AFL great Peter Matera rushed to hospital after heart attack
West Coast Eagles great Peter Matera is recovering in a Bendigo hospital after suffering a serious heart attack.
The AFL great has had two stents inserted after being rushed to hospital on Sunday.
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A two-time premiership player over the course of a 253-game AFL career, the 53-year-old Matera is regarded as one of the West Coast Eagles' greatest players.
News of his heart attack was broken by former AFL player Brad Hardie on 6PR, who also reported Matera's brother Phil was travelling to Bendigo to be with his brother.
Matera won five All-Australian jumpers to go with the 1992 Norm Smith medal for his breathtaking five-goal display in the club's 28-point grand final win over Geelong.
"He's in hospital in Bendigo right now... two stents in his heart and rehabilitating as we speak," Hardie said on Monday.
"We're not sure exactly the extent of it at this stage.
"Rehabilitating as we speak in a hospital in Bendigo, so get well Roo. He's a star."
Fans flocked to social media to post well-wishes for the AFL legend.
Get well soon Peter Matera. One of my favourite players in the 90s. Streaming down the wing, mullet flowing behind. pic.twitter.com/lILtaeEzQR
— Moss (@Melburnian) May 30, 2022
Wishing Peter Matera all the best.
— Nathan Watson (@N_Watson_) May 30, 2022
Rest up Roo ❤️
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) May 30, 2022
Thoughts with Peter Matera & his family after hearing he suffered a heart attack on the weekend at home in country Victoria.
Hope he pulls up well.🤞🤞#AFL— W.A.Dad (@grazinggoat66) May 30, 2022
Not Peter Matera now too.. hope he pulls through 💔 Honestly done with heart attacks/cardiac arrests in the news.
— Rando Calrissian (@bamberee) May 30, 2022
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Matera's scare comes in the wake of a series of tragic heart attacks among Australia's sporting royalty.
Former Test stars Shane Warne and Rod Marsh died in March, while ex-WA cricketer Ryan Campbell is lucky to be alive after suffering a cardiac arrest in April.
Flag-winning Eagle Guy McKenna is also planning to visit his former long-time teammate in hospital.
Matera's long-range goals in that decider were the stuff of folklore, with his performance ensuring West Coast became the first non-Victorian club to win an AFL flag.
"We would always say it's us against them," Matera reflected in 2012 during the club's 20-year anniversary of that 1992 premiership triumph.
"Going into a grand final, we knew the crowd was going to be against us because we can't take all our supporters across.
"We had that desire after losing the year before (to Hawthorn).
"There was no way we were going to lose that grand final with all of us getting behind each other.
"We were like brothers in a way, because for those first three, four years, it was us against them.
"The group we had for those reunions was just awesome, because the bond is so strong."
With AAP
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