At a time when Carlton’s one and only President of Italian origin presides, it’s truly fitting that the football club’s enduring links with Italy are savoured and celebrated.

Which is why, when the AFL’s “azzurri” meets Melbourne in the penultimate round of the 2016 season, Mark LoGiudice will call to order the football club’s many and varied connections with the old country – as part of the Carlton Italian Heritage Celebration, a focus of the President’s Function.

Common to both Melbourne and Carlton is of course Ronald Dale Barassi – the Blues’ dual premiership coach and League football’s most famous name – whose great grandfather left his Swiss-Italian homeland for Australia in search of gold. 

But Carlton, more than any other club, can lay claim to the greatest Italian representation – from Albert Boromeo in 1919 through to Jack Silvagni almost a century later. 

That’s because its rich historic and cultural links with the Italian community have their origins in the neighbouring streets like Lygon and Canning, where migrants first took refuge after traversing the globe on ageing passenger steamers.

No other team in the pre-eminent Australian Rules football competition boasts stronger links with the Italians than the Carlton Football Club. A total of 28 Carlton players of Italian origin – including the game’s one and only Italian-born footballer Peter Bevilacqua –have donned the famous dark Navy Blue guernsey. 

Then of course there are the Silvagnis, Sergio and Stephen, who by their on-field deeds through many seasons have brought honor and glory to the great Australian game’s greatest and most iconic brand.

Serge is one of six Carlton players of Italian origin to have so far committed to the August 21 celebration. Also confirmed are Carlton premiership players Mario Bortolotto, Anthony Koutoufides and Dennis Munari, together with the club’s genuine cult heroes Vin Catoggio and Ron De Iulio. 

Serge and ‘Kouta’, together with Brendan Fevola, Scott Camporeale and Stephen Silvagni, were all named in the Barassi-coached Italian Team of the Century in 2007. 

The Carlton Football Club encourages those with a love for all things red, white and green to the Blues’ much-anticipated Italian Heritage Celebration, on what is the team’s final home match for the 2016 home and away season. 

Guests will be welcomed to the Olympic Room and, in the true Italian-way partake in a delectable three-course meal courtesy of Cecconi’s, along with complimentary beer, wine and spirits for the duration of the day. 

They’ll also enjoy entertainment provided by special guests, as well as Premium Level 2 seating to watch the game, an AFL Record and half-time fare. 

Tickets are now available at $295 per person or $2900 for a table of 10, and bookings can be made via Scott Dornauf on scott.dornauf@carltonfc.com.au or 0409 709434.

Carlton team of Italian origin, 1919-2016: