BANFIELD, Peter

Peter Banfield was a gutsy rover who came from North Ringwood and came up through the Under 19s. He won the Under 19s Best and Fairest award in 1983 and was also a member of the Reserves premiership team that year.

He won the Reserves Best and Fairest award in 1986.

Banfield made his senior debut in Round 8, 1984 but couldn't hold down a regular senior spot. The strength of the team in that period and his lack of pace told against him as he competed for a game against Darren Williams, Alan Ezard and Tony Elshaug.

Banfield was cleared to the Brisbane Bears and played in their inaugural game in 1987. He went on to play 49 games from 1987 to 1989.

In 1990-1993 he played 95 games for the West Adelaide Football Club winning their Best and Fairest award in 1991.

In 1994-1996 Banfield coached Ainslie in the ACT Football League leading the club to three premierships.

He was assistant coach at St Kilda from 1997 to 2000, then became assistant coach to Neale Daniher at Melbourne from 2001 to 2002.

At the end of the 2002 season, Banfield was appointed coach of the Bendigo Bombers for the seasons 2003 and 2004. He then coached the Scorpions (previously Springvale).

He continued his coaching career at a number of school and suburban clubs, including Old Scotch, Blackburn and Balwyn. In 2021, he became senior coach at Mazenod Old Collegians.