Guy Rigoni

DOB: July 27, 1974
Debut: Round 1, 1998 against Fremantle at Subiaco
Last Game: 2005 Elimination Final against Geelong at MCG

Games: 107
Goals: 35
Career Statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
55	0	52	51.40

From: Myrtleford

Number: 43 1998-2005

Honours:
Best First Year Player - 1998
Grand Final team - 2000
Norm Goss Medal - 2004 VFL Grand Final

Plucked from Myrtleford after having played just a dozen senior matches, Rigoni spent two years - and 42 reserves matchs - at Hawthorn without playing a senior match. He had the misfortune to join the Hawks at a time when their midfield stocks couldn't have been any better, and was released at the end of 1994.

Rigoni then returned to Myrtleford and continued to be one of his side's best. Having just won their Best and Fairest, he was in invited to play reserves for Melbourne in the last round of 1997 and won a spot on the senior list after racking up 33 possessions in his one game despite not knowing anybody else and having spent three days on a Myrtleford FC end of season bender.

Immediately comfortable in the big time, Rigoni debuted in the first round and played all 25 games that year. He added another 20 in 1999 and had rapidly become one of his side's key midfielders - despite being dropped at one point after a form slump.

2000 saw him play every game for the season again, including 23 touches in the losing Grand Final side but a bulging disc in his back meant Rigoni missed every match from Round 13, 2001 to Round 3, 2003. Put onto the long term injury list after round 1, 2002 he was initially delisted, but when it became clear that he was going to make a recovery Melbourne re-drafted him with selection 5 in the Pre-Season Draft. After having the troublesome disc shaved in order to try and make his comeback, he took part in every pre-season training session before the draft.

Rigoni played nine games in 2003 and seven in 2004, including the losing Elimination Final against Essendon. He played 11 more games in 2005, the last being another losing Elimination Final against Geelong. He then went on to play in the 2005 Sandringham premiership side.

In October of 2005 Rigoni announced his retirement at the age of 31. He continued to play for Sandringham as a VFL listed player in 2006, and won a premiership that season before returning to Myrtleford.