Wally Matera

Who is Wally Matera?

Wally Matera is a former Australian rules footballer of Indigenous and Italian heritage. He played with the West Coast Eagles and Fitzroy in the AFL and for South Fremantle in the WAFL. His brothers, Peter and Phillip Matera both followed in his footsteps and represented West Coast and his two sons Brandon who is a current player with Gold Coast Football Club and Bailey who plays Colts for South Fremantle.

Matera arrived in South Fremantle from Wagin Federals, debuting in 1982 at the age of eighteen. Three years later he won their best and fairest and after another solid season he found himself in West Coast's squad for their debut season. He top scored for the Eagles in their first league game, kicking 4 goals. After a couple of seasons he moved to Victoria where he played with Fitzroy until the end of 1990.

After leaving the AFL he stayed in Victoria, representing Prahran briefly. He then returned to Western Australia, where he won the South Fremantle best and fairest twice more and was appointed captain in 1993 after being vice-captain in 1992.