SA has a rich history of sporting families where talent and passion are passed down through generations. One such family is the Phillipou family, whose football legacy spans three generations.
According to The Advertiser, it all began with Peter Phillipou, who played 272 SANFL games and scored 124 goals for the Eagles between 1967 and 1984. His son, Sam, continued the tradition.
Torrens captain in 1982 and 1983, the classy utility broke up his long stint at the club by moving to Canberra and playing 60 games for Eastlake from 1974-76.
Peter represented SA and the ACT at state level and was the Eagles’ leading goalkicker in 1971 (30 goals) and 1972 (40).
His son, Sam, continued the tradition, playing 150 SANFL games and three AFL matches from 1992 to 2005. Debuting at league level for Woodville-West Torrens, he played 106 games and kicked 180 goals for the club in three different stints and was a member of their inaugural premiership team in 1993.
In between, he played three AFL games for Footscray in 1995 and 44 games, kicking 70 goals, in two stints with Port Adelaide’s SANFL side.
Sam’s son, Mattaes, 19, was drafted by St Kilda with the 10th selection at the 2022 AFL national draft. He is an explosive, 190cm midfielder/forward who played every game in his debut season and has so far racked up 36 AFL games and kicked 20 goals.
Mattaes’s younger brother, Jevan, is also a promising talent, making waves in junior football and eyeing a future in the AFL.
Source: The Advertiser
