Rino Pretto
Encyclopedia
Rino Pretto is a former Australian rules football
er who played for various clubs in the Victorian Football Association
(VFA) and with Fitzroy
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
After serving his apprenticeship as a full-back in the Fitzroy under-19s and reserves, Pretto finally made his senior debut late in the 1978 VFL season
. The game, which took place at Waverley Park, was won by Carlton who were celebrating Rod Ashman
's 100th league appearance. Pretto kicked a goal off his only kick and found himself back in the reserves the following weekend and for the entire 1979 season.
Pretto joined the VFA in 1980 and played initially at Camberwell
and Coburg. His talent up forward was discovered after he kicked eight goals when filling in for an injured full-forward and he was used regularly in front of goals once he transferred to Oakleigh
.
Oakleigh played in 'Division Two' of the VFA and he was the division's leading goal-kicker on three occasions, most notably in 1985 when he kicked 170 goals. In the Grand Final that year he kicked 12 goals but unusually finished on the losing team. His best performance in a game came in 1986 when he kicked 20 against Mordialloc
.
Pretto finished his career at Dandenong
, in the top-flight, and topped the league's goal-kicking
with 87 goals in 1994. When he eventually retired, the VFA interstate football representative had kicked 1071 goals, a tally only bettered by Fred Cook.
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 for various clubs in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA) and with Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the Victorian 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...
(VFL).
After serving his apprenticeship as a full-back in the Fitzroy under-19s and reserves, Pretto finally made his senior debut late in the 1978 VFL season
1978 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1978.-Grand final:Hawthorn defeated North Melbourne 18.13 to 15.13 , in front of a crowd of 101704 people...
. The game, which took place at Waverley Park, was won by Carlton who were celebrating Rod Ashman
Rod Ashman
Rodney Ashman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Blues.A forward, Ashman played in back to back premierships in 1981 and 1982.He was named in the forward pocket in Carlton's Team of the Century....
's 100th league appearance. Pretto kicked a goal off his only kick and found himself back in the reserves the following weekend and for the entire 1979 season.
Pretto joined the VFA in 1980 and played initially at Camberwell
Camberwell Football Club
Camberwell Football Club was an Australian rules football club who were formed in 1896 and competed in the Victorian Football Association between 1926 and 1990. Nicknamed the Cobras, Camberwell wore dark blue, white and red club colours...
and Coburg. His talent up forward was discovered after he kicked eight goals when filling in for an injured full-forward and he was used regularly in front of goals once he transferred to Oakleigh
Oakleigh Football Club
Oakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
.
Oakleigh played in 'Division Two' of the VFA and he was the division's leading goal-kicker on three occasions, most notably in 1985 when he kicked 170 goals. In the Grand Final that year he kicked 12 goals but unusually finished on the losing team. His best performance in a game came in 1986 when he kicked 20 against Mordialloc
Mordialloc Football Club
Mordialloc Football Club, nicknamed The Bloodhounds, is an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1958 until 1988...
.
Pretto finished his career at Dandenong
Dandenong Football Club
Dandenong Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association . Based in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong, the Redlegs wore navy blue and red as their club colours.-History:...
, in the top-flight, and topped the league's goal-kicking
Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal
The Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal is awarded to the leading goalkicker in the Victorian Football League . The Medal was named in 1999 in honour of Jim Miller who was the VFL leading goalkicker on six occasions. Nick Sautner currently holds the record for most medals with nine, his most recent coming in...
with 87 goals in 1994. When he eventually retired, the VFA interstate football representative had kicked 1071 goals, a tally only bettered by Fred Cook.