Interview With Peter Foster

[The Coon Dog]

Peter Foster
Fitzroy 1980-1982, 7 games & 2 goals
Western Bulldogs 1983-1993, 163 games & 56 goals





TCD: Peter, thank you for taking the time to chat.

PF: No problem.

Now, you’ve been in hospital this week. What for?

I had my ankle fused. It’s been operated on a few times previously, but just needed to be tidied up.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Colac, about 150km’s south west of Melbourne.

Who did you barrack for as a kid?

I barracked for Hawthorn. My brothers steered me in that direction & my junior footy club wore the same colours.

Who was your junior club?

There were really only 2 teams, Colac or Coragulac. I played for Coragulac, but after I left the 2 teams merged.

How did you become a Lion?

The area I lived was in Fitzroy’s zone so players in the Hampden League who were good enough went to Fitzroy.

When did you head to Melbourne to play?

I actually spent a year in 1979 where I trained with Fitzroy during the week but came home to play with my mates for Coragulac.

Were Fitzroy happy with that?

Yes, they saw it as a long term investment.

Do you remember much about your first senior game?

Yes, it was at the Lake Oval against South Melbourne. On the Saturday morning there was a photo of me on the back page of the Sun newspaper.

I started on the bench & they had these funny split level interchange benches, where the players sat at the bottom & above them were the coaching staff. Anyhow someone yelled out, ‘have you ever played on the wing?’ Someone nudged me & told me to say yes, so on I went.

In your 3 years at Fitzroy you only managed the 3 senior games. You must have sensed that the writing was on the wall?

Yes, Robert Walls was coaching in 1981/82. During that time we had many good players who had progressed through the under 19’s including Gary Pert, Paul Roos & Richard Osborne. During the summer of 1982 Wallsy suggested I look elsewhere.

How did you end up at Footscray?

A had a number of clubs ring me, wanting me to play in various practice matches. I even got a call from Dennis Cometti who was coaching West Perth, which I briefly considered before deciding that I wanted to play VFL as it was then as I thought I was good enough.

Anyhow I ended up playing a practice match for Footscray reserves against a combined Essendon Districts team. I kicked 9 goals at full forward, but honestly whoever played full forward that day was in for a picnic. No disrespect intended, but we were just much bigger & fitter.

You were part of a deal that also saw Chris Hansen make his way from Fitzroy to Footscray.

Yes, from memory Footscray paid something like $72K for us both, but my portion was somewhere around $12K of it.

So where did things really take off for you?

I had played a handful of games under Bluey in 1983 & was playing CHB in the reserves under Don McKenzie in 1984. One day the seniors were flogged by Melbourne out at Waverley & Mick had had enough. He told me after the game that I was playing CHB in the seniors the following week.

Speaking of Mick, who were your coaches & what are your memories of them?

• Robert Walls – A very hard trainer. Loved perfection, the Garry Wilson types.
• Bluey Hampshire – A lovely bloke, just a top fella, though really he was just passing by.
• Mick Malthouse – Hard but fair. He’d look you in the eye & was able to get the best out of each player. He knew he could rip into me & I’d sook but it worked, whereas he’d try a different tact say with Tony McGuinness who responded differently. He just knew which buttons to push.
• Terry Wheeler – Very straight. A teacher by trade. Loved giving us paper to read. Wanted the players to be full time professionals. Ahead of his time there.

Speaking of Wheels, did you do the parachute jump?

Yes, bloody stupid idea it was. I’ve never been so scared in my life & was in the plane with Doug Hawkins & Mark Hunter who were just as scared as me. Never again, ever!

Now, what about that goal v Essendon at the Barkly Street end of the ground?

Well, I was about 45 metres out & pushed my shot slightly left. I knew it was a point, all the players on the ground knew it was a point & all the spectators at the ground knew it was a point. Seems the only person who thought it was a goal was the goal umpire. Anyhow I jogged down to shake his hand but he wasn’t having any of it. Poor bugger got dropped the next week!

You were on the wrong end of a change to the rules that ultimately outlawed tripping by foot, making it a reportable offence.

Yes, we were playing Hawthorn at the Whitten Oval in 1992 & I sold Paul Dear the dummy & as I went past him he threw a leg out to trip me. Unfortunately he broke my leg. At first I was expected to miss 4 weeks, so the tribunal suspended Dear for the same amount of time. Infection set in & I ended up missing 9 weeks.

Who were some of the better players you played with?

• Garry Wilson – A perfectionist & fitness fanatic. He was super fit.
• Bernie Quinlan – A thoroughbred!
• Doug Hawkins – Just so naturally gifted, though he probably didn’t apply himself as well as he could have perhaps done.
• Simon Beasley – A 100 goal full forward, just a beauty. Fast on the lead & a nice straight kick.
• Andrew Purser- Just fantastic for his size.
• Brian Royal – An absolute standout for a small bloke.
• Tony McGuinness – A fantastic work ethic.

What about some of your opponents?

• Dermott Brereton – Tough! I enjoyed playing on Dermie as I wasn’t bluffed by him. You knew you had played a game of footy afterwards though.
• Stephen Kernahan – He was 6 foot 5 inches & it was just bloody hard to punch the ball away from him.
• Stewart Loewe – A man mountain! Just had huge hands; buckets.
• Terry Daniher – Not the best footballer, but he just ran & ran all day! An easygoing bloke who loved a beer after the game.

Did you ever cross paths with Tony Lockett?

Yes, I played on him just the once, thankfully. Dead set he was scary! This day Hawk decided to wander down the backline & gave Plugger an absolute mouthful. It didn’t take much to wind him up, so I got smart & played off him & wandered forward & kicked a couple of goals whilst telling Hawk to get back there & look after him.

You finished at the end of 1993, what did you do after that?

My achillies was shot so the club decided to reject my request for a further year. I went up to the Murray as player/coach of Yarrawonga which I thoroughly enjoyed before returning to Melbourne & played with Glenn Coleman at Donvale for about 8 games which included a Premiership win over Vermont.

Do you still take an interest in the footy?

Yes, very much. I’m a life member & take my son when I can, in between his football & basketball commitments.

How many children do you have?

Shelly, my wife of 22 years & I have two children, one of each; a daughter Morgan who’s 15 & a son Jayden who’s 13.

How do you see 2009 for the Bulldogs?

They’ll be up there for sure, but I still see them a little behind Geelong & Hawthorn. Who knows if things fall into place anything’s possible, it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.

Peter, thank you for your time, particularly as you are still recovering from you ankle operation.

No problems & make sure you say g’day when you see me at the footy.

[ledge]

Apparently a very nice fella is Peter, i have never met him but believe he has a cleaning business around the west.

[Max469]

Great read. Loved watching Fozzie - always thought the Brownlow was waiting to have his name written on it - wasn't to be due to injury.

Thanks TCD

[mjp]

Was anyone at the Western Oval the day Peter Foster lost his pants in an intra-club, and finished the game 'tackle out'. The story goes (obviously I was on the other side of the country) that he used it to his advantage - becoming a 'close checking' defender - and his opponent on the day (who I think I was told was Glen Coleman) ran for the hills.

[Sockeye Salmon]

I sort of worked with him in about 82 at the explosives in Deer Park (by sort of I mean we were in different departments).

The site was huge, from Ballarat Rd to St. Albans and we had Mini Mokes and bikes to get around the place. Fossie spent most of the summer of 82-83 riding a 1963 Malvern Star from the labs where he worked to the plastic explosives plant near the St. Albans end over and over again. It had nothing to do with his job, he was just fitting in extra training.

[Remi Moses]

Enjoyable read CD,does anyone know the footballing prospects of his son?That kick from Dear ruined his career

[alwaysadog]

Enjoyable read CD,does anyone know the footballing prospects of his son?That kick from Dear ruined his career

Yes, it ruined his career and our flag chances in 1992 because we couldn't hold the Geelong attack without him.

[craigsahibee]

Fossie was a great CHB and Dermie rates him as one of his toughest opponents. Agree with the comments that his broken leg cost us a shot at the 92 flag. Great work again TCD.

[mighty_west]

Awesome read as usual CD, great work.

[Fossie 32]

Very cultural interview TCD! Did you say hello from me?

[The Coon Dog]

Very cultural interview TCD! Did you say hello from me?

Oops!!! No Fossie, I forgot. Sorry.

[Desipura]

what number did he wear at Fitzroy TCD? Now that would be a good trivia question.

[The Coon Dog]

what number did he wear at Fitzroy TCD? Now that would be a good trivia question.

I did ask that question, but had to wait until I got home to refer to my notes. It was #28.

[LostDoggy]

Great interview with a very nice person. Thanks CoonDog!!

I will definately say g'day if I see him at the footy.

And I will NEVER forgive Paul Dear for breaking Fossies leg.

[Fossie 32]

Great interview with a very nice person. Thanks CoonDog!!

I will definately say g'day if I see him at the footy.

And I will NEVER forgive Paul Dear for breaking Fossies leg.

Hey you are a very cool person may I say