Simon Prestigiacomo
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | January 31, 1978, Victoria |
| Recruited from | Research/Northern U18
|
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 11, June 16, 1996, Collingwood vs. West Coast Eagles, at Subiaco |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (1996-)
179 Games, 3 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
|
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Simon 'Presti' Prestigiacomo (born January 31, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.
'Presti' was picked up as a first-round draft pick in the 1995 AFL Draft by Collingwood as a tall youngster who was capable as a strong forward who could play in the midfield, but the Magpies developed him into a key defender, and his form was good enough for him to play the final 12 games in his debut year of '96. In 1997 his career was threatened to be almost over, considering him having glandular fever throughout the season, and he only managed 6 matches, and he struggled during 1998 with shoulder injuries.
In 1999 though, he made a breakthrough in his career. Not noted as one of the best players going around, he was solid enough as the Pies Full Back and proved a needed player. He played 20 games, then for the next two seasons he played 21 games in each. In his 2000 season he performed well enough to earn equal third in the Magpies best and fairest.
'Presti' was a key performer in the Collingwood season of 2002 when they made the Grand Final. He played every game except one game, and was heavily relied on. He bought up his 100th game against Sydney. His defence was his asset, unlike modern days footballers where athletic ability and spring is more relied upon. In 2003 he injured his knee late in the season, but returned for the final series and once again played in the Grand Final team.
In 2004 when Collingwood struggled after being successive runners-up in the competition, he was one reason, as injuries got the better of him, forcing him to manage only 12 games, and earl in 2005 a groin injury occurred, but he soon got back on the track and ended up playing 20 games for the season, including game number 150 in his 10th season.
In 2006 Prestigiacomo held many full-forwards to one goal or less, particularly in the early part of the season when Collingwood were in the top 4. He played 19 games for the season.
[edit] Extras
Some of his more humorous nicknames include Simon Prestigiacomb-over and Simon Prestigiahangover.
