Peter Bedford
Encyclopedia
Peter Lawrence Anthony "Wheels" Bedford (born 11 April 1947) is a former Australian Rules football
er. He is best known for his time at Victorian Football League team South Melbourne
, but he also played eight games for Carlton
.
Peter began his football career at Christian Brothers College Victoria Parade, East Melbourne and later at Port Melbourne Football Club
.
He played for South Melbourne (now the Sydney Swans) between 1968 and 1976, playing 178 games and kicking 325 goals. He was the Swans' Best & Fairest
on five occasions, leading goalkicker three times and in 1970 he won a Brownlow Medal
as the league's best and fairest player. He played for the Swans as a rover but was also thrown forward to kick a goal when they needed it. He was South Melbourne's captain from 1973 until his departure in 1976, when he transferred to Carlton
.
Peter was also a talented batsman & leg spin bowler for the Victorian cricket side playing 39 matches for the State.
Peter and his father, William Roy, were both selected in the Port Melbourne F.C. Team of the Century.
Peter was inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1999 and was also named in Swans team of the century which was announced on 8 August 2003.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er. He is best known for his time at Victorian Football League team South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, but he also played eight games for Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
Peter began his football career at Christian Brothers College Victoria Parade, East Melbourne and later at Port Melbourne Football Club
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
.
He played for South Melbourne (now the Sydney Swans) between 1968 and 1976, playing 178 games and kicking 325 goals. He was the Swans' Best & Fairest
Bob Skilton Medal
The Bob Skilton Medal is awarded to the Sydney Swans player adjudged the Best and Fairest over the home and away season. It is named after Bob Skilton, who won the award a record nine times from 1958 to 1968.-List of winners:...
on five occasions, leading goalkicker three times and in 1970 he won a Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
as the league's best and fairest player. He played for the Swans as a rover but was also thrown forward to kick a goal when they needed it. He was South Melbourne's captain from 1973 until his departure in 1976, when he transferred to Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
Peter was also a talented batsman & leg spin bowler for the Victorian cricket side playing 39 matches for the State.
Peter and his father, William Roy, were both selected in the Port Melbourne F.C. Team of the Century.
Peter was inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1999 and was also named in Swans team of the century which was announced on 8 August 2003.
Career highlights
- Brownlow Medal 1970
- South Melbourne best and fairest 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975
- South Melbourne leading goalkicker 1971, 1972, 1973
- South Melbourne captain 1973–76
- South Melbourne/Sydney Swans Team of the Century
- Victorian representative (13 games, 11 goals).