Silvio Foschini

Silvio Foschini
Personal information
Full name	Silvio Foschini
Date of birth	(1963-09-18) 18 September 1963
Original team(s)	Clayton
Height/Weight	175 cm / 75 kg
Position(s)	Rover / Forward pocket
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1981–1982 1983–1986, 1988 Total	Sydney Swans St Kilda	038 0(79) 069 0(87) 107 (166)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988 season.

Silvio Foschini (born 18 September 1963) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney Swans and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Career

Foschini was aged just 17 in 1981 when he kicked three goals on his league debut for South Melbourne against Hawthorn and finished the season with 37 goals. The club relocated to Sydney the following year and Foschini, again playing as a forward, kicked 42 goals.

Despite his success he was unhappy in Sydney and decided to return to his home state of Victoria in 1983, joining St Kilda. He however had not received a clearance to sign with St Kilda and as a result the issue went to court. In what was a high-profile case at the time, Foschini argued that the VFL's clearance rules breached restraint of trade laws. He won the case and was allowed to play for St Kilda, in doing so helping to abolish the zoning system from the league.

At St Kilda he was used mainly as a rover and played for the club until a shoulder injury ended his career in 1988.

Personal life

Foschini attended Westall Secondary College in Clayton South, Victoria and Mazenod College in Mulgrave, Victoria. Foschini's parents were both born in Italy and he was shortlisted for the VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century. He played soccer as a child and his son Matthew Foschini plays soccer (football) for Oakleigh Cannons.

References

• Silvio Foschini's statistics from AFL Tables
• Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.