Born South Perth WA
4 December 1953
Versatile and durable, Brian Peake played 402 senior games in WA and Victoria and filled most roles during an outstanding career. His 22 interstate matches confirmed his greatness.
In 1979 he played in the centre when WA beat Victoria, winning the Tassie Medal for the Carnival’s best player and he was named All Australian captain. Seven years later, playing at full-forward, he kicked seven goals to help WA beat Victoria and win another Carnival.
Peake started his football at 11 years of age at suburban Manning but he preferred the surf board. He tried out with Perth but out-numbered by a host of talented teenagers, he headed for the beach, before being enticed to East Fremantle, where his father Laurie had played. After starting in the Fourths competition, he graduated to league ranks in 1972 and went off to win the 1977 Sandover Medal as the game’s fairest and best player, six Lynn Medals as his club’s best player and three premiership medallions.
After 194 games and with East Fremantle destined to miss the 1981 finals, Peake was released to Geelong mid-season. Some outstanding performances saw him rewarded with the Cats’ captaincy the next year. After 66 matches, he returned to East Fremantle, setting a club record of 304 games, but eight short of a career tally of 400.
A disagreement over his future saw him switch to Perth where he added 10 games to his total, joining Perth legend, Barry Cable, as the only 400 game footballers in WA. Peake was four times an All-Australian, he captained the All-Australian team, WA and East Fremantle and received the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to football in 1990.