustrious opponent, dual Brownlow Medallist Keith Greig. At the 1979 state of origin carnival in Perth Peake skippered the Western Australians to victory and was rewarded with a Tassie Medal and captaincy of the All Australian team. He was also named an All Australian after the following year's Adelaide carnival.

Understandably persuaded by these achievements that Peake was the finest footballer in the land Geelong officials enticed him to Kardinia Park in 1981 where he would play 66 games over the next four seasons. Notwithstanding a falling off in form later in his tenure at Kardinia Park, Peake was a solid contributor and proved himself a good footballer, albeit not as good as Geelong had hoped.

Peake returned home in 1985 with plenty of football left in him, and immediately helped the Sharks to their first flag since 1979. The following year he was again chosen as skipper of the All Australian team after leading the sandgropers to their sixth national title. A sixth Lynn Medal as East Fremantle's club champion in 1987 was the icing on the cake towards the end of a remarkable career, which ultimately finished in 1990 with a brief 10-game stint with Perth.

Author - John Devaney with additional material from Adam Cardosi

Sources

Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.