Former VFL player Gary Sammartino dies at age 38

Former VFL and Eastern league player Gary Sammartino is being remembered as a tough and tenacious footballer.

Gary Sammartino enjoying premiership success with Doncaster East.

Peter Banfield loved coaching Gary Sammartino at the Springvale Scorpions.

Loved his courage and competitiveness.

Loved how he followed instructions and put the team first.

Loved how he was hungry to play in the VFL.

“He was one of my favourites,’’ an emotional Banfield said tonight after learning of his former player’s death at the age of 38.

Sammartino played at the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup and had three years at Box Hill Hawks before joining the Scorpions in 2005, when they were still based at the Springvale ground at Newcomen Rd.

Banfield said Sammartino was desperate for opportunity after playing 50 reserves games at Box Hill. He was runner-up in the best and fairest in 2002.

“He was just a little goer,’’ Banfield said.

“Everything I asked him to do, he did. He played some magnificent games for me.

“He was a running player. He was hard, disciplined, just a ripping bloke who gave everything he had.

“We had a great relationship. I gave him a chance, and that’s all he ever wanted, a chance.

“As we were trying to re-establish Springvale and then Casey (the club moved to Casey Fields in 2006 to become Casey Scorpions) he was instrumental in that job of rebuilding the club and the culture. Great work ethic. Trained hard, ran hard, was always smiling.’’

Former VFL coach Peter Banfield.

Banfield said Sammartino was a bit like his teammate David Biagi, who died of cancer in 2012.

“Probably didn’t have all the skills, but gave it everything, just like ‘Maxi’ (Biagi), gave you all he had. ‘Maxi’ had more skill but they were alike in the way they went about their footy.

“Gee he was a ripper.’’

Before the 2006 season Sammartino suffered a knee injury in a practice match and never played for the club again.

Banfield said he told Sammartino he had no need to turn out in the scratch match, but he insisted.

“I said, ‘OK mate, just have 15 or 20 minutes’ and in that time he went out and did his ACL,’’ he said.

Former Casey captain Nigel Carmody said Sammartino was a wonderful teammate.

“You just had so much trust in what he would bring in terms of effort,’’ he said.

“That was at a time when we were trying to turn the ship around. He was fantastic on and off the field.’’

In 2004 the Hawks had advised Sammartino to see out the season in the Eastern league.

He did so at Vermont, where he was coached by David Banfield, Peter’s brother.

He alerted the Scorpions coach to the pacy right-footer, who as an Under 16 player at the Eastern Ranges had been nicknamed “The Racehorse’’ by the coaches.

It was in recognition of the way he got the ball and bolted away from his opponents.

Former Box Hill Hawks senior coach and Hawthorn star Andy Collins said Sammartino had an “amazing worth ethic’’ and desire to get the most out of his football.

“He loved the club, he loved being around football and the team,’’ Collins said tonight.

“Just a great cultural person who makes your footy club stronger straight away because of the person he is.’’

Box Hill tweeted tonight: “’Samma’ was a much-loved figure at City Oval, serving the club as a player and board member. He will be greatly missed.’’

He was a Box Hill Hawks director from 2009-11.

Sammartino figured in Doncaster East’s senior premiership in 2007 after finishing up at VFL level.

“It is with heavy hearts and the deepest sympathy we pass on the news of the tragic passing of Gary Sammartino,’’ Doncaster East said today.

“Gary held a significant place in our DEFC 2007 Premiership side and was much loved by his teammates.’’

Gary Sammartino had played his junior football at the Beverley Hills club.

Funeral arrangements are being made.