Two Metre Peter doing the work and it’s paying off for Bombers
LESS than 20 months ago, Peter Wright couldn’t get a game in a struggling Gold Coast Suns side.
Right now, the 25-year-old arguably among the best 10 key forwards in the competition.
It’s hard to believe the Suns were so happy to push “Two Metre Peter” out the door that they agreed to pay a chunk of his wage for him to play with Essendon in 2021 and 2022.
After a slow start in his new colours, Wright shone brightly in the second half of last season – including a career-best seven-goal outing against the Western Bulldogs.
In a battling Bombers side this season, he has been one of the few shining lights and now has 23 goals to his name from eight games after booting six majors against Hawthorn on Saturday night.
Wright has long been criticised for a perceived lack of work rate and hunger for the contest, but put his body on the line and crashed packs multiple times against the Hawks.
The Bombers are now more trusting to target the 203cm giant in attack and Wright is holding up his end of the bargain.
“Ever since he’s come to the club, I’ve just loved his work ethic and his appetite to get better,” Essendon coach Ben Rutten said of Wright.
“No matter how good a form he’s in or who the opponent is, he’s putting the time in during the week and is a great role model for our younger players.
“To get the reward, it’s not surprising. He’s doing the work and he’s a really important player and member of our squad.
“He shows some real leadership. “It’s a pretty young forward line he’s got in and around him and to help and be a support for those guys and allow them to grow into AFL players but also to be able to understand his responsibility and take his game to the levels he is, it’s a credit to him, really.
“He’s doing the work.”