Peter Wright (Australian footballer)

Peter Wright
Peter Wright
Personal information
Full name Peter Wright
Nickname(s) Two-metre Peter, Seven Seater Peter[1]
Date of birth (1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 (age 28)
Original team(s) Calder Cannons (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 8, 2014 national draft
Height 203 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 102 kg (225 lb)
Position(s) Key Forward
Club information
Current club Essendon
Number 20
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2015–2020 Gold Coast 66 (85)
2021– Essendon 67 (120)
Total 133 (205)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 24, 2024.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Peter Wright (born 7 September 1996) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), having been initially drafted to the Gold Coast Suns with pick 8 in the 2014 AFL draft.

AFL career

Gold Coast: 2015–2020

Wright established himself as a key marking forward, using his considerable height to his advantage. Wright made his debut in Round 10, 2015, kicking a goal in a losing effort against Sydney. In Round 11, 2017, Wright kicked the winning goal against West Coast for the Suns’ first win against the Eagles. After his debut season, Wright became a regular of the team, barely missing a game. In 2018, he suffered a knee injury that required rehab. Wright played 17 out of a possible 22 games in season 2019, but the emergence of Ben King in 2019 and the return of Zac Smith meant Wright wasn't able to get a game in 2020.

Essendon: 2021–

After six years at the Suns, he was traded to Essendon for more opportunities after the 2020 AFL season. Wright made an immediate impact, playing a pivotal role in Essendon’s forward line in the 2021 season. His best performance was in Round 21, where Wright kicked seven goals against the Western Bulldogs in a 13-point win. [2] In Round 8 of the 2022 AFL season, Wright kicked 6 goals in the Bombers’ win over Hawthorn. In Round 14, Wright starred in their upset win against St Kilda, achieving four goals and 14 disposals. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Wright was named Essendon Best and Fairest, winning the prestigious Crichton Medal as well as the club’s Leading Goalkicker award for his 53-goal season haul.

On 17 March, before Round 1 of the 2023 AFL season, Wright dislocated his shoulder during training after landing awkwardly in a marking contest and has since had a reconstruction of his shoulder.[3]

Following the round two, 2024 match between the Sydney Swans and Essendon, Wright received a four-match suspension for a crude bump on Sydney defender Harry Cunningham, which resulted in him being substituted out of the match after only five minutes of play in the opening quarter.[4]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2024 season[5]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2015 Gold Coast 30 3 1 1 12 5 17 8 3 0.3 0.3 4.0 1.7 5.7 2.7 1.0 0
2016 Gold Coast 30 17 27 10 106 89 195 83 27 1.6 0.6 6.2 5.2 11.5 4.9 1.6 3
2017 Gold Coast 30 22 31 19 159 117 276 121 35 1.4 0.9 7.2 5.3 12.6 5.5 1.6 0
2018 Gold Coast 30 7 5 4 43 29 72 33 18 0.7 0.6 6.1 4.1 10.3 4.7 2.6 0
2019 Gold Coast 30 17 21 13 144 60 204 85 26 1.2 0.8 8.5 3.5 12.0 5.0 1.5 0
2020 Gold Coast 30 0
2021 Essendon 20 21 29 14 146 100 246 90 37 1.4 0.7 6.9 4.8 11.7 4.3 1.8 5
2022 Essendon 20 22 53 26 181 63 244 128 15 2.4 1.2 8.2 2.9 11.1 5.8 0.7 8
2023 Essendon 20 10 19 10 64 32 96 44 13 1.9 1.0 6.4 3.2 9.6 4.4 1.3 0
2024 Essendon 20 14 19 7 91 67 158 60 19 1.4 0.5 6.5 4.8 11.3 4.3 1.4 2
Career 133 205 104 946 562 1508 652 194 1.5 0.8 7.1 4.2 11.3 4.9 1.5 18

References

  1. ^ Whiting, Michael (28 November 2014). "'Two-metre Peter' Wright too good for Suns to refuse". Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  2. ^ Whiting, Michael (10 November 2020). "The Wright move: Dons grab former No.8 pick for bargain". afl.com.au. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Injury update: Peter Wright". Essendon Football Club. 17 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Tribunal update: Peter Wright". Essendon Football Club. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Peter Wright". AFL Tables. Retrieved 10 November 2020.