Michael Rischitelli
Michael Rischitelli at a Brisbane Lions public training session in 2008.
Personal information
Full name	Michael Rischitelli
Date of birth	8 January 1986 (1986-01-08) (age 23)
Recruited from	Keilor / Western U18
Draft	61st overall, 2003 Brisbane Lions
Height/Weight	184cm / 82kg
Club information
Current club	Brisbane Lions
Number	35
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2004–	Brisbane Lions	89 (40)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2009 season .

Michael Rischitelli (born 8 January 1986) is a professional Australian rules footballer, currently playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League.

[edit] Career

[edit] Background

Rischitelli comes from Victoria, and played for the Western Jets before beginning his AFL career. He showed great promise and potential playing for the Western junior sides,^[1] but was hindered by a bout of osteitis pubis during his year playing in their under 18 side.^[2] He was the Lions' fifth and eventual final pick in the 2003 AFL Draft, and was the number 61 draft pick overall.

[edit] 2004-2006: Emergence

Rischitelli's first game in the AFL turned out to be a dream debut for the then-teenager, playing as a late inclusion in the Lions' 2004 round 17 side against Adelaide. The Lions kicked an incredible 21 goals in the second half, and went on to win by a whopping 141 points – Brisbane's biggest win ever – and Rischitelli kicked two goals in the process. It was his only game for the season.

2005 wasn't much of an improvement for Rischitelli, and definitely wasn't for his team either. The Lions finished eleventh on the ladder, a massive drop from their previous season, in which they were Grand Finalists. Mainly due to a quad injury,^[2] Rischitelli played only three games for the year, in which he made minimal impression.

Rischitelli's 2006 season ended up being his breakthrough season^[3], finding a regular spot in Brisbane's side and playing in the first eighteen matches of the season. He started to find a lot more of the ball than in previous years, and in rounds six and seven his disposal count was in the twenties, earning him two brownlow votes and a Rising Star nomination.^[4] His impressive season was further accoladed at the Lions' 2006 award night, at which he was awarded the Most Improved Player award.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Michael Rischitelli profile on the Official AFL Website of the Brisbane Lions Football Club
• Michael Rischitelli's statistics from AFL Tables