#35 Simon "PRESTI" Prestigiacomo

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Simon Prestigiacomo, Collingwoods stalwart Full back and with the retirement of Shane Wakelin at the conclusion of the 08 season, the most experienced of the Collingwood defenders.
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk81/igniter_2008/2008_profile_prestigiacomo.jpg
Simon Prestigiacomo


Number: 35
Height: 193cm
Weight: 96Kg
DOB: 31/1/1978
Debut: Rnd 11 '96 against west coast at subiaco (cold wet day, we lost)
Games: 195
Goals: 3

2008 season
Prestigiacomo managed only two games of senior footy after recovering from a foot injury sustained last year. Bad luck continued to plague the 195 game defender after injuring his shoulder in the Qualifying win over Adelaide and was forced to miss out on the Semi-final. He will be a massive inclusion for the side next year if he can remain healthy.

Career
The quiet achiever of the Collingwood backline for many years, Prestigiacomo has always gone about his business in a quiet manner, never attracting too much attention but more often than not getting the job done. On the verge of 200 games, having racked up 195 in 13 seasons since being drafted by Collingwood with the 10th overall pick in the 1995 draft, twice Prestigiacomo has finished in the top five in the best and fairest (third in 2000 and fourth in 2005) and he is a highly respected and valued member of the club. An injury plagued 2008 season saw Prestigiacomo play only two games of senior footy.

Draft history:
1995 AFL Draft 1st round selection (Collingwood) No. 10 overall

Funny fact, Simon was drafted as a CHF and if you ask him he was a "gun" junior forward and if not for Frawley telling hm to play at Full Back and handpass every time he got the ball he still would be.

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PRESTI in Pictures
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk81/igniter_2008/GALL_PIES_SS5_gallery__336x400.jpg
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk81/igniter_2008/wbAFLpresti0.jpg
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk81/igniter_2008/Presti_246.jpg

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I will be attending collingwood training on my RDO next friday with my new camera so expect photos:thumbsu:

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Full report provided tomorrow, sorry ive been trying to fix things at work all day

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Presti was back with avengence last saturday night playing on and quelling the influence of the big eagles full forward Quintin Lynch who had no answer for presti and blanket like defending.

presti ended the match with 9 touches and also showed hints of attacking instincts as he travelled up field and getting possesions through the midfield a Highlight being the handpass, run to receive and blind turn on the wing.

Here is hoping its the start of a big year for our beloved presti

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Presti adapts to new Magpie defence


At 31 years of age most players find it hard to change their playing style but Collingwood’s Simon Prestigiacomo understands that it has to be done in order to play in the modern game

"With different techniques and tactics you just have to try and adjust as the game changes,” Presitigiacomo told CTV after the team’s training session at Rosebud Olympic Park on Tuesday.

"It’s just a part of football nowadays."

Collingwood’s new-look defence places a heavier emphasis on pressuring the opposition.

Prestigiacomo collected nine possessions in last Saturday’s win against West Coast with many of them occurring on the wing.

“I was probably a bit lost up ther but after a really solid preseason, I have been able to complete nearly all of the training and now I feel comfortable with how we are playing.

“It helps if you are already up there to try and get a few kicks.”

After successfully making a comeback from a foot injury in round 22, Prestigiacomo injured his shoulder against Adelaide in the Elimination Final and missed the rest of the finals campaign.

When the team headed to Flagstaff, Arizona late last year for a preseason high-altitude training camp, Prestigiacomo remained in Melbourne to work on strengthening his shoulder.

“In prior years I haven’t really done one (preseason).

"The season before I didn’t really train until June so that’s not much of a preseason at all but this year I have managed to do pretty much all of the training.”

Collingwood’s defence has lost a wealth of experience in the last few years with the retirement of James Clement and Shane Wakelin but Prestigiacomo believes if the group can stay injury free, it will enjoy a successful 2009 campaign.

“Clement and Wakes were pretty much there for the whole year. Hopefully we can get a core group of seven or eight guys that can play the whole year in defence.

"We definitely know each other's weaknesses and strengths. It helps out when you can get everyone playing most of the games together.”

Even after playing 195 AFL games, Prestigiacomo admitted to feeling pre-game jitters before last weekend’s match.

“I was pretty nervous coming into the first game whether it is the NAB Cup or round one. Hopefully you still have the goods and can compete at that level.”collingwoodfc.com.au


Presti was being modest he knew exactly what he was doing up in the middle:p

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Rnd 1

started slowly allowing stevens to kick two early goals (one from a freakish snap), he then clicked into gear and kept stevens out of it barring a stupid soft free paid in the third

Ok first game by the phantom

Rnd 2

Played a good game versus the Dees gathering 8 touches and almost taking a screamer in the first, almost looked the blanket of old

Good luck presti, who is also aiming for his 200th on ANZAC day

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Presti..."Dazed and Confused"

Presti talks about his run in with Johnno Browns giant head on CTV.


http://bigpondvideo.com/collingwoodtv/197974







http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii259/westic/Presti.jpg


Meanwhile his early opponent has a sook about being left "sore and angry" by Presti's replacement Leigh "take that you big sook" Brown.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25884115-19742,00.html


All of us here wish Jonathon a speedy recovery and a pleasant experience in therapy...:D
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii259/westic/Liontissues.jpg

[Mars II]

8puAtjfCy8A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8puAtjfCy8A

ctv youtubed it

[Pie eyed]

Why don't they youtube everything?
much better than Pondscum.

Thanks Mars.:thumbsu: