Name: Frank Liparota
Carlton member years: 36
Favourite player: Stephen ‘Sticks’ Kernahan & Chris Judd
Memorable match: 1987 & 1995 grand final victories
“BOSUSTOW!” – that’s what Frank Liparota used to shout as a kid when he leaped onto his opponent to take a specky.
“When I played footy at school I used to wear the number four and take some high marks – I can’t do it now,” he laughed.
“They used to call me the Buzz and before I took the mark I used to scream out BOSUSTOW!”
Frank’s family moved to Australia from Italy in 1967 for a “better way of life” and lucky for Frank, moved straight into Bluebagger territory.
“I was only about two years old when we moved to Australia and we bought a house in Brunswick.
“We lived near Princes Park and I went to school around Sydney Road, so there was an attachment (to Carlton) there.”
It didn’t take long for Frank and his family to start following Aussie Rules and start supporting the local team: the Old Dark Navy Blues.
“I have been barracking for the Carlton Football Club since I was in pre-school which was in 1971,” he said.
As he grew up, Frank managed to covert his younger cousins into Bluebaggers and more recently his wife’s brother – but there was a catch.
“I also swayed my brother-in-law who has now moved to Australia from Italy.
“I converted him to a Carlton supporter because he didn’t follow a team, but it was on the condition that I barracked for his soccer team back home in Italy (Lazio) and I said that’s fine, done deal – it worked out well!” he laughed.
His brother-in-law has attended quite a few Carlton games, including some at Princes Park, and Frank says he’s now a Blue “through and through”.
Over the years Peter Bosustow was a favourite of Frank’s but he also loved Stephen ‘Sticks’ Kernahan for the way he “went about his football”.
Carlton member Frank Liparota cheers on his beloved Blues.
More recently though, Frank admitted to having a “man crush” on Chris Judd.
“I liked him even when he was at West Coast and I said to my wife back then, this guy is going to be a super-star. She responded with: ‘If only he played for Carlton!’ And I said you never know!”
Frank still has an autograph book he started in the ‘80s as a kid and he considers himself very fortunate to have Peter Motley’s signature inside.
“He actually signed it about a week before that tragic car accident – so I’m pretty lucky I saw him at training and got him to sign my book,” he said.
Frank, who works in the HR department at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, says going to two grand finals and a winning preliminary final are special moments he’ll always cherish.
“The first grand final I attended in 1987 – I’ll never forget that – it was the first winning grand final I ever went to.
“Also the ’95 grand final was so memorable because I was able to sit so close to the goals and absorb the atmosphere. And how can you go past the ’99 preliminary final against Essendon?” he said.
Frank has been part of the Carlton Smash Cheersquad for eight years. He loves game day for the “banter between the supporters” and to shout words of encouragement to the players.
“I just get there and support the team the best I can,” he said.
