TWO of Hawthorn’s most famous players have been named in the AFL’s first ever Australia Post Multicultural Team of Champions.
Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico and Dermott Brereton are the two players to be included in the side, with both players having parents born overseas.
‘Dipper’s parents were born in Italy and Brereton’s father was born in Ireland.
The names are two of Hawthorn’s most famous with the pair enjoying a rich playing career at Hawthorn Football Club.
Dipper played 240 games and won five premierships in his time at the Club, is a member of Hawthorn’s Team of the Century and an Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee. He also won the Brownlow Medal in 1986, also a premiership year for the Hawks and was named in the All Australian team on three occasions.
Brereton played 211 games for the Hawks and kicked 464 goals. He won five premierships, was named All Australian three times and won the Club’s best and fairest in 1985. He is a member of Hawthorn’s Team of the Century and like Dipper, is an Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee.
In Round 16, the AFL and its clubs celebrates Multicultural Round to honour the contribution made by the players who were either born overseas or whose parent(s) were born abroad.
The Multicultural Team of Champions honours the players who have played between 1896-2013. AFL Legends Jock McHale has been named as coach and former Carlton players Alex Jesaulenko the Captain.
AFL Deputy CEO Gillon McLachlan said the Australia Post AFL Multicultural Team of Champions has been chosen to recognise the achievement of players from multicultural backgrounds.
“Congratulations to the past and present players who have been selected in the first ever Multicultural Team of Champions,” Mr McLachlan said.
"Multicultural players have made an enormous contribution to the history of Australia's game and this team importantly celebrates multicultural talent and diversity in the AFL.”
Robert DiPierdomenico
Father and Mother born in Italy
Playing Career: Hawthorn 1975-1991
Games: 240, Goals: 130
Finals: 24, Grand Finals: 1978, 1983-89
Premierships: 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988-89
State of Origin games: 7 (Victoria)
6 International Rules matches for Australia
Brownlow Medal: 1986
All Australian: 1984, 1986-87
Hawthorn Team of the Century
Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Dermott Brereton
Father born in Ireland
Playing Career: Hawthorn 1982-92, Sydney 1994, Collingwood 1995
Games: 211, Goals: 464
Finals: 26, Grand Finals: 1983-89, 1991
Premierships: 1983, 1986, 1988-89, 1991
State of Origin games: 9 (Victoria)
2 International Rules matches for Australia
Best & Fairest: 1985
Hawthorn leading goal kicker: 1985
All Australian: 1985-86, 1988
Hawthorn Team of the Century
Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee
