Jason Castagna ( ; born 12 July 1996) is a former professional Australian rules football player for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a triple premiership player with Richmond. Castagna announced his retirement on 27 February 2023 effective immediately.
Early life and junior football
Castagna spent his teenage years in Kangaroo Ground, 26 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. He played junior club football with Warrandyte and played high school football at Marcellin College in Melbourne's east.
In 2013, Castagna was selected to play with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup. He played ten matches with an average of nine disposals per match. He returned to the Knights in 2014, playing nine matches and averaging 17 disposals.
Castagna represented the Victorian Metro side at the National Under-18 Championships in 2014. He recorded an average of 14 disposals in five matches played that year.
In the 2014 draft combine, Castagna recorded a beep test score of 15.2; good for equal sixth best in his class.
AFL career
2015 season
Castagna was drafted with 's second pick and the 29th selection overall in the 2015 Rookie Draft.
Castagna began the 2015 season playing as a rebounding defender with Richmond's reserves side in the VFL. He was upgraded to the club's senior list in August, following the early retirement of veteran midfielder Nathan Foley. Though strong form placed him close to a senior call-up at stages, a late season injury would ensure he did not make his AFL debut in 2015.
2016 season
Castagna was again promoted to the senior list in 2016, filling the last of the club's free senior list spots on the eve of the season. He was named as an emergency in the club's round 6 match against , but was called to play when wingman Kamdyn McIntosh withdrew due to injury He recorded 11 disposals on debut. He played again the next week in a loss to but was dropped the following week. Castagna made his return to the side in round 16, playing as a forward and recording 19 disposals and his first two career goals. He finished the season having played five games with an average of 14.8 disposals per game.
2017 season
In March 2017, Castagna was again upgraded to Richmond's senior list. He was immediately impactful, playing in the club's round 1 victory against , kicking two goals and recording 20 disposals. In round 4 he kicked a career-high four goals in Richmond's win over the . Castagna, along with forward-line companions Daniel Rioli and Dan Butler, played a key role in Richmond's five game unbeaten start to the 2017 season. After five rounds the small-forward trio had combined for 23 goals (Castagna with eight) and 44 tackles (18 for Castagna). At the mid-season bye, Castagna was one of only 11 players at Richmond to play all 11 matches to that point in the season. He was equal third at the club for goals kicked that season and also ranked 12th in the league for forward half pressure. In round 18 Castagna laid a career high nine tackles in the club's win over . Castagna received the AFL Rising Star nomination for round 19 after kicking three goals and gathering 16 disposals in Richmond's 33-point win over the at Metricon Stadium. Castagna was a member of Richmond's finals team in 2017, and kicked a goal in each of the club's three matches in the series including in a victorious Grand Final. He finished the season a premiership player and having played in all 25 matches at senior level. His 26 goals for the season placed him fourth at the club and third among Rising Star eligible players across the season. Though he did not place in the award's tally Castagna also ranked top 10 among such players in 12 statistical categories including number one in score involvements, marks inside 50 and tackles inside 50.