Having played his final game in the red and gold, inaugural SUN Michael Rischitelli’s efforts over his nine seasons has been rewarded with life membership of the Gold Coast Football Club.

The 33-year-old becomes just the second player to be inducted as a Life Member after Jarrod Harbrow earnt the honours last year.

Rischitelli ends his glittering career with 243 career games, 132 of those for the Gold Coast SUNS.

Since joining the SUNS at the club’s inception, Rischitelli remains one of the only remaining players from the very first Gold Coast side, alongside Harbrow and David Swallow.

He was the second player behind Harbrow to reach 100 games for the club and will finish third on the all-time games list for the SUNS behind his fellow life-member (175) and Swallow (139). 

Gold Coast’s Chairman Tony Cochrane said there was no one more deserving of the honour to be the second player inducted than Rischitelli.

“Football clubs are about people and what makes a great club is great people,” Cochrane said.

“Michael Rischitelli is the mould of that.

“He has been such an important part of the reason why this club is in existence and the board have decided that it is a fitting reward that he will be the second player to be awarded Life Membership of the Gold Coast Football Club.”

Known as the heart and soul of the club, Rischitelli leaves behind a legacy which lives on.

In his time with the SUNS the veteran has been acting captain 16 times and will go into the AFL record books listed sixth on the list of most games played in jumper #35.

Rischitelli will join Harbrow alongside inaugural GC SUNS Chairman John Witheriff and fellow Directors Bob Gordon and Dr Alan Mackenzie as Life Members of the Gold Coast SUNS.