Peter Schwab

Peter Schwab (born 22 September 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL/AFL.

Playing career

Recruited from Bennettswood, he played with the Hawthorn Hawks from 1980-1991, going on to play 171 games and boot 38 goals. Schwab was used mainly as a utility.

1989 Grand Final suspension

After being part of the 1983, 1986 and 1988 flags with Hawthorn, Schwab missed the 1989 VFL Grand Final after an uncharacteristic act. Schwab has also spoken about players such as Anthony Rocca and Jason Cloke being suspended before a Grand Final. Hawthorn won the game in his absence, in what was widely regarded as one of the great Grand Finals.

Coaching career

In 1992 he became assistant coach at the Richmond Football Club, before becoming the head coach at Hawthorn in 2000. he took Hawthorn into the finals in his first year. where they Elimated Geelong in the first elimation final but the following week they were elimated by Kangaroos in the semi final . And took the Hawks in to the finals again in 2001. They elimated sydney in the elimation final, then they elimated Port adelaide in the semi final. They eventually lost to Essendon in a thriller at the MCG in the Preliminary Finals. in 2002 hawthorn just missed out of the finals finishing 10th and in 2003 hawthorn just missed out of the finals again finishing 9th. Between coaching stints, Schwab had a brief role as marketing manager at Hawthorn as the club entered into financial losses and a merger crisis. He also had a short stint heading up the umpiring panel.

Resignation

In 2004, with Schwab having announced pre-season that the Hawks would win the premiership, he found the Hawks in last position on the ladder then he was sacked by the board, led by then president, a tearful Ian Dicker after Round 17, 2004 when Hawthorn were smashed by Kangaroos by 80 points. Peter Schwab had a chance to stay for the rest of the season but he declined it. Then caretaker coach Donald McDonald took the job for remainder of the 2004 season. Schwab had a year to go on his contract, which was paid out in full by the club. His legacy remains one of great debate at Glenferrie.

Current

In 2005, Schwab took the job as chairman of the Australian Football League's Match Review Panel. As of 2006, he also coached Australian rules football at prominent Melbourne School Wesley College, Melbourne. In February 2007, Schwab joined AFL Victoria as its Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, Schwab makes "special comments" for ABC radio and writes for "The Age".