Andrew Carrazzo
Encyclopedia
Andrew Carrazzo is an Australian rules football
er for Carlton
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
and with the East Burwood Football Club. Carrazzo played with Oakleigh Chargers
in the TAC Cup
competition, finishing his final season runner up in the Morrish Medal
for best player in the competition in 2001, as well as winning All-Australian honours in the national under-18 carnival.
in 2002. He spent two seasons on the rookie list at Geelong, winning the Geelong VFL
team's best and fairest award in 2003, but never breaking into the Geelong senior list. He was again rookie listed in 2004, this time by Carlton
. After another strong season in the VFL, he was elevated to the senior list, making his debut for Carlton in Round 21, 2004 against Melbourne
.
Carrazzo made a stunning debut after coming off the rookie list towards the end of the 2004 season. He followed up on his good form in the 2005 season as he became an integral part of the Carlton attacking midfield, racking up 314 disposals in his first full year. He has also played defensive roles, including the nullification of dangerous Demon Aaron Davey
and Docker Jeff Farmer
.
Carrazzo continued to show good form into the 2006 season, playing 19 games with an average of 20 disposals. On the one occasion he was dropped to Carlton's , the Northern Bullants
, he amassed 51 disposals against Tasmania to ensure that he was speedily returned to the seniors. He has not been dropped since, and through 2007 developed into one of Carlton's most important and busiest midfielders, repeatedly gathering high numbers of possessions. In the first quarter of Round 14, 2007, against Melbourne, Carrazzo amassed 17 disposals, then the second highest on record for a quarter. Carrazzo won the 2007 John Nicholls Medal
as Carlton's best and fairest, beating Heath Scotland
by 6 votes for the award. Carrazzo received 11 votes at the 2007 Brownlow Medal.
In Round 7, 2008 against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco, Carrazzo picked up an AFL career high 42 disposals. With the recruitment of Chris Judd
and the return of Nick Stevens
from injury, Carrazzo was moved out of the midfield, and spent most of the season playing as a rebounding defender. Carrazzo played the first 21 games of the season, before injury forced him out in round 22 after 54 consecutive games.
Carrazzo fractured his forearm during an intraclub practice match in the 2009
preseason, missing the first four games of the AFL season. He played two games with the Northern Bullants
to regain match fitness, and was as dominant as he had been in 2006, amassing 41 disposals against Bendigo
and 55 disposals against Box Hill
, before being returned to the AFL seniors for round 5. A further injury to his thumb kept him sidelined for another four weeks, before returning to play all remaining games, including Carlton's elimination final loss to Brisbane Lions
. Carrazzo played primarily a primarily defensive midfield roles in 2009, as well as playing on medium-sized opposition half-back flankers. He kicked 12 goals from 15 games in 2009.
Carrazzo played his 100th AFL game for Carlton in Round 1 of the 2010 season against Richmond
, and was named acting captain for the first time in that game in the absence of Chris Judd
. He played all twenty-three games in 2010, and finished fifth in the club Best and Fairest.
Carrazzo is often referred to, particularly amongst fans, by the nickname "Carrots", a deliberate mispronunciation of "Carrazz-". Carrazzo was the last Carlton player to make his AFL debut at the club's traditional home ground in Princes Park.
descent, he attended De La Salle College, and has been a life-long Carlton
supporter.
Carrazzo is married to Yvette Wood, after proposing in 2008. The couple is expecting triplets in January 2012.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er for Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Early career
Andrew attended De La Salle College in Malvern, where he was the star pupil of the Head of Sport at the College. He played junior football with St. Simons Football Club in RowvilleRowville, Victoria
Rowville is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 29 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Knox. At the 2006 Census, Rowville had a population of 34,412....
and with the East Burwood Football Club. Carrazzo played with Oakleigh Chargers
Oakleigh Chargers
The Oakleigh Chargers are an Australian rules football club playing in the TAC Cup, an under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based at Warrawee Park in Oakleigh, Victoria, representing the southeastern suburban area of Melbourne...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
competition, finishing his final season runner up in the Morrish Medal
Morrish Medal
The Morrish Medal is an Australian rules football award.Formerly awarded to the Best and Fairest player in the VFL Under 19 competition , since 1992 the award has been given to the best player in the Victorian TAC Cup Under 18 competition.The Morrish Medal was named in honour of Tom Morrish, a...
for best player in the competition in 2001, as well as winning All-Australian honours in the national under-18 carnival.
AFL career
He was initially selected as a rookie by GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in 2002. He spent two seasons on the rookie list at Geelong, winning the Geelong VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
team's best and fairest award in 2003, but never breaking into the Geelong senior list. He was again rookie listed in 2004, this time by Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. After another strong season in the VFL, he was elevated to the senior list, making his debut for Carlton in Round 21, 2004 against Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
.
Carrazzo made a stunning debut after coming off the rookie list towards the end of the 2004 season. He followed up on his good form in the 2005 season as he became an integral part of the Carlton attacking midfield, racking up 314 disposals in his first full year. He has also played defensive roles, including the nullification of dangerous Demon Aaron Davey
Aaron Davey
Aaron Davey is a professional Australian rules football player of Indigenous Australian heritage. He currently plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
and Docker Jeff Farmer
Jeff Farmer (footballer)
Jeff Farmer is a former Australian rules footballer of Aboriginal descent. He was the first indigenous player to kick 400 goals in the Australian Football League .-Melbourne career:...
.
Carrazzo continued to show good form into the 2006 season, playing 19 games with an average of 20 disposals. On the one occasion he was dropped to Carlton's , the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
, he amassed 51 disposals against Tasmania to ensure that he was speedily returned to the seniors. He has not been dropped since, and through 2007 developed into one of Carlton's most important and busiest midfielders, repeatedly gathering high numbers of possessions. In the first quarter of Round 14, 2007, against Melbourne, Carrazzo amassed 17 disposals, then the second highest on record for a quarter. Carrazzo won the 2007 John Nicholls Medal
John Nicholls Medal
The John Nicholls Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for the Carlton Football Club for the season....
as Carlton's best and fairest, beating Heath Scotland
Heath Scotland
Heath Scotland is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.-Background:Scotland grew up and played his junior football for the Darley Football Club, then in the Riddell District Football League, and he played TAC Cup football for the Western Jets. He also featured in the...
by 6 votes for the award. Carrazzo received 11 votes at the 2007 Brownlow Medal.
In Round 7, 2008 against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco, Carrazzo picked up an AFL career high 42 disposals. With the recruitment of Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
and the return of Nick Stevens
Nick Stevens
Nick Stevens is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Originally from St Marys in the VMFL, Stevens was recruited in the 1997 AFL Draft to the Port Adelaide Football Club where he became a very prominent outside midfielder...
from injury, Carrazzo was moved out of the midfield, and spent most of the season playing as a rebounding defender. Carrazzo played the first 21 games of the season, before injury forced him out in round 22 after 54 consecutive games.
Carrazzo fractured his forearm during an intraclub practice match in the 2009
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
preseason, missing the first four games of the AFL season. He played two games with the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
to regain match fitness, and was as dominant as he had been in 2006, amassing 41 disposals against Bendigo
Bendigo Bombers
The Bendigo Bombers Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia playing in the Victorian Football League .-Brief history:...
and 55 disposals against Box Hill
Box Hill Hawks
Box Hill Hawks Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the Victorian Football League. It has an alliance with the Hawthorn Football Club which plays in the Australian Football League....
, before being returned to the AFL seniors for round 5. A further injury to his thumb kept him sidelined for another four weeks, before returning to play all remaining games, including Carlton's elimination final loss to Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
. Carrazzo played primarily a primarily defensive midfield roles in 2009, as well as playing on medium-sized opposition half-back flankers. He kicked 12 goals from 15 games in 2009.
Carrazzo played his 100th AFL game for Carlton in Round 1 of the 2010 season against Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, and was named acting captain for the first time in that game in the absence of Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
. He played all twenty-three games in 2010, and finished fifth in the club Best and Fairest.
Carrazzo is often referred to, particularly amongst fans, by the nickname "Carrots", a deliberate mispronunciation of "Carrazz-". Carrazzo was the last Carlton player to make his AFL debut at the club's traditional home ground in Princes Park.
Personal life
Carrazzo is of ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
descent, he attended De La Salle College, and has been a life-long Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
supporter.
Carrazzo is married to Yvette Wood, after proposing in 2008. The couple is expecting triplets in January 2012.