The Sharks Bid Farewell to a Champion

Brett Peake has decided to hang up the boots on a successful AFL and WAFL career. Following the Sharks loss to Perth on Saturday, he addressed the playing group where his announced his retirement.

Peake has said his decision is in the best interest of the club, allowing young emerging talent to take his place.

“I’m a realistic person, I knew where I was with my age and body,” he said.

 “I’ve started a new job and I have a baby now so I thought it was the right time.”

Peakey met with Coach Rob Wiley and Football Operations Manager Darryn Fry earlier in the year to discuss the future of his football career. A collective decision was made, which would see him evaluate after the first few rounds of the season.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m jumping ship, it was on the cards for a while and now I can step aside for the youth to take my place,” Peake said.

“The East Fremantle Football Club has been such a big part of my life and I want to thank everyone who has had an impact on me; the coaches, players, support staff and particularly the members,"

In 2003, Peakey registered 20 league games for the Sharks after debuting in round 2. That year he was drafted under the Father/Son rule to the Fremantle Dockers. He continued to play for the Sharks in 2004 and made his break out for the Dockers in 2005 against North Melbourne. Playing nine of the last ten games that season, he earnt himself a regular spot in the Dockers 2006 side, polling ten Brownlow votes.

At the end of the 2009 season, Peake was traded to St Kilda and in 2010, made it to the AFL Grand Final. That historic game ended in a draw against Collingwood and unfortunately it wasn’t a dream come true, with the Saints going down convincingly in the second.

After 43 games with St Kilda and 75 with Fremantle, Peakey returned to the Sharks in 2013 to finish his career. He played his 100^th senior game in the 2014 preliminary final against Subiaco but unfortunately couldn’t get the milestone win. He decided that game would be his last for the blue and whites, calling an end to his impressive career.

But there was a spark left in him and after a year playing amateurs for North Fremantle in 2015 Peake made the call to take his WAFL career beyond 100 games.

Throughout last year he was an important target in our forward line, finishing fourth in the Bernie Naylor Medal with 40 goals and had a stand out performance for WA in the State match against South Australia, booting 7 majors.

 “In his short time under my reign, his professionalism, honesty, expertise, goal kicking ability and mentoring of young men was outstanding,” Wiley said about the departing forward. “It’s very fitting that his football began and ended with the Sharks.”

The Peake name will forever be entrenched on locker number 7 and will remain as an integral part of the Sharks History.

The East Fremantle Football Club would like to not only thank Brett for his service to club but wish him, his partner Asher and their baby Parker the best for the future.