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PLAYERS - ZORZI, Brett

Brett ZORZI

STATISTICS

Guernsey Number: 9
Career: 2005 to 2013
NFC Games: 164
NFC Goals: 36
Debut: v North Adelaide (Norwood) 24th March 2005
Finale: v North Adelaide (Football Park) 6th October 2013

Premierships: 2012, 2013
Best and Fairest: 2009, 2012
Jack Oatey Medal: 2013
Advertiser Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
South Australian Games: 1

BIO

Other honours:

VFL Team of the Year: 2002
Northern Bullants Best & Fairest: 2000, 2001, 2004
Northern Bullants Captain: 2004

Originally from the Epping Football Club in the Victorian Diamond Valley/Northern Football League, Brett Zorzi played in the TAC Cup for the Northern Knights, winning a flag in 1996. The following year Zorzi was a top-up player for Carlton's reserves, but only played the one game. In 1998 he played for the Preston Knights (Northern Bullants) in the Victorian Football League, and in 1999 had a season with the Melbourne reserves.

Back with the Northern Bullants in 2000, he developed into a reliable and consistent defender/on-baller, winning the club's Best and Fairest in 2000/2001.

In 2002 Zorzi played for the VFL against South Australia on the Adelaide Oval. Named Northern Bullants club captain in 2004, he was again the recipient of the Best and Fairest award.

Moving to Norwood in 2005, with over 100 senior VFL games behind him, Zorzi struggled to find form early. Recruited as an on-baller, he found himself playing as a defender, finally settling in at full back. Despite his lack of height for the position, the determined Zorzi was rarely beaten in one on one contests and soon became one of the club leaders, and a crowd favourite. He won the coveted Smokey Dawson Best Team Man award in 2005 and 2006, was runner-up to the Best and Fairest and was named the Woods medallist in 2008.

"Zorba" was moved into the midfield early in the 2009 season, with outstanding results. The extra freedom of playing on the ball allowed him greater opportunities to use his clean ball-handling skills to advantage. His excellent form was rewarded with selection in the SA interstate team that played against Western Australia. At season's end, Zorzi was named Best and Fairest, Woods Medallist, and received the Coaches Award.

In 2010 Zorzi reached the 100 game milestone and was runner-up in the Best and Fairest award. He was a member of the side that went agonisingly close to taking out the 2010 Grand Final against Central District.

Named vice-captain in 2007 and 2008, he was then part of the leadership group from 2009 to 2013. In 2012, Zorzi was acting captain for most of the season after the elected captain Kieran McGuinness was seriously injured at the start of the year. Zorzi led the side superbly against West Adelaide on Grand Final day and was high on the list of best players. The Redlegs won the premiership decider : 12.7 to 3.12.

2013 was his last season of League football. He played 17 games, and was runner-up in the Best and Fairest. In a fairytale ending to his senior career, Norwood won back-to-back flags and Zorzi was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal as the best player in the Grand Final.

A natural leader on the field, and popular off it, Zorzi gave Norwood great service in his nine seasons at the Parade.

Since leaving Norwood, he has played with Bryce Campbell's side Corowa-Rutherglen (Ovens and Murray Football League), Euroa (Goulburn Valley FL), and Montmorency (Northern Football League, Melbourne).

R Cialini July 2016

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