Peter Jonas (footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = Peter
lastname = Jonas




birthdate = 20 October 1959
birthplace =
originalteam = Central District
heightweight = 184 cm / 83 kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 1981
debutteam = North Melbourne
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams = North Melbourne (1981, 1983-88)
* 82 games, 115 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 1988
careerhighlights =

Peter Jonas (born 20 October 1959 in Saddleworth) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1980s.

Jonas, a forward, was only 17 when he made his debut in the Central District seniors in 1977. He won his club's Best and fairest in 1979 and represented South Australia at State of Origin in the Perth Carnival that year. For his performances at the carnival he was selected as an All-Australian and in doing so became the first ever Central District player to have made the team.

In 1981 he made his debut for North Melbourne and despite remaining with the club until 1988 would only play 82 games in that period due to injury. Twice he broke his leg and at various times he also broke an arm, hand and injured his collar bone. Mostly playing at half forward, he had a full season in 1985 which saw him kick his best season tally at North Melbourne of 31 goals.

He finished his career back at Central District and retired during the 1988 season to finish with 93 games and 109 goals in the SANFL.

Appointed coach of Central District in 1998, Jonas would steer the club to their inaugural premiership in his third season. He later became an assistant coach at AFL club's St Kilda and Sydney.

References

*AflRleague|ref=P/Peter_Jonas.html
* [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/i-j.htm#Peter%20Jonas%20(Central%20District%20&%20North%20Melbourne) Full Points Footy profile]
*Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). "The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers". 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.