20 Facts About Blake Caracella

Blake Caracella was born on 15 March 1977 and is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League.

Blake Caracella is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Richmond Football Club.

Blake Caracella earned himself an AFL Rising Star nomination for his work.

Blake Caracella was a vital part of Essendon's premiership win in 2000, contributing 35 goals for the season.

Blake Caracella was a late inclusion to represent Australia in the first Test of the two-Test series in the 2000 International Rules Series against Ireland.

Blake Caracella starred in the first Test, kicking a hat-trick of three-pointers during the final quarter to help secure a come-from-behind victory, scoring four overs in total.

Blake Caracella was among the best players for the second Test, scoring an additional three overs and helping Australia break Ireland's three-match winning streak.

Blake Caracella returned the next year and scored the only goal for Australia in the first Test as well an over in the same Test.

Blake Caracella was less impactful in the second Test when Ireland reclaimed the title.

Blake Caracella's stay in Brisbane only lasted two years, during which he played 34 games, including the Lions' 2003 premiership-winning team and their unsuccessful 2004 AFL Grand Final side.

Blake Caracella was selected by Collingwood in the 2005 pre-season draft, the team that he supported as a child.

In 2005, Blake Caracella had a solid year at Collingwood, booting 34 goals in total and finished tenth in the Copeland Trophy.

Whilst contesting a loose ball against the Lions, Blake Caracella slipped, and former teammate Tim Notting's hip accidentally collected his head, fracturing several vertebrae and bruising his spinal cord.

At the press conference, Blake Caracella revealed that scans had shown his spinal column was naturally narrower than average.

Blake Caracella began working as an assistant coach at Collingwood in 2007 after a neck injury forced him into early retirement.

On 6 August 2019, the Essendon Football Club announced Blake Caracella would be joining their coaching department for the 2020 season.

Blake Caracella stood in as caretaker coach for Essendon in their round 4 match of the 2022 season, as regular coach Ben Rutten had to miss the match while isolating as a COVID-19 close contact.

At a press conference during his first experience of senior coaching, Blake Caracella expressed his interest in one day becoming a full time senior coach.

In 2024, Blake Caracella was appointed as the senior coach of Essendon's VFL team.

Blake Caracella led Essendon to 11th place on the VFL ladder, out of 21 teams.