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Paul Dimattina (born 22 November 1974) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Dimattina is of Italian descent and the son of former fruiterer Frank Dimattina.

Dimattina played for Richmond at Under 19 level as a 16 year in 1991 and was drafted by them with the final selection in the 1991 AFL draft. He played reserves football for them in 1992, but never played an AFL game for Richmond. During 1993 and 1994 he played for Victorian Football Association (VFA) team Sandringham, as well as some games for the Carlton and Essendon reserves teams. Drafted by the Footscray Football Club (later Western Bulldogs) with the 26th selection in the 1995 Pre-season draft, Dimattina made his AFL debut late in the 1995 season. Dimattina was a high possession winner for the Bulldogs throughout his career. He played 131 games for the Bulldogs until he was delisted at the end of the 2003 season.

Post AFL career

In 2005, Dimattina moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland, where he played with the Southport Sharks. He scored six goals and best afield in the Queensland State League Grand Final before retiring from the Sharks and returning to Melbourne.

Post football

Following his football career, Dimattina became involved in the hospitality industry. He and his family own and run the Dimattina's and Il Gambero restaurants in Lygon Street, Carlton, Society Restaurant in Melbourne City, the Blue Train cafe at Southgate in Southbank, as well as two restaurants on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

In 2021, Dimattina was part of the formation of the Victorians Party. The party dissolved before the 2022 state election, which they planned to contest.

References

1. ^ Power, Emily (29 October 2014). "Iconic Italian restaurant DiMattina's passed in". The Age.
2. "Melbourne vs Richmond Team List". Football Record (Elimination Final): 22. 1991.
3. Rielly, Stephen (30 October 2003). "Blues may move on Dimattina".
4. "Sharks romp home in AFLQ Grand Final".
5. "Fire at AFL star's restaurant". The Australian. 20 August 2009.
6. Deery, Shannon. "New political party to challenge Labor and Coalition in 2022 Victorian election". Herald Sun.

External links

• Paul Dimattina's playing statistics from AFL Tables

• 1974 births
• Living people
• Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
• Australian people of Italian descent
• Sportspeople of Italian descent
• Sandringham Football Club players
• Southport Australian Football Club players
• Western Bulldogs players
• People educated at Marcellin College, Bulleen
• 21st-century Australian businesspeople
• Australian food industry businesspeople