Veteran Defender Riccobene Returns For 2026

Essendon Royals are delighted to announce that Phil Riccobene will return for the 2026 VPL2 season.

A stalwart of Victorian football, this will be Riccobene’s third campaign with the Royals. The central defender brings a wealth of experience, making over a century of top-flight NPL appearances for Avondale, culminating in lifting the Premiership/Championship double in 2023.

While his 2025 season was curtailed through injury, Riccobene brought quality every time he stepped on the pitch. In his nine appearances, the Royals tasted defeat just once, winning five and drawing three.

Riccobene is Essendon’s ninth re-signing of the offseason, joining James Tieri, Vince Lia, Julian Guzzardi, Marcus Kotronis, Takumi Niwa, Dean Clarke, Jordan Adeyemi and Brad Norton in committing to Mick Ferrante’s squad for 2026.