Riccuito Retires

[leftlegger]

jeezuz theres some tools posting on here.

He's a absolute legend, in any one's book.
Well done Roo!! Hope you enjoy life after footy.

[Dirko]

Seeya Roo. Great player, one that I'm glad won't be playing against Carlton again (I'm sure Whitnall still hurts from that bump at Princes Park)

IMO..In regard to the media hype etc etc, that will happen when a club is as young as Adelaide, and hasn't got used to saying adios to alot of champion footballers...
If it was a Victorian team thats been around for 100 odd years, for them it's just another champ to join the long line, o hence less hype..

[TroyGFC]

agree, i think everyone gets swept up with the moment....tomorrows paper is going to be a nightmare, in fact good day to buy a victorian paper

I here you. Prob about first 5 pages on Riccuito. Give me a ******* break!! How bloody long did they talk about him in C10 news before any other story -we couldn't they wait until the sports news???? Champ maybe yes - legend no way!!

[sydney-dog]

Hearts on Fire
Wasn't that good

1993 – Makes his debut for Adelaide as 17-year-old

1994 – Wins a spot on the interchange bench in the All Australian team in his second AFL season at just 19 years of age.

1997 – Missed the Crows' inaugural AFL Premiership due to a persistent groin injury. Plays well enough in the 21 Home and Away matches to run fourth in the Brownlow Medal and also earns a second All Australian nomination, again on the interchange.

1998 – Best and Fairest in Adelaide's second premiership season. Plays 24 of the team's 26 games and finishes fifth in the Brownlow Medal. Is named on a half-forward flank in the All Australian team and represents Australia in the International Series in Ireland.

2000 – Wins All Australian honours once again after playing in 21 of the Crows' 22 games for the season. Collects a career-high 41 possessions in the Showdown with Port Adelaide in Round 7. He wins a fourth All Australian berth and represents Australia again in the International Series in Ireland. Caps off the year by being named on a half-back flank in Adelaide's team of the decade (1991-2000).

2001 – Named Adelaide captain.

2002 – Earns a fifth All Australian gong.

2003 – Ties with Adam Goodes and Nathan Buckley to become Adelaide's first ever recipient of the Brownlow Medal (with 22 votes). Also wins his second Best and Fairest with Adelaide and earns a sixth All Australian nomination.

2004 – Named All Australian captain for the first time. Runner-up in the Brownlow Medal and wins a record third Best and Fairest for Adelaide (Simon Goodwin has since equalled this feat).
2005 – Becomes one of just 10 players to win All Australian honours on eight or more occasions. He is named captain of the team for the second straight season.

His glittering career includes a Brownlow Medal (144 career votes), a premiership medallion, eight All-Australian jumpers, three club best and fairests, an Italian Team of the Century and Adelaide Team of the Decade member.

Bloody Brillant

[GWW]

he just put the question out there it didnt actually make the statement...

You're right he didn't say it explicitly but he was close to saying it. Anyway, not trying to take anything away from Roo, he certainly has been a champion, and will be up there with the greats this state has produced.

[Blue Boy]

No doubt my fave player and I will miss watching him play !!!

I congratulate him on a great and outstanding career and he leaves the club being our most decorated player in the clubs short history.

Thanks Roo

[Cambridge Clarrie]

agree, i think everyone gets swept up with the moment....tomorrows paper is going to be a nightmare, in fact good day to buy a victorian paper

I here you. Prob about first 5 pages on Riccuito. Give me a ******* break!! How bloody long did they talk about him in C10 news before any other story -we couldn't they wait until the sports news???? Champ maybe yes - legend no way!!

I'm a big Crows supporter but have to agree with you guys. The media build an event like this up to sell papers/get ratings. Roo has been a fantastic champion of our club. In all likelihood the best player we've ever developed. Does his retirement warrant this type of media response - in my opinion , no. When true legends of the game retired in years gone by Robran, Ebert, Bagshaw, Davies, etc I bet there wasn't this much attention lavished on them. Don't blame the Roo or the Crows, blame the papers and the TV stations...

[am Bays]

For those of us living in Victoria, what's The 'Tiser like today, half a the paper dedicated to Ruccitio???

[Dogwatcher]

Don't blame the Roo or the Crows, blame the papers and the TV stations...

Or how about the people who buy the papers or watch the tv...

[Shirtfront]

Loved watchin the Roo, massive kick, hardness at the ball that was not matched by many, tremendous leader, handball further than some blokes could kick, relaible infront of goals. Just a bloody good player and bloke to boot. Who can forget the bump he put on Dean Kemp....... probably ended his career. Ouch. Well done Roo, we love ya.

[Dogwatcher]

Got told this story last night:

"We were heading off on our footy trip and stopped at the Waikerie bakery for a meal. Looked out the window and there was this kid with a football, a mullet and wearing tight denim jeans and wearing Grasscats (sandshoe like football boots). It was Roo. And it was a shocking look - Grasscats and tight jeans. And no matter what he's done in his career, he's always been the kid in the Grasscats and tight jeans to me."

Personally, I'm not sure whether this says more about the storyteller or the subject....

[JK]

1997 – Missed the Crows' inaugural AFL Premiership due to a persistent groin injury. Plays well enough in the 21 Home and Away matches to run fourth in the Brownlow Medal and also earns a second All Australian nomination, again on the interchange.

Considering he missed about the last 6 ganmes of that season that was a pretty fair achievement, actually lead at the time his injury ruined his season IIRC.

[silicone skyline]

I'll never forget watching him lay Dean Kemp out all those years ago.
Ungainly kicking style, a true leader all the same.
I don't understand why there are poeple on here getting the shits up about the coverage of his retirement.
Unbelievable.
It's a massive story in the context of Football in South Australia, it'll all be over in a week or so, enjoy the career of one the SA's greatest servants of the game, and one of SA's greatest player, MFing BROWNLOW MEDAL is testament to that.
AUSTRALIA'S BEST in a season IS WORLD's BEST for the season.
One of the best players I've seen, a true SA GREAT.

[Thiele]

Well done Roo on excellent career. A true crow legend. We will miss him

[devilsadvocate]

One word comes to mind when thinking of the Roo.....overrated! Second most overrated player to win a brownlow after woewodin. Devalues the Brownlows brand value.

Sure he was a decent player and probably a good leadr, but FFS, he's not deserving of 'champion' status.

And there's no way he's even close to SA's best. Wouldn;t even be in the top 20 IMO.

Further, I've heard he's a right prick off the field.

[haloman]

One word comes to mind when thinking of the Roo.....overrated! Second most overrated player to win a brownlow after woewodin. Devalues the Brownlows brand value.

Sure he was a decent player and probably a good leadr, but FFS, he's not deserving of 'champion' status.

And there's no way he's even close to SA's best. Wouldn;t even be in the top 20 IMO.

Further, I've heard he's a right prick off the field.

Are you kidding or just down right ignorant.

They don't just "hand out" All-Australian places fella. 8 of them in total alone tells me he was a champion in the true sence of the word. Is he the most skillful Crow in our short history........probably not. Is he the most IMPORTANT player we have ever possesed.......absolutely.
I can't believe there are people calling this bloke over rated.
My God what more do you want in a footballer.
Robran, Ebert, Kernahan, Bradley............Riccuto, I personally think his name fits in perfectly with those. Well done Roo and thanks for the memories.

[devilsadvocate]

Is he the most skillful Crow in our short history........probably not. Is he the most IMPORTANT player we have ever possesed.......absolutely.

That's my point. I said he was a good leader, but he's not in the class of say Hird, Buckley and Voss who are both good leaders and champion players with freakish skills.

Robran, Ebert, Kernahan, Bradley............Riccuto, I personally think his name fits in perfectly with those.

You shoot yourself with this comment. Robran, Ebert, Sticks are classes above Roo. He's not even close to these blokes, and that's my point about SA's best. He's well down the list.

[Dutchy]

One word comes to mind when thinking of the Roo.....overrated! Second most overrated player to win a brownlow after woewodin. Devalues the Brownlows brand value.

Sure he was a decent player and probably a good leadr, but FFS, he's not deserving of 'champion' status.

And there's no way he's even close to SA's best. Wouldn;t even be in the top 20 IMO.

Further, I've heard he's a right prick off the field.

entitled to your opinion DA but the last sentence is incorrect, I sat next to him at a Crows dinner for 4 hours and he was hounded by groupies all night, he handled it beautifully and when you got him alone it was just like chatting to your best mate at the pub....

[Sojourner]

If Bickley ended up Chairman of SA Great after being a car body sprayer and a dime a dozen player at best ( lets not forget father of the year in SA) then Roo might be White House bound I would think.

McDermott, Captain 4 years led the club to 0 Premierships,

McGuiness, Captain 2 Years led the club to 0 Premierships,

Bickley, Captain 4 years led the club to 2 Premierships,

Ricciutio, Captain 6 1/2 years 0 Premierships.

Roo is one of the Crows best ever players, yet it is the premiership teams and captains thereof that have there names eternally in the history of the club.

If Roo leads the Crows to win their last three games of this season, he will get a crack at having another attempt at doing what Bickley did and leading the club to a premiership. Bickley may well be described as an average player, yet he had it when it counted the most. Before people annoint Riccutio as the greatest captain ever, lets see if he can do the same when it counts.

[Hondo]

One word comes to mind when thinking of the Roo.....overrated! Second most overrated player to win a brownlow after woewodin. Devalues the Brownlows brand value.

Sure he was a decent player and probably a good leadr, but FFS, he's not deserving of 'champion' status.

Generally speaking, what's your feeling towards the Crows?

Which team do you support?

Edit: I searched your post history and found the answer to my first question! Disappointing that you let your feelings toward the club bias your views on Roo. I can't think of any other reason for your opinion, even tho you are fully entitled to have it.