Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Phillip Henry Matson

Known as
Phil Matson

Born
22 October 1884

Place of birth
Exeter, SA (5019)

Died
13 June 1928 (aged 43)

Place of death
Perth, WA (6000)

Height and weight
Height: 179 cm

Senior clubs
West Perth; Sturt; North Fremantle; Subiaco; East Perth

Recruited from
South Bunbury (1904); West Perth (1905); Boulder City (1909); Sturt (1911); North Fremantle (1912); Subiaco (1918)

State of origin
SA

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

Phil Matson


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
South BunburySWFL1904-1905
West PerthWAFA1904100.00
Boulder CityGFL1906-1908
SturtSAFL1909-191024130.54
North FremantleWAFL191113
SubiacoWAFL1912-191779700.89
East PerthWAFL1918-192335351.00
SWFL1904-1905
WAFL1904, 1911-19231281050.82
GFL1906-1908
SAFL1909-191024130.54
Total1904-19231521180.78

Despite probably being more highly renowned as a coach, Phil Matson was also a champion player for close on two decades in two states. Born in South Australia, he spent only two seasons (1909 and 1910) playing in his home state (with Sturt). The remainder of his playing career - both before and after his Unley stint - was spent west of the arbor, in Bunbury, on the West Australian goldfields for Boulder City, and in Perth, where he played initially with West Perth in 1904, and then after his time at Sturt with North Fremantle, Subiaco and East Perth.

Three times a Western Australian carnival representative the prime features of Matson play were his sure ball handling, excellent field kicking, and supreme adaptability which enabled him to play almost any position on the ground with equal success. He was also a fine high mark and, although highly aggressive in his approach to both the ball and the man, he was nevertheless impeccably fair.

Phil Matson greatest achievements came as coach of East Perth between 1918 and 1924, and again from 1926 until midway through the 1928 season. During that time the Royals won no fewer than seven flags. He also coached Subiaco to a premiership in 1913.

Matson had retired as a player in 1923, aged 38, and in 1925 had travelled to Victoria where he had been an unsuccessful applicant for the vacant coaching position at Richmond. Remaining in Victoria, he had spent a season coaching country team Castlemaine which, not surprisingly, went on to win the 1925 premiership. Prevailed upon by the East Perth committee to return home, Matson oversaw successive premierships in 1926 and 1927, but his coaching career was tragically cut short in 1928 when he was killed in a road accident at the age of 43. Had he lived, who knows what he might have ended up achieving?

In addition to his football prowess, Phil Matson was a superb swimmer, at one stage holding the world record for the 220 yards breaststroke.

The immensity of his contribution to the East Perth Football Club was recognised in June 2006 when he was selected as coach of the Royals' official team of the Century 1906 to 1944.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy's SA Football Companion

Footnotes

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