On each weekday of the 2011 Toyota AFL Finals Series, Leigh Matthews will count down his 20 Moments of Greatness from the finals. Today: moment No. 14, when Peter Matera kicked five goals from a wing in the 1992 Grand Final.
LEIGH Matthews makes a striking comparison in light of Peter Matera's performance for the West Coast Eagles in the 1992 Grand Final against Geelong.
“Kicking five goals from a wing is unheard of,” Matthews said. "It's like a full-forward kicking 10.”
Matthews said defences are adept at protecting the back 50. “But if you pot goals from outside 50, which Matera did, they're like bonus goals.”
Matera's first three goals were all the result of daring runs followed by shots from outside 50. All three shots were taken on an angle, in one case towards the boundary line.
His fourth goal came after he had cut through from his wing position to centre half-forward. He gathered and shot truly on his left foot from just inside the 50-metre arc.
The last was his only easy goal, a handball over the top from which he walked into a vacant goalsquare.
“Sometimes greatness comes in just one moment,” Matthews said. “But with Peter Matera, it was his performance over the day.”
After the match, Carlton legend Bruce Doull presented Matera with the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground. It was richly deserved.
