Happy 40th Birthday to Ron

Happy 40th Birthday to Ron De Iulio!

Played over 100 games for the Blues in a succesfull era.

————————

Career: 1992-1999
Debut: Round 1, 1992 vs Brisbane, aged 19 years, 341 days
976th Carlton Player
Games: 104
Goals: 71
Last Game: Round 21, 1999 vs St Kilda, aged 27 years, 128 days
Guernsey No. 34
Height: 180cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 15 April, 1972

Ron burst on to the scene with 29 goals from 19 games as a pacy half-forward in the 1992 season, wearing the #34 guernsey. He was recruited from VFA club Box Hill, previous to that, he had played with VFA club Brunswick.

After battling with Luke O’Sullivan and the resting rovers such as Mitchell, Gleeson and Heaver for that role in subsequent years, Ron went back to the reserves and was was tried in defence. He eventually returned to the senior team, often picking up the opposition’s fastest and smallest forward. In this role, De Iulio had breakthrough years in 1996 and 1998 (playing 21 and all 22 games respectively) and began to make a name for himself as a defensive stalwart whilst the Blues struggled.

He had many battles with Sean Charles and later Jeff Farmer playing against Melbourne and was a valuable member of the team.

But he struggled to maintain his place in the side in 1999, after playing the first 5 games, playing his final game in Round 21. He remained at the club in 2000 but spent the entire year in the VFL, where his career ended.

He ended up playing 104 games in the #34- a fair achievement and just enough to earn him a place on the locker, as only the third Blue to do so.

Milestones

50 Games – Round 13, 1996 v Sydney Swans
100 Games – Round 17, 1999 v Collingwood

Highlights

1997 – Pre-Season Premiership Player

A modern incarnation of Ron De Iulio most likely would not have played AFL football given the current sporting landscape in Melbourne . Instead his renowned skill as a junior player may have been recognized and developed in the sport of soccer where his speed and finishing abilities were honed. Looking back at Ron’s hard earned career two distinct memories come to the fore that of jubilant goal kicker and/or unconscious victim.

Links

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Rocket Ron | Career Breakdown | De Iulio’s Blueseum Image Gallery