Peter Mann
| Peter Mann | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Noimage | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Original team(s) | Claremont Football Club | ||
| Debut | 1991, North Melbourne | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2005. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
|
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Peter Mann (born September 9, 1970) is an Australian rules footballer. He initially played for Claremont in the WAFL before moving to North Melbourne in the AFL.
North Melbourne
Playing mainly at centre half back, he played 39 games 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 Dockers. Peter Mann played the centre half forward position for most of the 1995 season. His acheivements in that season, 22 games, 33 goals, 159 marks and the Club Champion Award was especially noteworthy. He was the main forward marking target, the full forward position being variously held by Todd Ridley (18 games, 15 goals), Chris Groom (7 games, 18 goals), John Hutton (13 games, 27 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 Best and Fairest was a credible achievement given a torn foot tendon prevented him training between games.
Captaincy
In a team with few obviously leaders, Peter Mann was the obvious choice for the captaincy when persistent unavailablity for injury saw Ben Allan resign the captaincy in March 1997. Mann as captain 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 media
- He 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.
He retired at the end of the 1999 season having played 40 games as Captain.
He played 77 AFL games for Fremantle kicking 88 goals. Overall he played 116 games.