Frank Dimattina
Encyclopedia
Frank Dimattina is a former Australian rules football
er, who played as a rover for Richmond
in the Australian Football League
.
He made his senior debut in 1964 at the Punt Road Oval
, against South Melbourne
, on 25 July.).
He played the next 33 consecutive games for Richmond's First XVIII, winning Richmond's Most Determined Trophy in 1966.
In the round 15 match against Collingwood, at the M.C.G. on Saturday, 6 August 1966, Frank was chasing the ball somewhere between the forward-flank and centre-half forward, bent over, with his head down, concentrating on the ball, and his hands nearly at ground level, when Paddy Guinane
, running at full tilt from full-forward, bounced off Mick Erwin
, and smashed into Frank's head with one of his massive thighs at full force. It was obvious that, for some inexplicable reason, Guinane had not seen Frank; and because Guinane was having one of his intermittent bad days, it is most likely he was running to get to centre-half forward, and was looking up the ground into the distance.
Guinane nearly killed him; Dimattina was very, very badly concussed, and had a broken nose. He was replaced by the 19th man, Kevin Bartlett; and, from that time (his 24 the senior game), Bartlett was never again selected as a reserve (Prior, 1995, p.84).
Dimattina played the next match as first rover, but was replaced during the match because of an injured knee, and did not play for the rest of the year. He played six senior games in 1967, and one in 1968; however, he was never able to regain his playing form and, in, particular, he never again displayed the fearless self-confidence and the well-balanced ball skills that had been so characteristic of his play prior to that collision.
Richmond released him at the end of the 1968 season.
, and he then spent four seasons with Brunswick Football Club
in the Victorian Football Association, playing 64 games and scoring 94 goals.
He was captain-coach of Sorrento Football Club in 1975.
He is the owner of several restaurants, the first being the Il Gambero restaurant in Lygon Street, Carlton.http://www.coxy.com.au/vic/bigbreak/?tourid=100&aid=461http://melbourne.citysearch.com.au/E/V/MELBO/0057/58/23http://www.dimattinas.com.au
His son, Paul Dimattina
played 131 games for Footscray
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, who played as a rover for Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Schoolboy footballer
Educated at De La Salle College, he played with Richmond Thirds (Under 19) whilst still at school, and whilst still also playing for his school side (he was the school's First XVIII captain and its best and fairest player in 1964).He made his senior debut in 1964 at the Punt Road Oval
Punt Road Oval
Punt Road Oval is a sporting ground located in Yarra Park, East Melbourne, Victoria situated only a few hundred metres to the east of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground....
, against South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, on 25 July.).
He played the next 33 consecutive games for Richmond's First XVIII, winning Richmond's Most Determined Trophy in 1966.
Richmond
Frank, who was very courageous and very skillful, developed into a very valuable member of the Richmond senior side.In the round 15 match against Collingwood, at the M.C.G. on Saturday, 6 August 1966, Frank was chasing the ball somewhere between the forward-flank and centre-half forward, bent over, with his head down, concentrating on the ball, and his hands nearly at ground level, when Paddy Guinane
Paddy Guinane
Patrick 'Paddy' Guinane is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1958 and 1968 for the Richmond Football Club.-References:*Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996...
, running at full tilt from full-forward, bounced off Mick Erwin
Mick Erwin
Michael 'Mick' Erwin is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1962 and 1964 for the Collingwood Football Club and from 1965 to 1968 for the Richmond Football Club....
, and smashed into Frank's head with one of his massive thighs at full force. It was obvious that, for some inexplicable reason, Guinane had not seen Frank; and because Guinane was having one of his intermittent bad days, it is most likely he was running to get to centre-half forward, and was looking up the ground into the distance.
Guinane nearly killed him; Dimattina was very, very badly concussed, and had a broken nose. He was replaced by the 19th man, Kevin Bartlett; and, from that time (his 24 the senior game), Bartlett was never again selected as a reserve (Prior, 1995, p.84).
Dimattina played the next match as first rover, but was replaced during the match because of an injured knee, and did not play for the rest of the year. He played six senior games in 1967, and one in 1968; however, he was never able to regain his playing form and, in, particular, he never again displayed the fearless self-confidence and the well-balanced ball skills that had been so characteristic of his play prior to that collision.
Richmond released him at the end of the 1968 season.
After Richmond
Frank went on to play two seasons (1969/1970) with North Melbourne Football ClubNorth Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
, and he then spent four seasons with Brunswick Football Club
Brunswick Football Club
Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria. The club wore black and white guernseys...
in the Victorian Football Association, playing 64 games and scoring 94 goals.
He was captain-coach of Sorrento Football Club in 1975.
Record
His football record is impressive:- 1963: Richmond Thirds (Under 19), 4 games (8 goals)
- 1964-1968: Richmond Football Club Reserves, 30 games (45 goals)
- 1964-1968: Richmond Football Club Seniors, 42 games (43 goals), Most Determined Trophy 1966.
- 1969-1970: North Melbourne Football Club Reserves, 23 games (36 goals)
- 1969-1970: North Melbourne Football Club Seniors, 14 games (16 goals)
- 1971-1974: Brunswick Football Club, 64 games (94 goals)
- 1975: Sorrento Football Club, captain-coach
Post Football
Following his football career, Frank was the Richmond Senior Team Manager from 1988 to 1990.He is the owner of several restaurants, the first being the Il Gambero restaurant in Lygon Street, Carlton.http://www.coxy.com.au/vic/bigbreak/?tourid=100&aid=461http://melbourne.citysearch.com.au/E/V/MELBO/0057/58/23http://www.dimattinas.com.au
His son, Paul Dimattina
Paul Dimattina
Paul Dimattina , the son of former Richmond rover Frank Dimattina, is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League....
played 131 games for Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
.