Peter Metropolis

Peter Metropolis
Personal information
Full name Peter James Metropolis
Nickname(s) Zorba[1]
Date of birth 29 June 1944 (1944-06-29) (age 67)
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia
Original team Wembley JFC
Position(s) Centre, wing
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1965–73 Subiaco 159 (136)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1970 WAFL 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics to end of 1973 season .
Career highlights

Peter James Metropolis (born 29 June 1944) is a former Australian rules football player and administrator. He played 159 games for the Subiaco Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), including the 1973 premiership, and later served as president of the club.

Contents

Playing career

Metropolis began his football career at Wembley JFC. He attended Scotch College in Perth, playing in the school's First XVIII. He then went to the University of Western Australia where he played for the university's football team, winning the colts best and fairest and the senior best and fairest in consecutive seasons, playing mainly as a wingman. Falling into Subiaco's recruitment zone, he made his debut in 1965, and was switched to the centre the next season. Metropolis finished equal with Ross Gosden in the Outridge Medal, Subiaco's best and fairest, but Gosden was awarded the medal on countback.[2]

Metropolis was selected in WAFL representative sides three times, but was only able to play once – against Tasmania in 1970 – missing out due to a hamstring injury the other times. He served as captain of Subiaco in 1971 and 1972. He stood down in 1973 after Ross Smith was recruited as captain-coach, but still served on the selection committee as one of the most senior players.[2] Metropolis played as a reserve in Subiaco's 1973 premiership victory over West Perth. He announced his retirement from the club after the game, and was awarded life membership.[3]

He was appointed playing coach of Victoria Park in the Sunday Football League (SFL) in 1974. He returned to Subiaco with a part-time role as assistant coach in 1975 under David Parkin, but continued playing for Victoria Park until a knee injury forced his retirement in 1976.[2]

Post-playing career

Metropolis returned to his junior club Wembley as coach in 1976, serving in that role for two seasons in which the club finished runner-up and won a premiership. He was appointed reserves coach at Subiaco in 1979, and also served as a runner and selector for the club. After senior coach Peter Burton was sacked midway through the first week of the 1980 season, Metropolis took over for one game, against Perth, which the Lions lost.[4] He was replaced by Ken Armstrong for the rest of the season.[5]

In 1991, Metropolis was elected to the committee of Subiaco. He was elected President of the club in 1997, a role in which he served until 2004, presiding over the club's move from Subiaco Oval to Leederville Oval. He currently serves as a vice-patron of the club,[6] and works as a civil engineering consultant.[2]

Family

Metropolis had two children with his wife Tina: Dayna, who played netball for Western Australia, and Daniel, who played 114 games for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle in the Australian Football League (AFL).[2]

References

  1. ^ The Seventies – subilions.webs.com. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e Where are they now?: Peter Metropolis – footygoss.com. Written by Ron Head. Published 12 October 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  3. ^ SFC Honour Roll – sfclions.com.au. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  4. ^ Subiaco and Eagles Premiership star enters WA Hall of Fame – subiacofc.com.au. Written by Simonette Cox. Published 27 October 2011.
  5. ^ The Eighties – subilions.webs.com. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  6. ^ Board, staff and patrons – sfclions.com.au. Retrieved 27 October 2011.