Carl Dilena

Who is Carl Dilena?

Carl Dilena is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and North Melbourne in the Victorian/Australian Football League.

Dilena started his career at Sturt and was involved in a controversial incident late in the 1988 season when he was knocked unconscious from a charge by Russell Johnston. The Port Adelaide captain was suspended for five weeks and as a result missed out on playing in their premiership winning team.

He was selected by Fitzroy with the club's first pick, and third overall, in the 1988 VFL Draft. After appearing in the first seven rounds of the 1989 season, he played just four more games for the rest of the year and another 12 in 1990.

North Melbourne then secured Dilena in the 1991 Pre-season draft, with pick 15. He performed well initially and in just is second game for his new club, against Adelaide, was influential with 39 disposals, with the next best North Melbourne player having just 20 disposals. In 1992, his final season, he played just twice, but put in another good effort against Adelaide when he kicked a career high four goals.