Vin Catoggio
Encyclopedia
Vincenzo "Vin" Catoggio (born 13 May 1954) is a former Australian rules football
er in the Victorian Football League.
He was noted for his outrageous afro
haircut and because of this was considered one of the real characters of the game. He is of Italian
descent and played for three VFL clubs.
In 1972 he won the Morrish Medal
which was awarded to the player voted best and fairest in the VFL 19s.
In 1973 he won the Gardiner Medal which was awarded to the best and fairest player as adjudged by field umpires in the reserves competition. His first full game of VFL football came in the 1973 VFL Grand Final
.
Catoggio moved to Melbourne in 1981 and played nine games over two years.
Vin is the second son of five siblings of Leonardo and Rocchina Catoggio. Leonardo arrived in Australia in 1938, and Rocchina in 1936. Both Vin's grandfathers, Carmine and Vincenzo, arrived together in Australia, from Montemurro
, Italy, in 1927, and their families arrived later. Vin is married to Vicki (Nee Watson) and has two sons, Leigh and Jay, and one daughter, Tess.
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 in the Victorian Football League.
He was noted for his outrageous afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
haircut and because of this was considered one of the real characters of the game. He is of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
descent and played for three VFL clubs.
In 1972 he won the Morrish Medal
Morrish Medal
The Morrish Medal is an Australian rules football award.Formerly awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the VFL Under 19 competition , since 1992 the award has been given to the best player in the Victorian TAC Cup Under 18 competition.The Morrish Medal was named in honour of Tom Morrish, a...
which was awarded to the player voted best and fairest in the VFL 19s.
In 1973 he won the Gardiner Medal which was awarded to the best and fairest player as adjudged by field umpires in the reserves competition. His first full game of VFL football came in the 1973 VFL Grand Final
1973 VFL Grand Final
The 1973 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Richmond Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 1973. It was the 77th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
.
Catoggio moved to Melbourne in 1981 and played nine games over two years.
Vin is the second son of five siblings of Leonardo and Rocchina Catoggio. Leonardo arrived in Australia in 1938, and Rocchina in 1936. Both Vin's grandfathers, Carmine and Vincenzo, arrived together in Australia, from Montemurro
Montemurro
Montemurro is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.The Italian-American Lucchese crime family mobster brothers Raymond Montemurro and Monte Montemurro share their last name with the town. Monte Montemurro would later play a small part in the...
, Italy, in 1927, and their families arrived later. Vin is married to Vicki (Nee Watson) and has two sons, Leigh and Jay, and one daughter, Tess.
Playing career
- CarltonCarlton Football ClubThe Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
– 1973, 75–76, 78–81 (71 games, 97 goals) - MelbourneMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
– 1981–1982 (9 games, 15 goals) - Sydney SwansSydney SwansThe 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...
– 1983 (8 games, 9 goals)