Peter Rohde

DOB: 19 November, 1964
MFC Debut: Round 6, 1988 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Round 20, 1995 against West Coast at MCG

Games: 117 (163 total)
Goals: 22 (28 total)
Career Statistics

From: Sandhurst/Carlton

Number: 41 1988-1995

Honours
150 Heroes selection
Reserves Best and Fairest - 1995

Rohde was a rugged defender who crossed from Carlton after missing out on their 1987 finals campaign. He had been the victim of a poor relationship with coach Robert Walls, who had regarded him as a poor kick. When salary cap concerns also hit Rohde was one of the first squeezed out, starting the season in the Blues reserves side then moving to the Demons a fortnight later.

Within weeks of joining Melbourne, Rohde found his kicking praised by John Northey and he played his best football under "Swooper". His first year only yielded seven games and missing the finals series cost Rohde the chance to get one back on the Blues in a winning Preliminary Final.

Despite missing 11 games through injury in 1989, Rohde was fast developing into one of the side's better defenders. He again missed three months in 1990 and continued to be bedevelled by injuries. 1991 was his best year and despite not breaking into the senior side until round 5 he finished fifth in the Best and Fairest award.

The Demons missed the finals for the next two years, and by the time they returned in 1994 Rohde was on the outer. He played just 8 senior games in 1995 but won the Reserve grade Best and Fairest. He is one of just a few players to appear in both 100 senior and Reserves games during his career.

After his retirement at the end of 1995 Rohde was appointed coach of Norwood where he won a premiership. He remained there until the end of 1999 when he crossed to the Western Bulldogs as an assistant coach.

After Terry Wallace resigned, Rohde coached the Western Bulldogs for two largely unsuccessful seasons before returning to Port Adelaide in a football manager role.

Media
"Early victim of salary cap cuts" - Herald Sun 01/10/2002
"Rohde strives to teach Dogs a few new tricks" - The Age 06/03/2003

Links
Blueseum profile
Wikipedia profile