John Pitura
Encyclopedia
John Pitura is a former Australian rules football
er who played with the South Melbourne
and Richmond
Football Clubs in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1970s.
Pitura was born in Wagga Wagga to a Polish father and as a child played rugby league. He was just 16 when he was recruited to South Melbourne by coach Norm Smith
and he eventually made his league debut in 1969, ironically against Richmond. A left footed half forward flanker and centreman, Pitura represented Victoria at interstate football in 1973.
At the conclusion of the 1973 season, due to a strained relationship with the board, Pitura came close to leaving the club but remained on their books for the following year. He didn't play again until late July in 1974, after season long negations with South Melbourne. Richmond attempted to trade Pitura to their club at the year's end but the South Melbourne committee refused to clear him. After Pitura threatened to challenge the league's clearance rules in court, South Melbourne relented and traded him to Richmond in 1975.
The trade saw Graham Teasdale
, Brian Roberts
and Francis Jackson come to South Melbourne. All three of them made an impact at their new club, Teasdale won the 1977 Brownlow, Roberts finished equal sixth in the 1975 Brownlow before walking out on the club and Jackson played 100 games. Pitura however struggled at Richmond and managed just three seasons. His last game was in the 1977 finals campaign where Richmond lost to North Melbourne in the Semi Final, having defeated Pitura's old club South Melbourne a week earlier in the Elimination Final.
Pitura joined New South Wales club North Shore
in 1978 as captain-coach and steered them to the premiership. He also spent some years playing in Queensland for both Kedron
and Coorparoo
. In 1981 he finished runner-up in the Grogan Medal
.
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 who played with the South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
and 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,...
Football Clubs in the Victorian 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...
(VFL) during the 1970s.
Pitura was born in Wagga Wagga to a Polish father and as a child played rugby league. He was just 16 when he was recruited to South Melbourne by coach Norm Smith
Norm Smith
Norman Walter "Norm" Smith was an Australian rules football player and coach in the Victorian Football League. After 200 games as a player with Melbourne and Fitzroy, Smith began a twenty year coaching career, including a fifteen year stint at Melbourne...
and he eventually made his league debut in 1969, ironically against Richmond. A left footed half forward flanker and centreman, Pitura represented Victoria at interstate football in 1973.
At the conclusion of the 1973 season, due to a strained relationship with the board, Pitura came close to leaving the club but remained on their books for the following year. He didn't play again until late July in 1974, after season long negations with South Melbourne. Richmond attempted to trade Pitura to their club at the year's end but the South Melbourne committee refused to clear him. After Pitura threatened to challenge the league's clearance rules in court, South Melbourne relented and traded him to Richmond in 1975.
The trade saw Graham Teasdale
Graham Teasdale
Graham Teasdale is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Richmond Football Club in the VFL between 1972 and 1975, for the South Melbourne Football Club from 1975 to 1981 and then for the Collingwood Football Club from 1982 to 1984....
, Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts (Australian rules footballer)
Brian Stanley Roberts is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1971 and 1975 for the Richmond Football Club ....
and Francis Jackson come to South Melbourne. All three of them made an impact at their new club, Teasdale won the 1977 Brownlow, Roberts finished equal sixth in the 1975 Brownlow before walking out on the club and Jackson played 100 games. Pitura however struggled at Richmond and managed just three seasons. His last game was in the 1977 finals campaign where Richmond lost to North Melbourne in the Semi Final, having defeated Pitura's old club South Melbourne a week earlier in the Elimination Final.
Pitura joined New South Wales club North Shore
North Shore Bombers
North Shore Football Club , known informally as the North Shore Bombers is an Australian rules football club competing in the Sydney AFL league and based out of the Sydney suburb of St Leonards, New South Wales. Formed in 1903 it remains one of only three foundation clubs still in existence and...
in 1978 as captain-coach and steered them to the premiership. He also spent some years playing in Queensland for both Kedron
Kedron Grange Football Club
Kedron Grange Football Club were an Australian rules football club which competed in the Queensland Australian Football League. They were formed out of a merger in 1990 from the Kedron Football Club and Wilston Grange Football Club.-History:...
and Coorparoo
Coorparoo Australian Football Club
Coorparoo Football Club were an Australian rules football club based in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo. Their club colours were navy blue and white and they were nicknamed the Roos.-History:...
. In 1981 he finished runner-up in the Grogan Medal
Grogan Medal
The Grogan Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the best and fairest player in home and away rounds of each season's QAFL/Queensland State League competition. It was first awarded in 1946, previously the league's best player won the De Little Medal.-Winners:-External links:*...
.