Robert DiPierdomenico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robert DiPierdomenico |
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"Dipper" coaching the Peres Team for Peace
in the 2008 International Cup |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Berto DiPierdomenico | ||
| Nickname(s) | Dipper | ||
| Date of birth | 5 May 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Hawthorn, Victoria | ||
| Original team | North Kew (Vic) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Berto "Robert" DiPierdomenico (born 5 May 1958) is a famous retired Australian rules footballer. He played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) from the 1970s to the 1990s. Most people know him by his nickname, "Dipper". Dipper is one of the most successful Italian Australian players in Australian football history. His amazing contributions to the sport were recognized when he was chosen for the VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century.
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Dipper's Early Life and Start in Football
Robert DiPierdomenico was born in Hawthorn, Australia, on May 5, 1958. His parents, Stefano and Antonietta, came to Australia from a town called Abbateggio in Italy.
As a child, Dipper was very energetic and had a stutter. He went to several schools in the Hawthorn area. At Kew High School, he met his future wife, Cheryl Bayley. Later, at Swinburne Tech, his headmaster was John Kennedy Senior, who would later become his coach at Hawthorn.
Dipper started playing football when he was a young teenager. He played for local clubs like East Hawthorn and North Kew. When he was eighteen, he signed with the Hawthorn Football Club, a big step towards his professional career.
Dipper's Amazing AFL Career
Dipper began his career with the Hawthorn Football Club in 1975. He had a slow start, playing many games in the reserve team before becoming a regular first-team player. His career really took off in 1978. That year, he played incredibly well in the 1978 VFL Grand Final, helping his team win.
He first wore guernsey number #53, but later became famous for wearing number #9. Dipper was known as one of Hawthorn's top players.
Dipper was famous for his tough style of play. He was also well-known for his mustache and was a popular character in the VFL during the 1980s. In 1986, Dipper won the Brownlow Medal, which is a very important award for the best player in the league. He shared the award with Greg Williams. That same week, he won his third Premiership medal when Hawthorn beat Carlton.
In the 1989 VFL Grand Final, Dipper showed incredible bravery. He was running backward to catch the ball when he was hit hard by Geelong star Gary Ablett. This collision broke several of Dipper's ribs and punctured one of his lungs. Even though he was in great pain and didn't know how badly he was hurt, Dipper kept playing until the game ended. Hawthorn won that grand final by just one goal, making it one of the most memorable games ever.
After the game, Dipper collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors discovered his punctured lung. He later said that the situation was very serious and it scared him to think about what could have happened.
Dipper played a total of 240 games for Hawthorn and kicked 130 goals. He retired in 1991. During his time with the Hawks, he was part of five day premierships and four night premierships. This was one of the most successful periods for any club in VFL/AFL history.
Dipper's Life After Football
After retiring from playing, Robert DiPierdomenico became a popular person in the media. He worked as a boundary rider for the Seven Network, reporting from the sidelines of AFL games. He continued this role on radio station 3AW and also worked as an AFL expert for Sky News Australia.
Dipper also appeared in a charity rugby league match in the 1990s. He even scored a try, celebrating in a fun, "Superman" style. He made a brief appearance in the TV show Neighbours in 1999. In 2012, he was on a weight-loss show called Excess Baggage. Since 2019, he has hosted his own TV show, Dipper's Backyard BBQ Wars.
He also appeared in advertisements for the department store Dimmeys in the 1990s. In 2021, Dipper was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, where he was the seventh person to leave the show.
Important Achievements
- Brownlow Medal winner in 1986 (tied)
- Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2007
- Selected for the VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century
Images for kids
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Dipper coaching the Peres Team for Peace in the 2008 International Cup
