Career
After serving his apprenticeship as a full-back in the Fitzroy under-19s and reserves, Pretto finally made his senior debut late in the 1978 VFL season. Pretto kicked a goal with his only kick and found himself back in the reserves the following weekend and for the entire 1979 season. Pretto joined the VFA in 1980 and played initially at Camberwell.
He was loaned to Coburg in 1981, then returned to Camberwell for the 1982 and 1983 seasons.
He was still known as a full-back at this time, but his talent as a full-forward was discovered after he kicked eight goals when filling in for an injured full-forward at Camberwell. In 1984, he transferred to Oakleigh, and was used as a regular full-forward there.
Oakleigh played in the Second Division of the VFA and Pretto was the division"s leading goal-kicker on four occasions (1985-1988), with his highest total in 1985 when he kicked 170 goals. In the Grand Final that year he kicked 12 goals despite playing on the losing team
His best performance in a game was in 1986 when he kicked 20 against Mordialloc, despite feeling so ill during the game that he spent the next week in hospital with a diabetic condition.
The VFA defeated the Australian Amateurs in the final and Pretto kicked 12 goals, which is still the record number of goals in a representative match by a VFA player. Pretto started the 1992 season with Oakleigh, but transferred to Dandenong after two rounds. He played his final three seasons with Dandenong, and topped the Association"s goal-kicking with 87 goals in 1994.
When he eventually retired, the VFA interstate football representative had kicked 1095 goals, a tally only bettered by Fred Cook.