PORT ADELAIDE premiership player Paul Rizonico has spent a lifetime in the black and white.

From early life idolising Randall Gerlach to premiership glory in the prison bars – even during an intermission with Collingwood in the mid-80s – they are colours ‘Rizza’ has worn with pride on and off the field.

Speaking with Tim Ginever on episode three of Timmy’s Tyrepower Time Machine, Rizonico remembers his first moment of success with Port Adelaide, claiming the Foundation Cup in 1989.

“You blokes had done it all before and that, won a few junior premierships, but to win a Foundation Cup was terrific. That was one of those magnificent ones,” he recalled.

“I was wrapped. I was pumped. Most guys said, ‘Well done, that’s it let’s go have a beer and move onto the proper season’.

“So I thought that is just the way these guys roll, very professional.

“When the season started, all the way through to winning the flag, it was just one of the best things of all time.”

The resolute defender was part of two premiership sides at Alberton in 1990 and 1992.

Ginever teased that after winning the ’92 Grand Final, Rizonico and several teammates enjoyed the celebrations perhaps a little too much.

“After the ’92 flag we went over to Bali for a footy trip,” Ginever remembered.

“It was a lot different back then to what it is today – hardly any bitumen roads or anything – but we found a few places that had beer, which was great.

“After three or four days, it appeared to be there were some people putting weight on and you developed a group called the ‘Fat Boy Club’.”

“There must have been a condition going around,” Rizonico retorted with a laugh.

“Fozzie (Richard Foster) caught it, (Mark) Tylor caught it, myself and Roger Delaney, there were a few guys that got infected badly.

Upon returning for pre-season training ahead of the 1993 season, Rizonico recalled receiving a less than hospitable welcome from fitness coach David Arnfield for the physical state he presented to training in.

“Me and Fozzie did all the training and were last and second last in everything you can imagine,” he recounted.

“(Ginever) and Scotty (Hodges) and that were standing in front of us looking all ripped.

“So I look a Fozzie and say, ‘Righto, we’ve got to get fit over the next couple of weeks and get a bit of fitness into us as per David Arnfield’s advice’.

Resolute in their new fitness goals, Rizonico and Foster made a pact to return to pique physical condition as quickly as possible.

“Fozzie in his wisdom – full of wisdom is Richard, said, ‘We start now’,” Rizonico remembered with a smile.

“‘Righto. What do you want to do go for a walk or something?’

“He says, ‘Let’s jump in the car’.

“So we jump in the car, wind all the windows up – ‘What are we doing here, brother? Are we going to drive somewhere?’

“He says, ‘Just sit there’, cranks the heater up as hot as he can, turns the car on.

“We’re sitting in there and it’s about 48 degrees outside and I’m going, ‘This is ridiculous!’

“I’m trying to wind the window down and he’s winding it back up and (Ginever’s) knocking on the window and I’m thinking ‘This is crazy!’

“We did it for 20 minutes, lost about 0.5 of a kilo.”

Rizonico would continue his playing career through to the end of the 1994 season and has since enjoyed various roles with Port Adelaide off the field.

Initially assisting as an opposition scout under Mark Williams, which included reporting on the Brisbane Lions ahead of the club’s 2004 premiership, Rizonico is now a familiar face in the changerooms as the AFL Team Manager and Interchange Steward.

Listen or watch the full episode of Timmy’s Tyrepower Time Machine above for more humorous tales from one of Port Adelaide’s great characters.