Robert Di Pierdomenico

Robert Di Pierdomenico

Berto 'Robert' DiPierdomenico, known as Dipper (born 5 May 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented Hawthorn in the Australian Football League (AFL) from the 1970s to the 1990s. Popularly known by his nickname 'Dipper', DiPierdomenico is one of the most successful Italian Australians to play Australian football, and his contribution to the game was recognized by selection in the VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century.

Born 'Berto' but later renamed Robert, to Italian immigrant parents Stefano and Antonietta, DiPierdomenico was born in Hawthorn and nearly died as a child following a bout pf pneumonia. A hyperactive child who suffered from stuttering, he later went to several school in Hawthorn and neighbouring areas including Kew High where he met his future wife Cheryl Bayley and Swinburne Tech where his Headmaster was future Hawthorn coach John Kennedy Snr. DiPierdomenico began playing football in his early teens for local clubs East Hawthorn and North Kew before signing for VFL club Hawthorn as an eighteen year-old. The fee was 10,00 dollars and the cost of fixing four front teeth that he had knocked out whilst playing in an earlier game.