{xtypo_dropcap}W{/xtypo_dropcap}henever  State of Origin football is the talking point, it’s a safe bet that the 1986 clash between WA and Victoria at Subiaco Oval will be one that gets discussed in detail.  This game, the last one before West Coast arrived on the scene, has been described by many, including those who played in it, as not only the greatest State of Origin match, but one of the best games of football ever.

Laced with a who’s who of stars on both sides, it was Aussie Rules at it’s best.  And it’s also a safe bet that it won’t be Brad Hardie(Simpson Medal) that will spring to mind immediately about the game either(no disrespect to Brad ).  The seven goal haul of an unlikely WA full forward has become one of the highlights on any great moments dvd of interstate football.

The 33 year old Brian Peake was already a bona fide champion, but it was an unexpected strategy, and a winning one, to place the 5ft 11(180cm) star of the midfield in the goalsquare, and the unqualified success of  the move put the icing onto Peake’s career of class by proving at the top level his ability to play in any position against any opposition.

Not that he needed to do that.

He had just returned to his home State from Geelong, where he spent four years after having the honour of being helicoptered to Kardinia Park for a training session which attracted three thousand cheering Geelong supporters in mid 1981.  He was rushed into the captaincy role at the Cats the following year and played 66 games.

As a Manning junior, Perth were robbed of a champion when Peake elected to join East Fremantle under the father son rule.  He had a low key start to his career, with his love of surfing pushing football into second place in those early days. However, once he got his priorities sorted there was no stopping  the young Brian Peake.

 Debuting in 1972, he was  a centreman of class who could play anywhere on the ground.  This was illustrated in 1979, when he slotted in at centre half forward for  the Sharks premiership combination.   At the State of Origin Carnival that year he captained WA, snared the Tassie Medal, and was named Captain of the All Australian team. 

Before leaving mid season in 1981 for Geelong after East had been already knocked out of  premiership  calculations, Peake had accumulated 194 games with the Blue and Whites.

On  rejoining the Sharks at the age of 32, there was still plenty in the tank.

The return home was fruitful.  East Fremantle won the 1985 Premiership and after the 86 State of Origin Carnival Peake  was once again named All Australian Captain. In 1987 he won his sixth Fairest and Best for East Fremantle.

In 1990 the former Manning junior landed at Lathlain. Eighteen years after debuting against the Demons on April 29, 1972, Peake finally donned the red and black for ten games, to round off an illustrious career.

Along the way he had accumulated six Lynne Medals(five in a row between 1976-80, a feat in itself) a  Sandover  and  a Tassie in 1979, All Australian captain twice, and two East Fremantle premierships.

And then there was the 1986 State of Origin……………………..