A Team of Tongue Twisters
All of these young men played at least one senior game of VFL/AFL football.
Had circumstances brought them together at the same time, their team might have looked something like this.
Pity the callers, however!
Zeno Tzatzaris Simon Prestigiacomo Renato Dintinosante
(Footscray) (Collingwood) (Richmond)
Athas Hrysoulakis Bohdan Jaworskyj Ron Auchettl
(Collingwood) (Hawthorn) (Carlton)
Jake Kolodjashnij Eric Zschech Adam Iacobucci
(Geelong) (Richmond) (Collingwood)
Robert DiPierdomenico Ted Obudzinski Paul Koulouriotis
(Hawthorn) (South Melb.) (Port Adelaide/Geelong)
Spiro Kourkoumelis Setanta O’hAilpin Grant Bartholomaeus
(Carlton/ St Kilda) (Carlton/GWS) (Sydney)
Followers : Ramsay Bogunovich (Geelong)
Richard Michalczyk (North Melb.)
Reg McGillicuddy (University)
Interchange : Justin Cicolella (Adelaide)
Marcus Marigliani (Essendon)
Bob Svorinich (South Melb.)
Richard Radziminski (Footscray)
Coach : Len Incigneri (Richmond/ Melbourne)
Great stuff Warren
But I think that the first name of your Centre Half Forward was Tad
I stand corrected. You are right, it is Ted.
To think I had this wrong all these years :-(
Then again………….. the Swans player was from Wagga
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tad-obudzinski-5b7b4a8b/
Some of my favourites over the years from my beloved Redlegs: Peter Vertudaches, Jeffrey Schmelzkopf, Jerry D’Antiochia, Jim Michalanney, Otway L’Estage, Henry Rischbieth
Some others I recall from the vFA over the years:
Joe Radojevic (Geelong West)
Tista De Lorenzo (Dandenong)
Angelo Petraglia (Port Melburne)
Peter Czerkaski (Sandringham)
Marcus Marigliani (Sandringham)
Joshkin Aziz (Williamstown)
Don’t just focus on the VFL. How’s about Tom Grljusich (Central District/South Fremantle) for a start. His brother George (Famous WAFL and other sporting commentary legend) could call the game.
Scott Campor-e-ale (not ‘Camporelli’) on the wing, with dad Vin as boundary umpire? Adam Kerinaiua (Brisbane). Austin Wonaeamirri (Melbourne) or Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (without the McDonald) as Aboriginal representatives.
The Avenging Eagle is Slavic by birth. Watch out Warren – she is coming for you.
Seriously – a great idea and great names. Footy was often the introduction to “New Australians” for those of us from anglo-saxon origins.
Peter Philippou, Henry Dabrowski and the Pavlich, Floreani, Faletic clans were early introductions for me at West Torrens in the SANFL in the 60’s. Remember going to live on Yorke Peninsula and Curramulka has a ruckman everyone called Frank Lafsky. Dad was the Yorketown club secretary and I used to help out with team sheets and scoring. I couldn’t work out who F.Joraslafski was.
How about Alex Ruskuklic (and his brother Peter)
Lorenzo Serafini
Bohdan Jaworskyj was always “Bugsy” at North Adelaide in the 60’s.
Ronnie Auchettl played for my local side South Morang for many years post VFL. Great man.
Ripper list Warren. Love the concept !!
It’s been a while since I heard the name: Renato Dintinosante . Some solid Greek names in there, too.
How about Con Gorozidis St Kilda at full forward?
A few nominations:
Denis Zeunert – Carlton
Vasil Varlamos – Carlton
Jim Karthaus – Richmond
Gavin Crosisca – Collingwood
Andrew Schauble – Coll/Syd
Umpire Vas Vasiliou
Dominic Van Der Scheuren St Kilda
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
This idea began way back at the height of the post-World War II migration boom, when my year five class at Brunswick South State School had 18 pupils from 13 countries.
Among them was Piio Piik from Norway, and Constantin Koutsouherios from Greece – two names that I have never forgotten.
From my Round 1 1978 SANFL Budget
Kym Kretschmer
Paul Nickoletos
Grant Zubrinich
Ugo Colasante
Andy Porplycia
Carl Fragomeni
Ian Stasinowsky
Terry Von Bertouch
Yves Sibenaler
Richard Farrugia-Gay
Peter Maksimovic
Rene Van Dommele
John Schneebichler
Scott Wesselingh
Andrew Ausserlechner
Mark Azzopardi
Ron Kandelaars
Pat Tocaciu
Intriguingly, about two thirds of these names were in the Reserves that day
Excellent Swish. The reserves group maybe a reflection of the ‘coming of age’ of the children of post-war migrants?
Charlie Pagnoccolo Footisgray.
Mark Schwerdt, lucky Jack Dyer wasnt commentating on that game????!!
I would love to hear Jack Dyer commentating all of these names.
Nice one, Warren. I have just two words for you though…………
Bruce Tschirpig.