Peter Robert Bosustow

Player 1975-1987 (Perth 1975-80, 1984-85, 1987 Carlton 1981-1983)

Games: 214 (Perth 141, Carlton 65, WA 8)

Goals: 542 (Perth 379, Carlton 146, WA 17)

Honours: Perth Premiership player 1977; Carlton Premiership player 1981, 1982; Perth Leading Goalkicker 1979, 1980; Carlton Leading Goalkicker 1981, 1982; VFL Mark and Goal of the Year 1981; Perth Team of the Century; Perth FC Life Member (1999)

Footy highlights packages of the 1970’s and 80’s are liberally adorned with the exploits of Peter Bosustow, one of the most flamboyant and spectacular high flyers ever to represent the Perth and Carlton Football Clubs. In just three VFL seasons, Bosustow became a favourite with Blues fans and his feat in winning both the VFL Mark and Goal of the Year awards in 1981 put him into Carlton folklore. Often unstoppable as a free-running half forward, Bosustow was a freakish mark, a brilliant ground level player and a deadly snapshot at goal.

Peter Bosustow was born in Melbourne where his father Bob, a former Perth player, had moved for a stint with the Carlton Football Club. The family were soon back in Perth and Peter played his junior football with Victoria Park before joining Perth in 1975. He kicked one goal on his league debut at Subiaco Oval on 26^th July 1975 and added another five goals in the remaining four games of his debut season. The mercurial nature of his football was evident early and his pace and ground skills combined with his uncanny marking skills had Bosustow being compared with former Perth champion Ron Tucker. In 1977 he missed only one game and kicked 70 goals including three bags of 6 and was a reserve in the Grand Final, replacing Murray Couper in the last quarter and becoming a premiership player when Perth defeated East Fremantle.

Bosustow was often spectacular in 1978 as a half forward with a roving role and played one his most electrifying WAFL games in the Grand Final against East Perth, kicking seven goals in atrocious conditions, with his virtuoso performance in the last quarter almost allowing Perth to snatch the game. 

At the end of 1980, Bosustow followed his father’s footsteps to Carlton. He had by then matured into a highly reliable player and topped Perth’s goalkicking in 1979 and 1980.  At Carlton his flamboyance, mercurial marking and long kicking, made Bosustow an instant success. He topped Carlton’s goalkicking in 1981 with 59 goals and played in the 1981 and 1982 VFL premierships. In three memorable VFL seasons, Bosustow averaged 16.7 possessions and 2.3 goals in his 65 games. 

Returning to Perth in 1984, Bosustow was an important senior player, creating opportunities for both himself and the players around him but was frustrated by injury. A damaged wrist ended his 1984 season five games early, and an ankle injury restricted his 1985 season and forced him to the Sunday Football league at Thornlie in 1986. He came back for five games in 1987 to take his game tally at Perth to 141 and his goal tally to 379.

Bosustow was a proud and effective state representative in eight games between 1978 and 1984, including five state of origin games, the highlight being his five goal performance against SA in 1979 when he was named in his team’s best.  In total, his 214 senior games (including 8 for WA) yielded 542 goals at 2.53 goals per game - highly creditable for a player who spent more time on the half forward line than at full forward.

After WAFL retirement, Bosustow spent two seasons with Canning and one with Gosnells in the Sunday League. He also worked on radio as a football commentator and critic. He was awarded Life Membership of Perth and selected in their Team of the Century in 1999 and was an inaugural member of the Perth Football Club Hall of Fame in 2015.

The spectacular high-flying mark is one of the defining features of Australian Rules Football and the Hall of Fame is the ideal forum to recognise its best exponents. Peter Bosustow was one of the finest aerialists WA has produced and always capable of the extraordinary. He well fits the criteria for membership and becomes a welcome addition to the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.