THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE FITZROY FOOTBALL CLUB AND SOCIAL CLUB

FITZROY TEAMS VICTORIOUS

FITZROY REDS WIN THE VAFA FLAG

BRISBANE LIONS WIN THE AFL FLAG

WE TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS THE YEAR OF THE LION

FITZROY REDS GRAND FINAL REVIEW
(courtesy The Amateur Footballer)

"D3 SECTION"
By Ed Sill & Peter Williamson

Grand Final Review

There was no fairytale to be soon in the D3 decider, as the best side throughout the year, FITZROY continued the trend as they recorded a resounding win over the gallant Bentliegh.

The Reds kicked with the aid of a solid wind the first quarter. Onballer Addicott was everywhere early for the Reds and with the dangerous Ronchi 'on song', the signs were ominous for the underdogs. Quarter time saw the Reds holding a solid lead but certainly not a matching winning one.

Bentleigh started to get the machine into action during the second stanza. With league Best and Fairest Dave Martin living up to his nickname of the "The Freak", Bentleigh were getting plenty of the ball but struggling to convert. This was partly influenced by the "Human Blanket" Todd Clarke containing the dangerous Sharp. Just as it looked as if the Bentleigh boys were going to the challenge, the Reds stepped up a gear. The midfield gained control, with Jackson, whilst only playing a cameo, extremely influential with his possessions. Rawlins and Mitchell were also exerting influence as their mixture of pace and height were proving to be telling. A couple of late goals ultimately proved to shut the gate as Fitzroy went in with a big break at the main change.

Once again, Bentleigh started brightly with the likes of Henry and Sice working their way into the game. This is where the Reds cornerstone all year came into their own, namely the defence. Skipper Drury led the way, not only via his great acts of courage but also his wonderful poise whilst the likes of Wharfe and Clarke added their skill and experience to the battle. without wanting to sound like a broken record. Martin continued to star, playing what many thought was one of the best individual finals finals performance seen in the VAFA for many a year. Despite the fact that the game was basically over. The Reds led by as many as 10 goals towards the end of the quarter and given that the Reds backline had only conceded an average of five goals per game for the season, the result looked a forgone conclusion.

Unfortunately for the large crowd in attendance, the final quarter didn't bring much excitement. The Reds continued to play in their typical professional manner, running hard to make position, supporting team mates, executing with great skill etc. All in all, a thoroughly well deserved victory for Graeme Burgen and his men. Bentleigh, whilst honest and gallant in defeat, were not up to the task but will no doubt take some solace in the second successive promotion since joining the VAFA.

Well done to both sides and here's hoping Mad Monday was incident free!

Reserves

In what was something of a fairytale, South Melbourne was able to draw away from the highly fancied Reds reserves and record a memorable win. It was win number 12 in a row for the Districts and no doubt the celebrations went well into the night!

*Sharp
Allan
*Hilton
Lauletta
Killmister

2
0
0
0
0

96
90
89
72
70

56
38
29
24
24
24

6.3
11.3

Season in Review

The Juniors had another successful season fielding 12 under age teams in the Yarra Junior Football League.

Unfortunately luck did not go their way at the very end, as although three teams got through to Preliminary Finals, no team made it to the Grand Final. The teams to just miss out were the U.12's, U.13's and the U.17's (The Colts). Looks like the Reds should have some good talent coming through soon.

The Juniors are on the loo out for coaches for the 2002 season, so if you know of anyone, please let Club President Steve Turner know on 9419 8271 or 0418 541 016.

THE DEBENTURE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

Further to our recent story in the August and September edition of the ROY BOY, we can advise all members that the registered charge formally held by the Brisbane Lions over the assets of the Fitzroy Football Club has now been withdrawn.

The resolution to release it was dated 24th July 2001. This decision was as a result of talks between the two Clubs, which have led to a more harmonious relationship. The media seemed to have missed the significance of the MCC scoreboard on Grand Final Day. It read "Essendon V. LIONS". We are very grateful to the Brisbane Lions for allowing us to put up the FITZROY banners for presenting the Fitzroy Reds Premiership Team at the Brunswick Street ground on sunday morning after the Grand Final. these events ensured that the Fitzroy aspect was not forgotten from the days celebrations and that the original Fitzroy club song was sung, (with monor Redders modification!).

Another successful Foundation Dinner was held at the Jika Intentional Convention Centre on the 25th September 2001. This was the fifth dinner held to commemorate the first meeting held at the Brunswick Hotel on the 26th September 1883 to establish the Fitzroy Football Club. One hundred and eighteen years later, we are still there supporting football in Fitzroy.

We were very honored to have the 1944 Premiership player, Clen Denning present to give the Toast to the Club. Laurie Dwyer of North Melbourne fame responded with a very entertaining speech on his playing days against us. He also gave us the inside story of being a runner for Ron Barassi when he was at North. Laurie was very delicate in the way he was able to convey the severity of the language used by his former boss! We were also honored to have Jason Baldwin, Brett Chandler and Simon Hawking present from our '96 team.

It was a great night and a film clip of it went to air on Channel 10 news on the following Thursday. It will be on again next year at the Jika, so book early. All funds raised go to the support of the Reds and the Juniors.

The Reds had their Presentation Day at Haskins on Sunday 21st October 2001.

The successful winners of the Annual Awards were:

It was a great afternoon's luncheon, with the Premiership glow still very present. Peter Hille kept the show rolling as MC and introduced Paul White, Michael Smale, Mick Farrell, Tim Bell and Ben Pickett from the past Redders and we were also honoured with the presence of Ivan and Barabara Smith representing the Fitzroy Lions Past Players and Officials.

Bill Atherton was busy selling copies of the Reds Grand Final Videos produced by Ian Cairncross Productions and the new FITZROY REDS Premiership Tee Shirts. (see back page)

By Richard Grummet (Coach)

After a challenging initiation to Under 19 VAFA football, the Ivanhoe-Fitzroy combined team finished the season in emphatic fashion with a stirring come from behind win in the final game against Aqunias.

Stand out Fitzroy players who came of age when it mattered included Year 12 students Sam Buckley (4 goals), Richard Bluer (2 Goals) and aaron Butler. aaron kicked a trademark freakish goal from the boundary line in the last quarter to put us in front. Sam and Aaron have been long time players with the FITZROY JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB, with Sam being the only player to kick a goal in their first season seven years ago. aaron has also been a part of the pioneering junior team which has worked its way up through the age groups in the Yarra Junior League.

Special mention must also be made of Chris Meighen who has also graduated from the Fitzroy Juniors. He is a very mobile bigman and a gentle giant. (So Far). Chris rucked tirelessly throughout the season and was fittingly rewarded with the Best & Fairest Trophy at our recent vote count. James Black and Shalbell Sukkar from the Fitzroy Reds Reserves, also played with indomitable spirit throughout the season and justifiably figured well in the vote count.

Many of the lessons learnt about enduring in 2001 could not have been possible without the drive, support and sheer hard work of Tom Healy the Team Manager from Ivanhoe-Assumption. Thanks are also due ti Bill Atherton for his support of the project and to the Fitzroy Football Club for providing the FFC jumpers.

Most importantly, a link has been established between two successful clubs, the Fitzroy Reds and the Fitzroy Juniors. With over 200 players in the Juniors, many promising young footballers can now aspire to join the ascendant Fitzroy Reds and continue to play on the ground that means so much to them, the Brunswick Street Oval.

Editor: Many thanks to Richard for all his hard work over the season in coaching this combined team. It was an important year, as this was the first years that the Juniors had players coming out of the U.17's.

The 2001 football season has been an incredible one giving something to every Fitzroy supporter, whatever shade of FITZROY that we follow.

I was putting together the REDS entry into the VAFA Annual Media Award last week. This requires each Amateur club to submit a portfolio of press clippings, showing how their media work had given publicity to their club and the VAFA. There were a total of thirty mainstream newspaper articles that gave magnificent publicity to FITZROY, the REDS and the VAFA. To see it all together was mind boggling. Surely no one could ever now say that the Fitzroy Football Club no longer exists, and the whole of Australia has now heard of the FITZROY REDS. (They'll have big heads next year!).

The headlines ranged from "Alive & Still Kicking", "Better Red than Dead", Fitzroy lives on as the Reds", Roys Alive & Well", "Yes, Fitzroy is Roaring Again", "A Fitzroy Dream Comes True", "Spirit of '44 lives on in Roy Heartland" to "Roys road Again". These clippings ranged from full broadcast stories in the major dailies to very special articles in the local community papers. As my work colleague exclaimed last May when Fitzroy stories were hitting the papers in a big way at the Team of the Century time, "Bloody Fitzroy is getting more publicity that the Tigers". I suppose he was right. If you look at the newspaper articles on Fitzroy over the year, we did get more publicity than the poor little Tigers.

As you read the articles written about us and our support for the Reds and the amateurs, it makes you realise that the decision to keep the Club alive was the right one. For those who follow the Brisbane Lions in the AFL, we have been able to get meaningful concessions that may get better as time goes on. For those that follow the Fitzroy Reds in the VAFA, we have helped to give them a profiles that no other amateur club has ever had in the 110 years of the VAFA competition. It is a new era in football and our beloved Club is still an important part of it.

Thank you for supporting the Club over the year. It has been worth the effort as we experienced on Grand Final day. We have a big job ahead to help the Reds continue their march to the senior grades of VAFA football.

A special thanks to Stormi Craig, Gail Welsh and Colin Eade for making the Grand Final Banners for the Fitzroy Reds. They had to make two, one for the Reserves and one for the Seniors, but they had lost none of their talent from their AFL cheer squad days with Fitzroy. It was a long night of celebrations back at the Lord Newry. (See photos below).

TEE SHIRTS

We have new Fitzroy Reds tee shirts in stock

Sizes from small to extra large.
Priced at only $20.00

For orders send in our merchandise order form
or call into the office at:
Suite 7, 463 Main Street, Mordialloc