AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Key Facts
Full name
Peter James Spencer
Known as
Peter Spencer
Born
11 January 1956 (age 67)
Place of birth
Subiaco, WA (6008)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 25y 76d
Last game: 26y 110d
Height and weight
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 81 kg
Senior clubs
East Perth; North Melbourne; Subiaco; Claremont
Jumper numbers
North Melbourne: 2
Recruited from
East Perth (1981)
State of origin
WA
Hall of fame
Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame (2007)
Family links
Jim Spencer (Father)
Peter Spencer
| Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Perth | WAFL | 1974-1980, 1983-1984, 1987 | 185 | 320 | 1.73 | — | — | — | — | — |
| North Melbourne | V/AFL | 1981-1982 | 24 | 32 | 1.33 | 50% | 13.67 | 6.25 | 3.25 | 5 |
| Subiaco | WAFL | 1985 | 21 | 47 | 2.24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Claremont | WAFL | 1986 | 2 | 4 | 2.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAFL | 1974-1980, 1983-1987 | 208 | 371 | 1.78 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| V/AFL | 1981-1982 | 24 | 32 | 1.33 | 50% | 13.67 | 6.25 | 3.25 | 5 | |
| Total | 1974-1987 | 232 | 403 | 1.74 | — | — | — | — | — | |
AFL: 9,225th player to appear, 6,037th most games played, 2,820th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 719th player to appear, 429th most games played, 183rd most goals kicked
On his day one of the most exhilarating players of his generation, Peter Spencer was arguably prevented by recurrent injuries from achieving his full potential. Nevertheless, not many players manage to win two Sandover Medals, which Spencer did in 1978 and 1984 during two separate stints with East Perth.
Equally effective in the centre, across half forward or as a rover, the key to Spencer's success was his uncanny ball-winning ability. Time after time he was the highest possession gatherer on the field, and once he got his hands on the football he invariably used it to advantage. He was also deadly near goal, and twice finished as East Perth's leading goal kicker in a season.
Spencer made his interstate debut against the VFL in 1976 and went on to play a total of seven matches for West Australia. His tally would have been much higher but for injury, which also ruled him out of the 1978 Grand Final in which East Perth overcame Perth. The fact that this proved to be the only premiership won by the Royals during Spencer's time with them undoubtedly made it the biggest disappointment of his career.
In 1981 and 1982 Spencer played for North Melbourne but managed only 24 games as injury again undermined his effectiveness. On his return to East Perth in 1983 he promptly won the club's fairest and best award, his third, and maintained a comparatively injury-free run the following year when he tied with the Claremont pair of Steve Malaxos and Michael Mitchell for the Sandover.
The 1985 season saw Spencer on the move to Haydn Bunton's Subiaco, where he spent the better part of two years before rounding off his WAFL career with a couple of games for Claremont.
Peter Spencer's father, Jim Spencer, also played league football with East Perth, and won the club fairest and best award in 1953. (Somewhat incredibly, both Peter and Jim played exactly the same number of games,185, for the Royals.) The Spencers share with the Sidebottom family (Wally and Gary) the distinction of being the only father-son combinations to have won fairest and best trophies with the same WAFL club.
In June 2006 Peter Spencer was named on a half forward flank (presumably with a view to changing on the ball) in East Perth's 'official' Team of the Century, 1945 to 2005.
Author - John Devaney