 Matera was recruited from South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) with the 4th selection in the 1989 National Draft and made his debut in 1990 for West Coast.Playing just five games in his debut season for the Eagles, Matera broke through as a star youngster in 1991, finishing fourth in the Brownlow Medal and earning All-Australian honors.Matera followed up with an excellent 1992, unlucky to miss AA honors once more but capped off the season with an outstanding finals series.