Peter Physick was named as an AFL Sydney Life Member at the Phelan Medal Night on Monday.
Peter was born in Adelaide in 1952 & was a very good junior footballer, captaining the 1968 South Australian schoolboys AFL team and moving on to play SANFL football with South Adelaide from 1970 to 1973.
Peter & his wife Laima came to Sydney in late 1973 & Peter played football with East Sydney in seasons 1974, 75, 77 & 78, playing in two Grand Finals at Trumper Park in front of 14,000 people. In 1977 he won the SFL goal kicking award & regularly represented Sydney in the State championships. During 1978 Peter was transferred to Newcastle by his employer but such was his love for football, he commuted by train each weekend to continue playing for the Bulldogs.
Peter retired from playing in 1979 and his employer transferred him around Australia during the eighties. Returning to Sydney in 1991 they settled in Seven Hills and involved their two sons Ben and Tim in the Baulkham Hills footy club where Peter and Laima both became active parents giving assistance in many facets of the club's operations. They continued similar roles during 1992/3 and in 1994 Peter took up coaching the U/13 Kookas, became a committee man as well as introducing the weekly club newsletter the "Baulko Backchat". Peter and Laima were awarded the "Junior Clubman of the year Award" in 1995.
In 1996 Peter was elected President, a position he held for 12 years, highlighted in 2000 when he was elected as a Club Life Member. Other roles Peter undertook were Chairman of the Sponsorship Committee and a member of the ground establishment group as well as being the Club's delegate to the NSWAFL over those 12 years.
The Baulkham Hills Falcons had been promoted to the SFL First Division in 1993 and played at Charles McLaughlin Reserve in Crestwood. The ground was considered too small by the League, but also suffered from overuse so it was decided to free the ground up to junior footy and find a larger ground. The club played at Macquarie Uni, Henson Park and Alan Davidson Oval for quite a few years while work went on behind the scenes to acquire land to build a new ground.
In 1999 the League approached the Falcons and suggested, amongst other things, that they consider changing their name. Peter thought long and hard about that and after consulting Swans' president Richard Colless, the West Coast Eagles were approached with a business plan to create an ‘Eagles’ team in Sydney. An alliance was formed and hence the East Coast Eagles were born in 2000. That alliance still continues today more than 12 years on. Following Peter’s initiative, other Sydney clubs started similar associations with other AFL clubs, but only the Balmain and Fremantle Dockers still exists.
In the mean time, the search for a ‘Home Ground’ continued and Peter dedicated thousands of hours working with other club members, the local council and the AFL. There were many disappointments along the way but eventually in 2009- Bruce Purser Reserve in Rouse Hill was opened, which not surprisingly coincided with the Eagles first Sydney Premier Division Premiership. The ground is a crowning achievement of Peter’s efforts and determination.
Peter Physick is well respected by all involved with AFL in Sydney and along with his wife Laima has had a strong influence on the success of the Sydney Hills Eagles.
Last Modified on 13/09/2012 12:08
