Madeline Brancatisano (born 5 September 2000) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She has previously played for Melbourne and Richmond.

Maddy Brancatisano
Brancatisano with Richmond in February 2020
Personal information
Full name Madeline Brancatisano
Date of birth (2000-09-05) 5 September 2000 (age 23)
Original team(s) Northern Knights (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 15, 2018 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2020, Richmond vs. Carlton, at Ikon Park
Height 169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward / midfielder
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019 Melbourne 00 (0)
2020–S7 (2022) Richmond 32 (0)
2023– Gold Coast 11 (1)
Total 43 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Career highlights

Junior

Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life and junior football edit

Brancatisano hails from the north-east Melbourne suburb of Doreen and grew up playing basketball from the age of six.[1][2][3] She attended high school at Catholic Ladies College, Eltham and later Box Hill Senior Secondary College.[4][5]

Brancastisano first took up football at under 16s level, filling in for a Laurimar side in the junior ranks of the Northern Football Netball League.[3] She first played representative football with the Northern Knights during their inaugural TAC Cup season in 2017, where she was captained in the side by her older sister Lily.[2][6] The same year she played senior women's football with Montmorency in the Northern Football League and was selected to play for the Victorian Metro side at the 2017 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships.[7][4]

In 2018, Brancatisano was elevated to captain the Knights and led her side to a losing TAC Cup Grand Final. She was named to the league's Team of the Year in 2018 and placed equal fourth in the league best and fairest count.[3][8] Brancatisano also played matches with Montmorency's senior women's side in the Northern Football League that year, along with multiple games with Carlton at VFL Women's level.[1][9] She against represented VIc Metro at the national championships in 2018 and also continued to play basketball, including training with the Geelong Supercats in the SEABL.[10]

Brancatisano earned an invite to the 2018 AFL Women's draft combine where she set a fourth placed speed of 3.29 seconds in the 20-metre sprint test.[11] In her junior career she was notable for her ability to win clearances while playing as a speedy inside midfielder.[9][12][13]

AFL Women's career edit

Melbourne (2019) edit

Brancatisano was drafted by Melbourne with the club's second pick and the 15th selection overall in the 2018 AFL Women's draft.[9]

Richmond (2020–S7 (2022)) edit

Brancatisano signed with Richmond during the second period of the 2019 expansion club signing period in April.[14] She made her debut against Carlton at Ikon Park in the opening round of the 2020 season.[15]

Gold Coast (2023–) edit

In March 2023, Brancastisano was traded to Gold Coast in a straight swap for Courtney Jones.[16]

Statistics edit

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season.[17]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Melbourne 23 0
2020 Richmond 5 6 0 1 12 20 32 7 7 0.0 0.2 2.0 3.3 5.3 1.2 1.2
2021 Richmond 5 8 0 0 38 56 94 14 22 0.0 0.0 4.8 7.0 11.8 1.8 2.8
Career 14 0 1 50 76 126 21 29 0.0 0.1 3.6 5.4 9.0 1.5 2.1

References edit

  1. ^ a b Michell (24 October 2018). "AFLW draft: Northern Knights Madeline Brancatisano heads to Melbourne". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Whittlesea Leader. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b Michell, Tim (26 July 2017). "Montmorency's Gabrielle Newton emerges as star of the future at AFLW Under-18 National Championships". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Whittlsea Leader. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "AFLW DRAFT WATCH: MADELINE BRANCATISANO". VFL. SportsTG. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b Michell, Tim (20 March 2018). "TAC Cup Girls: Northern Knights captaincy choice runs in the family for Madeline Brancatisano". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Whittlesea Leader. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. ^ Potter, Jarrod. "Helloworld Australian School Championships – Day 2 Review". Basketball Victoria. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  6. ^ Murray, Tara (20 March 2017). "History written as Northern Knights serve up new girls academy". Star Weekly. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  7. ^ Murray, Tara (9 May 2018). "Locals named in Vic Metro squad". Star Weekly. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  8. ^ "MORRISON, PRESPAKIS TIE FOR B&F". AFL VIctoria. SportsTG. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Black, Sarah (23 October 2018). "AFLW Draft: Who did your club select?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  10. ^ Ractliffe, Damien (31 May 2018). "SEABL 2017-18: Newest Supercat Madeleine Brancatisano facing elite sporting choice". Geelong Advertiser. Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  11. ^ Black, Sarah (4 October 2018). "AFLW: Potential No.1 pick dominates Combine". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  12. ^ Olle, Sarah (23 October 2018). "AFLW Draft report card: How every club fared at the 2018 draft, club-by-club analysis". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  13. ^ Montesano, Julia (7 November 2018). "AFLW Draft review: Melbourne". AFL Draft Central. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Tigers sign AFLW trio". Richmond. Telstra Media. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Round 1 AFLW teams and expert tips". The Age. Fairfax Media. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Brancatisano joins the SUNS". Gold Coast. Telstra. 15 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Madeline Brancatisano". Retrieved 20 March 2020.

External links edit