Essendon District Football League star Robbie Castello’s achievements for Werribee Football Club will be recognised at the club’s 60th year celebrations.
Castello is one of seven inductees who will go into the Werribee Football Club hall of fame on June 15.
Castello played his junior football at Keilor Park before joining the Calder Cannons.
He was set to join Coburg in the Victorian Football League before Tigers chief executive Mark Penaluna gave him a call before pre-season for 2004 and the rest is history.
“He debuted in round 12 that season and never looked back,” the Werribee website said about Castello.
“In just his third season, the crafty small forward claimed the club’s best-and-fairest award, becoming a Bruce Montgomery Trophy winner.
“From there, his list of achievements grew. Robbie was Werribee’s leading goalkicker in 2010, a year in which he also brought up his 100th game and was awarded life membership. In 2011, he was named in the VFL team of the year for the first time.
“The 2012 season was a standout for Castello. He was appointed club captain and also became Werribee’s all-time games record holder, overtaking close friend and fellow 2004 recruit Dom Gleeson.”
Castello called time on his VFL career at the end of 2013 following a preliminary final defeat to Box Hill, retiring as a one-club player with 169 games and 179 goals to his name.
He was then playing coach at Maribyrnong Park before playing with Westmeadows and returning to Keilor Park in the EDFL.
He is currently in his second season at Hillside.
Penaluna spoke glowingly of Castello’s contribution.
“From a personal perspective, Rob was the second player I recruited here after Dom Gleeson in 2003,” he said. “Like Dom, both were wonderful servants of the club.
“Robbie had the ability to play multiple positions, which maybe at times saved him being selected in the team.
“He later became club captain, while also taking on the role of our inaugural community development manager at the same time.
“The games record holder and all-round good guy, Rob’s been a wonderful servant – and continues to be – at the Werribee Football Club.”
