Australian Football

An unspectacular but important member of Hawthorn's great 1980s combinations, Peter Schwab played a total of 171 VFL games and kicked 38 goals between 1980 and 1991. Originally from Bennettswood, he was not the sort of player to poll heavily in the Brownlow Medal or attract bundles of best and fairest votes, but his ability to limit the effectiveness of star opposition players made him a vital cog in the Hawk machine. Schwab was a member of half a dozen Grand Final teams during the course of his career, including the winning sides of 1983, 1986 and 1988 when, playing in the centre, he was one of the finest players on view. He would also have played in the winning Grand Final of 1989 had he not been serving a rare suspension.

Nine years after his retirement as a player, Peter Schwab returned to Hawthorn as senior coach, having early spent time as Allan Jeans' assistant at Richmond. His first couple of seasons in the Hawks' hot-seat were extremely promising, yielding finals participation for sixth and fourth place finishes, but after that the wheels fell off spectacularly. After overseeing 10th and ninth place finishes in 2001 and 2002 respectively, Schwab ended up being sacked as coach towards the end of a dismal 2004 season that ultimately produced just four wins and an ignominious second-to-last place on the ladder.

Author - John Devaney