SEVEN-TIME premiership player George Fiacchi has added another honour to his list of achievements with his induction into the Port Adelaide Football Club’s Hall of Fame.
FIacchi was elevated at the club’s annual Hall of Fame and Season Launch gala event on Wednesday night in front of 800 people at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The reliable defender played 236 games for the Magpies during his 13-year career between 1985 and 1997, which coincided with a remarkable period of success for Port Adelaide.
Fiacchi’s passion for the club is undeniable, and his connection with Alberton continued on long after his playing career ended.
He was instrumental in reuniting the SANFL and AFL arms of the club in 2011, along with former teammate Tim Ginever, and he spent six years on the board as a member-elected director from 2012, heading up the club’s Football Strategic Committee.
Fiacchi told the gathered guests, including many of his former teammates he had an uncharacteristic upbringing for a footballer in an Italian household but would not have had it any other way.
“My upbringing was unorthodox for a footballer because my parents had no idea about footy,” he said.
“I’ve had a bit of time to reflect, and I found out about a month ago that this was happening, and I started thinking ‘how did this little Italian boy, who grew up in Rosewater, who dreamed of playing for Port Adelaide, end up playing for Port Adelaide, playing in these premierships and now is in the Hall of Fame, it’s just amazing.”
Fiacchi had the room completely engaged in a funny and heart-warming talk about his passion for the club.
He also thanked his family, teammates, coaches, his junior club the Rosewater Football Club and the people behind the Port Adelaide Football Club – the members and supporters, who he described as the most important part of the club.
“Port Adelaide Football Club, I am forever in your debt,” he remarked.
“You taught me how to respond during the lows and how to have fun during the highs.
“This is an amazing club – the lessons I have learned are with me today and I am teaching that to businesses around the country.”
The honour was announced in a video featuring Fiacchi’s premiership captain Ginever, who described his good mate as “the epitome of never ever giving up” explaining that three times during his time in the reserves he was sent back to his local club.
“He got his opportunity in the back pocket when Steve Curtis got hurt and he never looked back,” Ginever explained.
“George decided he was going to play the back pocket as if he was a rover, so he was forever running down the ground, taking the game on, regularly getting over 30 or 40 touches in a game, and most annoyingly, sometimes he would kick goals.”
Ginever congratulated his good friend, joking that at last Fiacchi had achieved something without his “partner in crime” Roger Delaney.
On a serious note, the former Magpies skipper highlighted two significant moments in Fiacchi’s distinguished career – the 1990 SANFL Grand Final win in which Fiacchi was named the Jack Oatey Medallist as best on ground and another in the game against Norwood after the death of teammate Anthony Williams.
“It was such an important game for us to win and George actually came into the league team from the Reserves that day because Stephen (Williams) pulled out,” Ginever said.
“He played the most unbelievable game from the back pocket – 40 touches, courage and he kept us alive in the game when we weren’t in it, in the first half.
“For me it was the absolute turning point in his career and it was a pleasure to watch him play it.”
Fiacchi becomes the 41st inductee into the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame.
George Fiacchi:
Games: 236
Goals: 53
7x SANFL Premiership player (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996)
Port Adelaide life member (1994)
Jack Oatey Medal (1990)
