Peter Wright Biography

Peter Wright is slapped with a four-match ban after he pled guilty to the airborne bump that concussed Harry Cunningham and resulted in the Sydney defender being stretchered off the ground.

After kicking 53 goals, Peter Wright claims the Crichton Medal as Essendon's best and fairest for 2022.

Wright finished on 242 votes, ahead of Zach Merrett, who polled 230 votes.

Peter Wright kicks seven goals against the Bulldogs, becoming just the fourth Bomber to kick seven or more goals in a game since 2010.

"I think he's had some really strong games throughout the season and he's starting to build some real momentum and consistency in his game. But today he was able to execute and get on the end of a few and his goalkicking was fantastic," Essendon coach Ben Rutten said of Wright.

"His ability to present up at the ball was great."

Graham Wright leaves his role as Hawthorn football manager to take on a new role at Collingwood.

"Graham has given this club incredible service over a number of years and we will be forever grateful for his contribution and commitment to the brown and gold," Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves said.

"While it is always disappointing to lose someone of Graham's calibre, we are also supportive of his decision and understand that the time is right for Graham to seek a new challenge."

Essendon secures the services of Peter Wright after sending a future fourth-round selection to Gold Coast.

"We're pleased to have recruited Peter from Gold Coast and have him join the club until at least the end of 2023," Dons list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"Given Peter's strong marking and goalkicking ability, we think this is a quality acquisition for our forward line and ruck division. At 24, he's in a key age profile for our list and should be entering the peak of his career, so it's a real win for us to bring in someone who we know can be an asset to our playing group."

Gold Coast is prepared to pay a significant portion of Peter Wright's contract over the next two seasons in a deal to send the ruck/forward to Essendon.

Wright is contracted until 2022 on a deal valued at approximately $500,000 per season.

The 203cm Victorian was named emergency for the Suns for much of 2020, forced to watch on as Ben King and Sam Day owned the club's key forward posts.

Gold Coast has left the door open to trading Peter Wright who is contracted until 2022 but did not play a senior game in 2020.

"Guys who are that height (203cm) who kick the ball really well and get around the ground are going to generate interest," Suns football manager Jon Haines said.

"From our point of view Pete's contracted but he's within his rights to understand what level of interest is out there as well. I think the bottom line is we'll be open-minded, but he sits as a contracted player."

Peter Wright has been unable to make the Suns' senior team thus far in 2020.

"He's been a little bit up and down," Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

"It's an interesting role the key forward and ruckmen in the reserves, because they're constantly on (senior) standby, particularly with the condensed schedule."

Peter Wright says he is ready to step up in 2019 to fill the void left by Tom Lynch in the Suns' forward line.

"Tom was a quality player and a very unique player and not someone you can easily replace," Wright said.

" I'm not trying to do everything he did, but I do see it as a challenge. It's an opportunity for me to grow and I'm going to take it with both hands."

Peter Wright's 2018 season is over after he suffered a medial ligament strain against Melbourne at the MCG.

Wright twisted his left knee when taking a leading mark inside 50 in the opening minute of the game.

He went back and took his kick, which he missed, and hobbled off the ground two minutes later, getting caught up in active play on his way to the bench.

Peter Wright speaks of the frustration of not playing for the first half of the 2018 season.

Wright strained his calf during the Suns' pre-season and, following several failed comeback attempts, finally played his first game against Hawthorn, kicking 2.2 from 11 disposals.

"The calf was frustrating. Every time I'd run it'd get sore so it'd set me back a week or two," Wright said.

"It probably happened three times and it pushed it out to three months. It was always not far away but I couldn't get it across the line."

With his team trailing by four points and just two minutes remaining, Peter Wright kicked arguably the most important goal of the Suns' season.

The 203cm forward took a strong overhead mark and then coolly converted from 45m to give the Suns a lead they would not relinquish.

"He's a good kick. It showed his poise to do be able to do that, mentally," Suns coach Rodney Eade said.

Following a season-ending injury to Sam Day, Peter Wright is now virtually guaranteed a game each week for the Suns.

Suns coach Rodney Eade, however, was quick to temper expectations on the tall forward.

"The thing with Peter is it's still going to be a year of growth for him," Eade said.

"There's been a lot of publicity about where he can get to, but he's still only 20 years of age.

"Tall forwards don't really hit their mark until 23, 24 years of age, so there's still some room for improvement and room for growth.

"The expectations aren't high, per se, but as long as he's presenting himself and getting to contests, that's what we're looking for."

Peter Wright signs a two-year contract extension with Gold Coast that will tie him to the club until the end of 2019.

"It was a decision, which in my view, was always going to get done," Wright said.

"I am really settled up here – love the group, loving coming to training each day and I see my future here."

Gold Coast forward Peter Wright earns the round 15 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after booting a career-high three goals and plucking 10 marks against St Kilda.

Wright, pick No.8 in the 2014 draft, has matured considerably in his second season at AFL level and is making the most of the opportunities presented to him after Charlie Dixon departed for Port Adelaide in the off-season.

"It's really stemmed from a big pre-season in the gym and getting my fitness up out on the track with the new fitness staff we've got here," Wright said.

"I was able to get a lot stronger through the legs and my high-intensity running has definitely improved which has allowed me to compete on game day.

"Then the exposure of playing against and alongside really good players, you definitely learn a lot each week and I'm trying to put those little stepping stones in place."

Peter Wright signs a contract extension that will keep him at Gold Coast until the end of 2017.

"This gives me the chance to become the player that both I, and the club, want me to be," Wright said.

"I’m incredibly grateful to the club for their commitment and belief in me and I can’t wait to get out there and play some good footy.”

Peter Wright makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast with 5 disposals (3 kicks and 2 handballs), 2 marks and a goal in a 52-point loss to Sydney.

Suns list manager Scott Clayton says Peter Wright is a once-in-a-decade player after selecting the 203cm forward with pick No.8.

"He's going to have a great AFL career," Clayton said.

"He's got magnificent hands, he's a great mark, he plays in front naturally and he's as good a kick as you'll see.

"He's going to kick a lot of goals and create a lot of headaches for AFL teams."

Gold Coast has added to its key position talent by snapping up imposing Calder Cannon ruck/forward Peter Wright at Thursday night's NAB AFL Draft.

Wright, at one stage touted as a possible No.1 selection, was taken by the Suns with their first round pick, No.8 overall.

The 203cm, 102kg Wright is a giant of a man who forged his reputation as a sound overhead mark and long, accurate shot for goal.

After starting this year as the likely No.1 draft selection in the eyes of some, the projection isn't quite as bright for Peter Wright.

He might not be a top five selection and might only just crack it for the top 10 at next week's NAB AFL Draft, but the Calder Cannons giant tuned out on the media months ago.

Speaking on SEN 1116 on Tuesday, Wright said he initially paid attention to the endless mock drafts and draft profiles that populate the media.

"At the start of the year I did, but then I put too much pressure on myself, so instead I concentrated on what my coaches said and what they want me to do on match days," he said.

Peter Wright looks to be one of the most intriguing prospects as the 2014 NAB AFL Draft edges closer, with many predicting the tall talent could drift deeper into the first round.

Touted as a possible No.1 pick for much of the season, only weeks from the draft the 203cm forward/ruckman is considered a possibility to be still available at pick No.10 – and perhaps later.

Greater Western Sydney (who hold picks four, six and seven) is seen as the most likely home for Wright if he is drafted inside the first group of picks.