Peter Francis (footballer)

Peter Francis (born 16 January 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with four VFL clubs during the 1980s.

Peter Francis
Personal information
Date of birth (1958-01-16) 16 January 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth Heathcote, Victoria
Debut Round 3, 1979, Carlton vs. Essendon, at Waverley Park
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1979–1981 Carlton 047 (15)
1981–1983 Fitzroy 040 (19)
1984–1986 Richmond 052 (22)
1987–1988 Essendon 019 0(2)
Total 158 (58)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Victorian country recruit Peter Francis joined Carlton in 1977 and made his senior debut two seasons later in Round 1. 1979. He played in their thrilling five point Grand Final win against Collingwood that year in what would be the only premiership of his ten season career. Halfway through the 1981 season he was traded to Fitzroy for fellow wingman Frank Marchesani. He played 40 games with Fitzroy before moving on to Richmond and then finished his career with a stint at Essendon.

For the 1989 and 1990 seasons, Francis served as the head coach of the Box Hill Hawks Football Club. In 1989, Francis guided the club to 3rd place, equalling its best VFA result to that time.

Francis was appointed St Kilda's Reserves/Development Coach in 1991. A role he held until 1994.

In 1995 Francis was appointed fulltime Coach of the Gippsland Power Football Club in the AFL Elite Player Pathway TAC Cup Competition and held that position until 2000. He then took over the role of Regional/Talent Manager of the Gippsland Power Football Club in 2001 until his retirement in 2019.

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