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Blind support for the Roys
Blind support for the Roys
THE most significant result in D1-section on Saturday was fourth-placed Fitzroy’s victory at the home of second-placed Werribee.
Five of the six players named in the Roys’ best were teenagers; the only player of mature years was Conor Dullard, who’s the son of former Melbourne defender Tony. After driving back from Werribee, Fitzroy players and officials dropped in to their rooms below the old grandstand at the Brunswick Street oval to see the latest addition to the club’s Royboys palette.
In 1967, after Fitzroy had shifted its home matches from Brunswick Street to Princes Park, Roys president Ern Joseph became unhappy with the fact that his players had to change in front of Carlton memorabilia and organised for three large blinds to be made. The first blind featured the word “The”. The second blind featured “Lions” and the third said “Home”. The blinds were pulled down over the Carlton honour boards before every Lions game.
After Fitzroy had moved on to the Junction Oval for the 1970 season, the blinds remained at Princes Park until a Carlton official badgered Fitzroy great Kevin Murray to take them away. The blinds sat in storage until Murray recently donated them to the Fitzroy Football Club. Fitzroy president Craig Little said the blinds went up late last week. “They’re very old-school; they just look ‘late ’60s’.” After viewing the blinds on Saturday evening, the Lions contingent adjourned over the road to traditional Fitzroy watering hole the Lord Newry Hotel for hearty celebrations.
