Silvio Foschini

Silvio Foschini
Silvio Foschini
Personal information
Full name	Silvio Foschini
Date of birth	18 September 1963 (age 60)
Original team(s)	Clayton
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	75 kg (165 lb)
Position(s)	Forward pocket
Playing career1
Years	Club
1981–1982	Sydney Swans
1983–1986, 1988	St Kilda
Total
	1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988.
	Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Silvio Foschini (born 18 September 1963) is a former

Victorian Football League (VFL). He is best known for taking the VFL to court over its refusal to grant him a clearance, which led, among other things, to the end of the League's Zoning

system.

Career

Foschini was aged just 17 in 1981 when he kicked three goals on his league debut for South Melbourne against Hawthorn and finished the season with 37 goals. The club relocated to Sydney the following year and Foschini, again playing as a forward, kicked 42 goals.

Despite his success he was unhappy in Sydney and decided to return to his home state of Victoria in 1983, joining St Kilda. He however had not received a clearance to sign with St Kilda and as a result the issue went to court. In what was a high-profile case at the time, Foschini argued that the VFL's clearance rules breached restraint of trade laws. He won the case and was allowed to play for St Kilda, in doing so helping to abolish the zoning system from the league.

At St Kilda he was used mainly as a rover and played for the club until a shoulder injury ended his career in 1988.

Personal life

Foschini attended Westall Secondary College in

VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century. He played soccer as a child and his son Matthew Foschini plays soccer (football) for Melbourne Victory FC, South Melbourne FC and Oakleigh Cannons FC

.

References

Silvio Foschini's playing statistics from AFL Tables
Silvio Foschini at AustralianFootball.com
Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.