Fitzroys captains for 2019 have been named and there is a strong mix of experience and new faces in the leadership groups.

The coaching group announced their leaders at the Fitzroy season launch at the Fitzroy Victoria Bowling Sports Club on Saturday night.

The big news was in the Fitzroy-ACU squad with Jess LennyHayes named as senior captain for 2019, taking over from cousin Gemma Minuz, who has led the side magnificently for the last two years.

Gemma, who has moved away and will therefore attend training less frequently, handed over the title and the number 1 jumper a Fitzroy tradition for the senior captains to her cousin on Saturday night.

Gemma will stay in the leadership group as a vice captain, along with Luci Murphy, who will stand in as captain in Round 1 this week. Last years Fitzroy-ACU Reserves Captain, Rachael Telfer, will round out the senior sides leadership group as she has also stepped down to push for regular senior selection.

Jess said it was an honour and a privilege to lead the Roy Girls. She said she was looking forward to a spectacular season and to working with Gray Barton, the new senior coach. She acknowledged she was stepping in to some pretty big shoes in replacing her cousin, but said she was very lucky to still have her in the leadership group to help along the way. Senior mens captain Julian Turner also paid Minuz the highest compliment probably one most Fitzroy people share saying that she had been a role model for him also.

Mia Sutherland is the new captain of the Fitzroy-ACU Reserves, having just returned from a knee reconstruction. Her vice captain is last years best first year player, Freya Shearer, with Shannon Alexander and Cate Rushan also in the leadership group.

Julian Turner will lead Fitzroys victorious Senior Men as they step back into Premier B with a young, developing team who he says, could be anything; we are not here to make up the numbers!

He has three vice captains; two-time best and fairest winner Max Ellis, Max Davies and Nathan Ligris. The deputy vice captains are new to the leadership group, but all play strong roles behind the scenes at the club; Ross Borland, Tom ODonnell and Nathan Jumeau.

In naming his leadership group, Luke Mahoney said is there was a person who embodied Fitzroy, it was Ross Borland!

Jack Atkinson, now also a premiership captain, continues to stand out as a leader in the Reserves team and he will have two new vice captains; Chris Brown and Sam Turner.

The new Under 19s captain is Darcy Lowrie and Tim De Natris will continue at the helm of the Thirds, with both sides looking good in the pre-season.

Fitzroy-ACU Womens squad

Senior captain: Jess Hayes

Senior vice captains: Gemma Minuz and Luci Murphy

Reserves captain: Mia Sutherland

Reserves vice captain: Freya Shearer

Leadership group: Rachael Telfer, Shannon Alexander and Cate Rushan

Senior Men

Captain: Julian Turner  

Vice captains: Max Ellis, Max Davie and Nathan Ligris

Deputy vice captains: Ross Borland, Tom ODonnell and Nathan Jumeau

Mens Reserves

Captain: Jack Atkinson

Vice captains: Chris Brown and Sam Turner

Under 19s

Captain: Darcy Lowrie

Vice captains: Jock Green, Miles Nelson, Max Tieman

Thirds

Captain: Tim De Natris

Under 23s

To be named

Photo of Jess Hayes as the captaincy was announced to the team on Saturday. By Alexa Madden