Australian Football

Mathew Capuano played 107 games for North Melbourne and St Kilda between 1994 and 2003. 

Capuano made his AFL debut for North Melbourne in the 1994 season. He played a total of 82 games for the Kangaroos, and was a member of the club's 1996 and 1999 premiership side.

Capuano's career with the Saints was plagued by shoulder and knee injuries. He played 25 games in his three seasons for the Saints. Although making his 100th AFL appearance in Round 8, 2002, he underwent a knee surgery after Round 9 and missed all remaining AFL games that season.

After making six appearances in the first nine rounds of the 2003 season, Capuano was sacked by the Saints. The coach, Grant Thomas, explained that Capuano's poor form lead to his sacking. While it is suggested that the young and rising Saints did not need Capuano's service anymore, the Saints were also criticised for axing Capuano at the wrong time as Trent Knobel and Barry Brooks, their other two ruckmen, were both injured at the time.

Although a number of VFL clubs sought Capuano’s service after he was sacked, he did not accept any offers and spent the latter half of 2003 travelling Europe. He also did not nominate for the 2003 AFL Draft and spent 2004 playing for South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League.

Capuano signed with the Carlton Football Club in 2009 to coach their ruckmen on a part-time basis. The following season, the Blues made Capuano a full-time development coach and a direct ruck coach, a position he still holds in 2012.