Peter Anderson – Blast from the Past -Former Junior

Peter played 107 games for the North Adelaide Football club from 1964 to 1971.

He was a Walkerville FC junior and played his first game for North in 1964 while still a student at Adelaide High School. The fact that he chose to play for the Roosters instead of his school created a huge controversy and cost him his Prefect’s badge.

In his first game against Torrens, he was among our best players.  He repeated his form in the next match against Norwood at the Parade and was seen still signing autographs well after the game had finished.  The Club realised “Peter has a great future in League football”.

It was not easy to hold a place in the team in 1964 with players like Bob Bradtke, Bob Bussenschutt, Alan Byers, David Cearns, Maurie Francou, Mel Gilmour, Kym Lehmann, Barry Pascoe, John Phillips, Garry Ryan, Kelly Stringer and Bob Taylor beginning their league careers. But Peter did so, playing 16 games mainly as a forward/follower and kicking 16 goals that season.

That fact was greeted with surprise and delight by one of his junior coaches who claimed in his early days, “every time he tried to kick a drop-kick he fell over.”

Peter’s versatility was confirmed by the variety of awards that he won in his career with North Adelaide from Best Utility player, Most Promising Forward and Best Ruckman (both twice).  That form saw him selected in the 1966 SA State carnival side where he performed very well in all matches.

Peter was an integral part of the 1971 Premiership team. In a post-match TV interview, he was congratulated on winning a watch which he opened only to find it had no working parts. Peter “hammed” it up for all it was worth. Having no stage fright, Peter picked up a microphone at a players’ concert and displayed his beautiful singing voice.

It came as a surprise when Peter transferred to Glenelg in 1972. He went on to represent them and the State as a full-back, being part of the Bays 1973 premiership team.  However, that was not the end of football for Peter and before retirement he played another 36 games for Woodville. He then completed his football journey by being an articulate “around-the-grounds” commentator.

Peter passed away on 4 January 2019 in Queensland at the age of 73 years of age.