Former West Coast Eagles star forward Peter Sumich has opened up about the famous 1994 brawl that saw him fear for his life.
Speaking to Mike Sheahan on Fox Footy's Open Mike on Tuesday night, the two-time premiership player said he thought he would die after being caught in a headlock by Western Bulldogs hard-man Danny Southern.
โI went in and there was a bit of a group on top of Brett and then I came in just to pull one or two of the Footscray players off and as I did that, (and was) leaning over someone grabbed me from behind and got me in a good headlock and then pulled me back" Sumich told Sheahan on the incident.
โI just went to the ground with him and then I just tried to get out of that.
โYou try to work it for 5 or 10 seconds and then I thought โoh geez heโs got me pretty good here, Iโm pretty well doneโ.
โI couldnโt get out of it. He had me in a headlock that was A grade. He mustโve been a good wrestler!โ
The seven-time Eagles leading goalkicker was fearing for his life at that point, and decided to give up resisting in the hope of being released.
That only made Southern grip harder, which saw Sumich black out.
โI just gave the tap-out. I just tapped out (as if) to say โOK thatโs enoughโ, just (tapped him) on the shoulder and arm to say โOK thatโs enough, you got meโ.
โAnd thatโs when he went harder, and I thought โoh geez Iโm in a bit of trouble hereโ," he said.
โAnd he went harder and next (thing) you know that was it. I woke up in the change rooms
โI thought to myself, โIโm goneโ.
โI really started to lose my breath and the whole lot and I thought โoh geez Iโm gone hereโ.
โI thought I might die. I seriously did at that moment because Iโd never been in that situation โ I donโt think too many people would have โ and to lose your breath and not know what to do ...
โI thought โgeez Iโm strugglingโ and next thing you know, gone. Bang iโd blacked out and woke up in the change room.โ
โ(I woke up) to a screaming wife and an old man that I reckon wanted to get out there and kill a few people himself because he was pretty upset.โ
Sumich said he hasn't spoken to Southern following the incident, and added it wouldn't bother him if he never did again.
โIโd just walk away. I wouldnโt acknowledge him,โ Sumich said.
โHeโs never rang me to apologise or ... and thatโs fine, Iโve got nothing against him with that side of it, but on the flip side I wonโt be going out of my way to say hello or do anything.โ
