Bruno Conti – Former Brunswick NOBs Captain and Club President awarded VAFA Life Membership

It is with great pride that the Club announces that Bruno Conti has been awarded Life Membership by the VAFA.

Bruno came to the Club in 1983 from St Joseph’s North Melbourne following the footsteps of his older brother Robert Conti (himself an esteemed past player of the Club). He arrived with a group of his contemporaries that would go on to become the lifeblood of the Club for the following 2-3 decades – names like Cahill, Tierney, Egan, Hanlon, Zocco, Schmidt, Considine, Devine are all famous contributors to the Club and Bruno played many of his 230 games with these players who remain as his close friends today.

Bruno also played 24 VFL reserves games at Essendon and Collingwood in 1987 and 1988 before returning to the Club in 1989 for what was the start of a great period of the Club leading into the 1991 A Grade Final.

Bruno quickly became a leader at the Club and his strength and run off the backflank with his driving punts into the forward line promptly saw him recognized not only at Club level, but by the Victorian selectors.

Bruno was one of the dominant Big V players of the era and also has an incredible record of post playing contribution to the Big V. Bruno played 16 times, was a selector 13 times, and has been involved as a board member for 38 games. These matches combine for Bruno being involved in 67 Big V matches over a 25-year period. Bruno has been involved in games in WA, SA, Tasmania, New Zealand and Ireland and also via the AAFC in a tour to South Africa. He was also selected in the All Australian team in 1989 and 1991.

With our Club, Bruno captained the Club for 3 seasons and finished in the top two in the best and fairest six times, winning the award twice.

Upon retirement, Bruno immediately took on the Vice Presidency for two years before becoming the President in 2000 following Dominic Perrone.

Bruno was President for 4 years. His lieutenants during those years were people like Shane McGrath, Brendan Pentland, David and Peter O’Farrell, Sean Fitzpatrick, Joe Zumbo, Tim Nabbs, Tim Waters, Damien Boyer, Mark Robinson, Mark and Tim Connolly, Brendan Devine, Peter Hevey and Andrew Ryan.

Bruno and his wife Louise were great hosts at many functions at their former home in Ford Street, Brunswick and over many years has continued to be great contributors to the Club. All at the Club pass on our congratulations to Bruno on his great contribution to our Club and to Amateur Football more widely.

Key Statistics

Club Career (North Old Boys)

  • Wore number 34
  • 230 games 1983-86 and 1988-1997
  • Captain 1994-1996
  • Vice Captain 1990-1993
  • Played in three Grand Finals
  • Club Best & Fairest in 1990 & 1996 and was runner up on 4 other occasions
  • Vice Captain Team of the Century
  • Halfback Flanker of Team of the Century
  • Vice President 1998-1999
  • Club President – 2000-2003
  • All Saints Coterie

Big V Career

  • 16 games (1986, 89, 90, 91, 93, 93, 94)
  • Played in 4 AAFC carnivals
  • Best Player for Victoria 1990 v South Australia
  • All-Australian 89/91
  • Vice Captain in 6 games in 1990, ‘93, ‘94
  • Big V Selector – 13 games over 9 years
        1998 (C-D4), 1999-2006 (Senior team)
  • VAFA Board Member (05-present), Chairman 07-12
        Involved in 36 games over 9 years
Bruno Conti