Wikipedia

Alex Aurrichio

Alexander Thomas Aurrichio (1 February 1990 – 8 June 2020) was an American-born Australian rules footballer. He played at the state league level for the Northern Blues, South Adelaide, Waratah, Southport and Broadbeach.[5]

Alex Aurrichio
Aurrichio with the Northern Blues in 2016
Personal information
Full name Alexander Thomas Aurrichio[1]
Nickname Rooch
Born (1990-02-01)1 February 1990[2][3]
Huntington, New York, U.S.
Died 8 June 2020(2020-06-08) (aged 30)
Howard Springs, Northern Territory
Original team New York Magpies (USAFL)
Height 198 cm (6 ft 6 in)[4]
Weight 110 kg (243 lb)[4]
Position Ruckman/forward
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
2015–2016 Northern Blues (VFL) 11
2017–2018 South Adelaide (SANFL) 8 (5)
2018–2020 Waratah (NTFL)
2019 Southport (NEAFL) 4 (1)
2019 Broadbeach (QAFL)
Career highlights

Early life and career

edit

Alex Aurrichio was born in Huntington, New York.[6] The son of Louis and Jill Aurrichio, he grew up with his four siblings in Dix Hills, Long Island.[1]

Aurrichio attended Half Hollow Hills High School West, where he played basketball, baseball, and soccer.[1] He was awarded the Butch Dellecave Award as Suffolk County's top scholar-athlete.[1][7] In 2007, he was named an All-American player for his high school soccer career.[8]

After graduating from high school, Aurrichio represented Columbia University in two sports.[1] He made his debut for Columbia's soccer team in 2008, playing as a goalkeeper.[6] In both 2009 and 2010, he played in all of the team's matches.[6] During this period, he also played for Columbia's baseball team, where he earned first-team All-Ivy League honours as a sophomore.[6]

Football career

edit

Aurrichio played with the New York Magpies in the United States Australian Football League (USAFL) in 2014.[9] He was a member of the team's Division 1 premiership team.[9]

Northern Blues

edit

In November 2014, Aurrichio moved to Australia to pursue a professional Australian rules football career in the Australian Football League (AFL).[10]

While trying to find a club for the 2015 season, he trained with as Collingwood, Coburg and Sandringham in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[11] On 27 January 2015, the Northern Blues signed Aurrichio for the 2015 VFL season.[12][13] The club described him as "perhaps the most high-profile of all recruits anywhere in the VFL".[14][15] He joined the VFL Academy squad to develop his football skills.[16][17]

After playing several games for the Blues' Development League team, Aurrichio made his senior VFL debut against Essendon at Preston City Oval in round 6, recording 18 hitouts during the match.[18][19] In round 19, he was named among the Blues' best players in a 90-point loss to Box Hill.[20] At the end of the year, he won the Oscar Lipson Award as the Blues' best clubman.[21][22]

He played a total of eleven matches for the Blues, although his opportunities at the senior VFL level were limited in 2016.[23]

South Adelaide

edit

In March 2017, Aurrichio left the Northern Blues and moved to Sydney University in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL).[24][25] However, through the contacts of Brad Gotch, he instead joined South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).[26] He arrived in Adelaide on 7 April 2017, the day of his first SANFL reserves match.[26]

Aurrichio made his senior SANFL debut on 15 July 2017 against Glenelg at ACH Group Stadium.[26] By the end of the 2018 season, he had played eight senior matches and kicked five goals.[26]

Waratah

edit

Between his moves from South Australia to Queensland, Aurrichio played for the Waratah Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL), which plays during the NT's 'wet season' between October and March. He made his NTFL debut in round 1 of the 2018–19 season against Palmerston at Asbuild Oval.[27][28]

Aurrichio continued playing for Waratah during the 2019–20 season.[29] After the conclusion of the season, he made the decision to move to Darwin permanently.[30]

Southport and Broadbeach

edit

In 2019, Aurrichio moved to the Gold Coast in Queensland, where he joined Southport in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL).[31] When not selected by Southport, Aurrichio played for Broadbeach in the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL).[32]

During the 2019 NEAFL season, he played four matches and kicked one goal.[33] He won the Ken McDonald Most Dedicated Player Award at Southport.[22]

Death and tributes

edit

On the evening of 8 June 2020, Aurrichio was cycling on Gunn Point Road in Howard Springs in the Northern Territory when he was struck and killed by a car.[30]

All the football clubs that Aurrichio had played for in Australia released statements paying tribute.[34] The Northern Blues described him as "larger than life character [who] influenced our group with enthusiasm and motivation",[35] South Adelaide said he "leaves an impact far greater than the eight games he played",[26] Waratah called him a "loveable larrikin",[34] Southport wrote that "footy has lost an extremely dedicated player and a great individual"[35] and Broadbeach described him a "very humble and outstanding person".[36]

In the United States, National Basketball Association (NBA) player Tobias Harris, who played with Aurrichio at Half Hollow Hills High School West, said he was "sad, shocked and in disbelief".[30] Columbia men's soccer head coach Kevin Anderson said Aurrichio "got the most out of every day and the most out of everyone"; he later described speaking at Aurrichio's funeral as the most difficult moment of his 14-year tenure as head coach.[37][38] A resolution to express condolences was introduced by Katherine Kazarian in the Rhode Island General Assembly and passed on 17 June 2020.[7]

A fundraiser set up by former Waratah and AFL Women's (AFLW) player Abbey Holmes raised A$170,900 to help Aurrichio's family in having his body returned to New York.[39] The funeral service for Aurrichio was held on 22 June 2020 at St Mary's Star of the Sea Cathedral and live-streamed online.[40] His eulogy was read by Tom Fields, who played with Aurrichio at the Northern Blues, South Adelaide and Southport.[40]

In October 2021, the Half Hollow Hills High School West boys soccer team unveiled a banner at their playing field to commemorate Aurrichio.[8] His high school basketball jersey number was retired in December 2021.[41]

Legacy

edit

Alex Aurrichio Medal

edit

The Alex Aurrichio Medal (sometimes referred to as the Alexander Aurrichio Medal) was awarded to the player named best-on-ground in VFL matches between Southport and the Northern Bullants (formerly known as the Northern Blues) from 2022 until the end of 2025.[42]

Southport joined the VFL after the NEAFL was disbanded in 2020; the clubs did not play each other during the 2021 season, which was curtailed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] The award was introduced by then-Bullants vice-president David Zonta, who was friends with Aurrichio.[22][43]

In the first match between the clubs in 2022, Southport's Boyd Woodcock won the inaugural medal after recording 34 disposals and kicking two goals in a 68-point victory over the Bullants at Preston City Oval.[44] In 2023, the match was played at Fankhauser Reserve for the first and only time; Woodcock won the award for a second year in a row and passed the medal to Tom Fields after he received it.[43] Southport defender Max Spencer won the medal in 2024 after the Bullants were defeated by 56 points at Preston City Oval.[45]

The fourth edition of the award was in 2025, when Southport won by 109 points – its highest-ever margin over the Bullants.[46] Hugh Dixon received the medal after kicking 13 goals during the match, including five in the first quarter.[47] This would become the final time the medal was presented, as the Bullants had its VFL licence revoked at the end of the season and entered voluntary liquidation several months later.[48][49]

References

edit
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Fields, Tom (24 July 2020). "Alexander Thomas Aurrichio". Our Lady of Pentecost Catholic Parish. Archived from the original on 11 February 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "2015 Northern Blues Senior List". Northern Blues. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "2016 playing lists". VFL / VFLW. 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Alex AURRICHIO". NEAFL. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Panthers TV: My Panthers Story – Alex Aurrichio". South Adelaide Football Club. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Alexander Aurrichio". Columbia University Athletics. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 Kazarian, Katherine (17 June 2020). "Extending deepest condolences on the passing of Alexander Aurrichio". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Archived from the original on 28 May 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  8. 1 2 Parker, Chip (29 October 2021). "Hills West Soccer Team Unveils Banner Honoring Alumni Alexander Aurrichio". Half Hollow Hills Central School District. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  9. 1 2 "New York Pies conquer the Nationals". Collingwood Football Club. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  10. ↑ King, Travis (27 August 2015). "Aurrichio hoping to follow in footsteps of fellow American Holmes". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 August 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Twomey, Callum (6 January 2015). "From New York to Melbourne: an American dream". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Lodge, Matthew (27 January 2015). "Aurrichio realises American Dream with Blues". Northern Blues. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  13. ↑ King, Travis (30 January 2015). "Northern Blues recruit big American". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Trantino, Julian (16 April 2015). "Season preview: Northern Blues". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "73. Alexander Aurrichio". Northern Blues. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "2015 VFL Academy squad announced". VFL. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Mance and Hartley set to join the Academy Squad". Coburg Football Club. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  18. ↑ Filippo, Cristian (23 May 2015). "Bombers punish Blues for comeback win". Northern Blues. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Big American cracks the VFL". VFL. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "2015 Northern Blues". Blueseum. 9 May 2026. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  21. ↑ Griffin, Gil (20 August 2020). "'Rooch', a Yankee legend with whom footy fell in love". Footyology. Archived from the original on 5 December 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Kelly, Daniel (16 June 2022). "Remembering Alex Aurrichio". Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 21 October 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Alexander Aurrichio". Blueseum. 7 February 2026. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  24. ↑ Thompson, Troy (1 March 2017). "Aurrichio departs VFL for NEAFL". World Footy News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "2017 NEAFL List". Sydney University Australian National Football Club. March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 Parker, Jonathon (9 June 2020). "Vale Alexander Aurrichio". South Adelaide Football Club. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  27. ↑ Williams, Peter (5 October 2018). "2018/19 NTFL Men's preview". Rookie Me Central. Archived from the original on 11 March 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  28. ↑ Alvaro, Michael (12 October 2018). "Weekend previews: NTFL – Round 2". Rookie Me Central. Archived from the original on 11 March 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  29. ↑ Alvaro, Michael (7 October 2019). "NTFL Men's Premier League weekly wrap: Round 1 – Sambono boots 12 in Buffs' Tiwi romp". Rookie Me Central. Archived from the original on 11 March 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 Pfeiffer, Carl (10 June 2020). "'You were the leader of our championship team…and one of the most fabulous teammates I've ever been around'". NT Independent. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Milbank, Zac (23 February 2019). "Statewide Super League Preview – South Adelaide". SANFL. Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  32. ↑ Wilson, Terry (3 May 2019). "Round 5 QAFL Preview and Teams". AFL Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Player Statistics: Southport Sharks (Season 2019)". NEAFL. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  34. 1 2 Waterworth, Ben (9 June 2020). "'We are all in disbelief': Footy clubs pay tribute to 'loveable larrikin' Alexander Aurrichio after fatal crash". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  35. 1 2 Zwar, Will; Saroukos, Raphaella (11 June 2020). "Tears for big 'Rooch', from New York to NT" (PDF). NT News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  36. ↑ "VALE Alexander Aurrichio". Broadbeach Cats Australian Football Club. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Columbia Athletics Mourns the Loss of Alexander Aurrichio '12CC". Columbia University Athletics. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  38. ↑ Williams, Takashi (19 April 2023). "'He was less of a coach for me and more of a friend': Kevin Anderson's 14-year tenure as men's soccer head coach". Columbia Daily Spectator. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  39. ↑ "More than $150,000 raised to get Aurrichio's body home as AFL star talks about his death". NT Independent. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  40. 1 2 Hind, Rick (22 June 2020). "American AFL hopeful Alex Aurrichio remembered as a giant with a love of life". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  41. ↑ Parker, Chip (6 December 2021). "Hills West Retires Alumni Alexander Aurrichio's Basketball Jersey". Half Hollow Hills Central School District. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  42. ↑ Young, Somer (18 June 2022). "Round 12 Match Preview: Bullants v Southport". Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  43. 1 2 Kelly, Daniel (4 May 2023). "Powerful Sharks Overrun Learning Ants". Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  44. ↑ Kelly, Daniel (20 June 2022). "Sharks feast on Ants". Northern Bullants. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "Northern Bullants v Southport VFL Round 8 Match Report". Southport Sharks. 21 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 March 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  46. ↑ Faulkner, Will (31 May 2025). "Former AFL forward's MONSTER 13-goal haul stuns in 103-point VFL drubbing". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  47. ↑ Farquhar, Callum (31 May 2025). "Former Eagle, Docker stuns in mammoth VFL goalkicking display". ZeroHanger. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  48. ↑ "VFL Statement – Northern Bullants Football Club". AFL.com.au. 7 October 2025. Archived from the original on 6 June 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  49. ↑ "Club statement". Preston Football Club. 17 December 2025. Archived from the original on 9 February 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Aurrichio&oldid=1358545098"