The late Sisto Malaspina has a touching place in the GWS Grand Final fairytale

Anyone who has stepped inside Pellegrini’s this week will have noticed something slightly different hanging on the wall. And the story behind it is yet another example as to why Sisto Malaspina was such a beloved figure.

Sisto Malaspina wearing Peter Marsden’s GWS scarf.

A GWS Giants scarf has been displayed at Melbourne institution Pellegrini’s this week to honour the promise of a lost friend.

The late Sisto Malaspina, the restaurant’s iconic co-owner, who was tragically murdered in last year’s Bourke Street terrorist attack in the Melbourne CBD, has a touching place in the GWS fairytale.

When Giants fan Peter Marsden would dine at his espresso bar after matches at the MCG, Malaspina would always spot the orange scarf and ask, ‘why do you support this team?’

Last September, after GWS had been knocked out of the finals by Collingwood, Malaspina made a cheeky pledge to Marsden that he would hang the orange scarf up in his restaurant IF the Giants ever made it to a Grand Final.

Sisto Malaspina wearing Peter Marsden’s GWS scarf.

Two months later, Malaspina was tragically stabbed to death outside his restaurant and Marsden was one of the many thousands of Australians who mourned the senseless loss of a man who touched the lives of so many.

After the Giants defeated Collingwood last week to progress into their first Grand Final, Marsden paid a most special visit.

“Last November we tragically lost an amazing man in Sisto Malaspina who part owned the famous Melbourne institution Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar,” says Marsden, one of the Giants fans who makes the GWS banner each week.

“We met him last year while down here for the finals. We joked and laughed about footy with Sisto and shook hands for him to display the GWS scarf I was wearing in his restaurant IF we made the Grand Final. I said ‘when’ we make it.

The GWS scarf is proudly hanging in Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar.

“Well (Saturday night) we were able to return to Pellegrini’s for dinner where I was able to present my scarf from last year to Rosie, a lifelong employee there who promised to hang it on the wall as Sisto had suggested just 12 months ago.

“If nothing else a beautiful, beautiful soul will be looking down upon us next week with a cheeky grin. RIP Sisto.”

Marsden told The Daily Telegraph at a GWS fan day on Tuesday that after a few minutes talking with Malaspina, the popular restaurant owner would always remember him as the Giants fan from the months or year before.

Lifelong employee Rosie wearing the GWS scarf.

Film star Russell Crowe presented a black rabbit to Malaspina after South Sydney won the NRL grand final in 2014, and there is a Bulldog emblem up after the Western Bulldogs won the AFL crown in 2016.

Marsden hopes a Giants badge might also take a permanent pride of place at Pellegrini’s after Saturday.

Originally published as The late Sisto Malaspina has a touching place in the GWS Grand Final fairytale