Premiership Subiaco ruckman, Peter Burton has died

Peter Burton, the giant ruckman who helped Subiaco break their 49-year premiership drought in 1973, has died suddenly. He was 76.

The father of Fremantle cult figure Matthew and fellow Subiaco league players Travis and Jay Burton had been living in America for many years.

He collapsed several days ago.

The 198cm Burton played 182 league matches from 1967 to 1976 and proved a superb foil to champion ruckman Mike Fitzpatrick when Subiaco ended the longest premiership drought in WAFL history.

But it was a tumultuous time at Subiaco with Burton going on strike in 1971 over a pay dispute at the same time that champion forward George Young refused to play because the club would not clear his brother Robbie to Claremont.

Burton coached Subiaco in 1979 but the club was close to collapse, found wins nearly impossible and he was replaced by Ken Armstrong for the following season.

IMAGE: FILE