Frank Curcio

Infobox afl player | firstname = Frank
lastname = Curcio




imagesize = 40px
birthdate = 25 November 1912
birthplace = Melbourne, Victoria
originalteam = Christian Young Men's Society
heightweight = 185 cm / 86 kg
deathdate = 11 November 1988
deathplace =
debutdate = 1932
debutteam = Fitzroy
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams =
Fitzroy (1932-36) (1938-43) (1945-48)
* 249 games, 17 goals
coach = 1938 to 1941
coachingteams =
statsend = 1948
careerhighlights =

* Fitzroy Captain 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941.
* Fitzroy Team of the Century
* Italian Team of the Century
* VFL interstate representative (3 games)

Francis 'Frank' Eduardo Curcio (25 November 1912 –11 November 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who played his entire 249 game career for the Fitzroy Lions. He captained the club for 4 seasons, from 1938 until 1941.

Playing career

Recruited from the Christian Young Men's Society in 1931, Curcio was a tough, hard ruckman, who also played well in the back line. He was for protecting his smaller team mates. [Fitzroy Football Club (2008). [http://fitzroyfc.com.au/toc_nominees.htm "Fitzroy: Team of the Century Nominees"] . Retrieved on 8 May 2008.] A bass violinist, Curcio combined his musical talents with his football prowess, but stood out of the game in 1937 to concentrate on his music. Ever conscious of safegarding his hands to work the strings of the bass violin, he once famously told North Melbourne's Fred Fairweather, "Hit me as hard as you like, but don't hurt my fingers".Italian Team of the Century (2007). [http://www.italianteamofthecentury.com.au/player-detail-cms.php?playerId=45 "Player details: Frank Curcio"] . Retrieved on 8 May 2008.]

Regrettably, World War II military service cost Curcio a place in Fitzroy's 1944 premiership team and three broken fingers sustained in a services match in 1945, effectively ended his musical career.

Curcio played his best football in an era when Fitzroy's best and fairest records were either lost on not kept, arguably robbing him of an opportunity to be recorded and remembered as a great player in the record books.Brisbane Lions (2008). [http://lions.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/HonourRoll/tabid/5173/default.aspx "Fitzroy Football Club Honour Board 1897 - 1996"] . Retrieved on 6 May 2008.] On 27 April 1946, Curcio became the first Fitzroy player to play 200 league games. [Fitzroy Football Club (1996). [http://fitzroyfc.com.au/chronolgy.htm "Chronology of Fitzroy Football Club 1883 - 1996"] . Retrieved on 6 May 2008.]

Curcio retired in 1948, after 15 seasons and having played 249 VFL games, all with Fitzroy, collecting 27 Brownlow Medal votes. [AFL Stats (2008). [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/F/Frank_Curcio.html "AFL Players: Frank Curcio"] . Retrieved on 6 May 2008.] Curcio's club games record stood for 23 years at Fitzroy until surpassed by Kevin Murray. No player in the history of the VFL/AFL competition has worn guernsey number 18 in more matches than Curcio. With the club now defunct, he sits in fourth position in the record books for most games played for Fitzroy. [Brisbane Lions (2008). [http://cms.lions.com.au/TheClub/History/FitzroyLions/ClubRecords/tabid/5171/Default.aspx "Fitzroy: Club Records"] . Retrieved on 8 May 2008.]

Career highlights

On 3 May 2001, Curcio was named in Fitzroy's Team of the Century, in the back pocket position. [Footy Stamps (2006). [http://www.footystamps.com/fl_team_of_the_century.htm "Fitzroy's Team of the Century"] . Retrieved on 8 May 2008.]

After Fitzroy and Brisbane combined their respective histories in 2001, the club unveiled a new 200 game honor board at the Gabba which included Fitzroy, Brisbane, and Brisbane Lion players. The board was hung in the players' rooms with a replica for the members' area. The board itself was christened the 'Curcio-McIvor' board, in honor of past players Frank Curcio and Scott McIvor. [AFANA Footy News (2005). [http://www.afana.com/netpaper/jul242005-22459.html "Brisbane News"] . Retrieved on 8 May 2008.]

Curcio was the first VFL player of Italian background to really emerge as a great footballer. [The Catholic Weekly (2002). [http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/02/dec/1/23.html "Dad had to face racism on field"] . Retrieved on 8 May 2008.] In 2007, Curcio was named in the VFL-AFL Italian Team of the Century, in the back line. [Australian Football League (2007). [http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=43277 "Italian Team Of The Century - 31 May 2007"] . Retrieved on 7 May 2008.] [Australian Football League (2007). [http://www.italianteamofthecentury.com.au/final-team.php "The VFL/AFL Italian Team Of The Century"] . Retrieved on 6 May 2008.] [ABC News (2007). [http://abc.com.au/news/stories/2007/06/01/1939388.htm "Ricciuto named captain of Italian team of the century"] . Retrieved on 7 May 2008.] Also in 2007, the Lions recognised Curcio as one of the best 10 players from the era 1927 to 1956. [Brisbane Lions (2007). [http://www.lions.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=5085&newsId=49012 "Our Kings of the Pride"] . Retrieved on 7 May 2008.] [Sports Australia (2007). [http://www.sportsaustralia.com/articles/news.php?id=1995 "Kings of the Pride Award winners"] . Retrieved on 7 May 2008.] He represented Victoria on 3 occasions.

Passing

Curcio died on 11 November 1988, 14 days short of his 76th birthday.

See also

* Fitzroy FC honour roll
* Notable Fitzroy players
* List of Fitzroy Football Club coaches
* Australian rules footballers with 200 games for one club

References