Matthew Capuano (born September 2, 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer who has spent his AFL career with the Kangaroos (former North Melbourne Football Club) and the St Kilda Football Club. He was most remembered for being sacked by the Saints at the middle of the 2003 season. This article needs to be wikified. ... The North Melbourne Football Club, trading as the Kangaroos, and informally known as the Shinboners or the Kangaroos Football Club plays Australian rules football in the Australian Football League. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (246th in leap years). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Australian Rules and Aussie Rules redirect here. ... The Australian Football League (AFL) is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... The North Melbourne Football Club, trading as the Kangaroos, and informally known as the Shinboners or the Kangaroos Football Club plays Australian rules football in the Australian Football League. ... The St Kilda Football Club, nicknamed The Saints, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League. ... Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2003. ...

Kangaroos career

Capuano made his AFL debut for North Melbourne in the 1994 season. He played a total of 182 games for the Kangaroos, and was a member of the club's 1996 and 1999 premiership side. Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996. ... Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1999. ...

St Kilda career

Capuano's career with the Saints was plagued by shoulder and knee injuries. He played 25 games in his three seasons for the Saints. Although making his 100th AFL appearance in Round 8, 2002, he underwent a knee surgery after Round 9 and missed all remaining AFL games that season. Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2002. ...

Mid-season sacking

After making six appearances in the first nine rounds of the 2003 season, Capuano was sacked by the Saints^[1]. Coach Grant Thomas explained that Capuano's poor form lead to his sacking. While it's suggested that the young and rising Saints did not need Capuano's service anymore^[2], the Saints were also criticized for axing Capuano at the wrong time, as Trent Knobel and Barry Brooks, the other two ruckmen for the Saints, were both injured at that time^[3]. Grant Thomas (born February 14, 1958) is a former Australian rules football player and was coach of St. ... Barry Brooks (born December 24, 1983) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ...

Although a number of VFL clubs sought for Capuano’s service after he was sacked^[4], he did not accept any offers, but spent the latter half of 2003 travelling Europe. He was also not nominated for the 2003 AFL Draft^[5]. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2003 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. ...

References

1. ^ Saints sack Capuano, The Age, May 26, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
2. ^ Walls, R., "Thomas does the hard thing but the right thing", The Age, May 30, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
3. ^ Connolly, R., "Thrills and spills in 2003", The Age, September 30, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
4. ^ Lyon, K. & Niall, J., "Capuano now a wanted man", The Age, May 30, 2003. Retrieved June 9 2006.
5. ^ Quayle, E., "No draft for Capuano", The Age, October 22, 2003. Retrieved June 9 2006.

External links

• Matthew Capuano profile on Saints.com.au
• Matthew Capuano statistics from RLeague