Peter Mann
Encyclopedia
Peter Travis Mann is a former Australian rules football
er. who played a total of 118 matches in the AFL
for the North Melbourne
and Fremantle Football Club
s.
in the West Australian Football League
to the West Coast Eagles
as a pre-draft priority selection in the 1989 VFL Draft
after playing 22 senior games in his debut season for Claremont, including their WAFL Grand Final winning side. He remained on the Eagle's list for just the 1990 season, but did not make his AFL debut. He was then traded to North Melbourne
prior to the 1990 AFL Draft
, in return for the 9th selection, which the Eagles used to draft Matt Clape
. Playing mainly at centre half back, he played 39 games for the Kangaroos between 1991 and 1994, kicking 12 goals.
. Peter Mann played the centre half forward position for most of the 1995 season. His achievements in that season, 22 games, 33 goals, 159 marks and the Club Champion Award was especially noteworthy. He was the main forward marking target with limited support from John Hutton (13 games, 27 goals), Craig Burrows (19 games, 23 goals), Todd Ridley (18 games, 15 goals), Chris Groom (7 games, 18 goals) Nor did Fremantle's chip and draw style often allow for swift, direct delivery into the forward area. Mann was again productive, if inaccurate, on the Fremantle forward line in 1996, 18 games delivered 25.27 and 98 marks. The introduction of Kingsley Hunter as full forward provided an alternative marking target. His fourth in the Club Champion Award was a credible achievement given a torn foot tendon prevented him training between games.
Another frustrating year followed in 1998. In a team desperate for leadership and marking forwards, Mann was again sporadic. So poor was his form by round 9 that he was dropped from the team for 3 weeks. His comeback match, Fremantle's 8 point victory against Carlton in round 13, was his best for the season, 12 marks and 2 goals. By round 16, with form again waivering, Mann was shifted to defence and remained there until his season, and spell as captain, ended when he broke down in the warm up at the MCG in round 20 against North Melbourne. Relieved of the captaincy, Mann played 7 games in 1999. His final match was Fremantle's record breaking loss against Brisbane at the Gabba in round 20. Delisted in the major list changes at the end of Damian Drum's disastrous first season, Mann nominated for the 2000 preseason draft but was not selected. He played 77 AFL games for Fremantle kicking 88 goals. Overall he played 116 games.
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. who played a total of 118 matches in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
for the North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
and Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
s.
Claremont, West Coast and North Melbourne
Mann was drafted from Claremont Football ClubClaremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
to the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
as a pre-draft priority selection in the 1989 VFL Draft
1989 VFL Draft
The 1989 VFL Draft was the fourth annual National Draft held by the Victorian Football League as the main method for the 14 teams to recruit players for the 1990 season. It consisted of a trading period, pre-draft selections, the main national draft and the 1990 pre-season draft and a...
after playing 22 senior games in his debut season for Claremont, including their WAFL Grand Final winning side. He remained on the Eagle's list for just the 1990 season, but did not make his AFL debut. He was then traded to North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
prior to the 1990 AFL Draft
1990 AFL Draft
The 1990 AFL Draft was the 5th annual draft of Australian rules footballers to the 14 clubs in the Australian Football League. It consisted of the national draft held at the end of the 1990 season, the pre-season draft, held before 1991 AFL season and a mid-season draft.Clubs receive picks based...
, in return for the 9th selection, which the Eagles used to draft Matt Clape
Matt Clape
Matt Clape is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and West Coast.Clape got his first chance at AFL football with the West Coast Eagles as a half back flanker but was delisted after three seasons...
. Playing mainly at centre half back, he played 39 games for the Kangaroos between 1991 and 1994, kicking 12 goals.
Fremantle
With the entry of the second WA team in 1995 he was lured home to join many of his ex-Claremont teammates at the Fremantle DockersFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
. Peter Mann played the centre half forward position for most of the 1995 season. His achievements in that season, 22 games, 33 goals, 159 marks and the Club Champion Award was especially noteworthy. He was the main forward marking target with limited support from John Hutton (13 games, 27 goals), Craig Burrows (19 games, 23 goals), Todd Ridley (18 games, 15 goals), Chris Groom (7 games, 18 goals) Nor did Fremantle's chip and draw style often allow for swift, direct delivery into the forward area. Mann was again productive, if inaccurate, on the Fremantle forward line in 1996, 18 games delivered 25.27 and 98 marks. The introduction of Kingsley Hunter as full forward provided an alternative marking target. His fourth in the Club Champion Award was a credible achievement given a torn foot tendon prevented him training between games.
Captaincy
In a team with few obvious leaders, Peter Mann was the obvious choice for the captaincy when persistent unavailability for injury saw Ben Allan resign the captaincy in March 1997. In 40 games as captain, Mann never again achieved the high standards of his first two seasons. With the exception of successive dominant 1997 games against the Western Bulldogs at Subiaco in round 16 (13 marks, 4 goals) and Hawthorn at Waverley in round 17 (6 marks, 3 goals), both of which earned two Brownlow medal votes, he was rarely a commanding on field presence. Injury, suspension and poor form frustrated the fans. The coach, Gerard Neesham, was protective. After the 100 point loss in round 15 at Victoria Park against Collingwood, he told the mediaHe has been good for us spasmodically during the year, he has just had no luck in running. He has had the worst game he has ever had in his life last week and it can only go up from here. He is a pretty tough critter, even though he is pretty quiet and that shows great resolve. Some of the great leaders of the world have gone to some pretty tough positions – Captain Cook, discovering countries and floating around in the middle of the ocean, and the rest wanted to bail out and go back. It takes great resolve to be a good leader and he has definitely got that. At the moment he just hasn't got good touch.
Another frustrating year followed in 1998. In a team desperate for leadership and marking forwards, Mann was again sporadic. So poor was his form by round 9 that he was dropped from the team for 3 weeks. His comeback match, Fremantle's 8 point victory against Carlton in round 13, was his best for the season, 12 marks and 2 goals. By round 16, with form again waivering, Mann was shifted to defence and remained there until his season, and spell as captain, ended when he broke down in the warm up at the MCG in round 20 against North Melbourne. Relieved of the captaincy, Mann played 7 games in 1999. His final match was Fremantle's record breaking loss against Brisbane at the Gabba in round 20. Delisted in the major list changes at the end of Damian Drum's disastrous first season, Mann nominated for the 2000 preseason draft but was not selected. He played 77 AFL games for Fremantle kicking 88 goals. Overall he played 116 games.