Congratulations to Fitzroy star Max Ellis who plays game 200 this weekend — what a massive milestone!
Well done also to Thirds players Thomas Grbac on game 50, and Bryce McAdam and Trion Paleologou on 100 games each.
Congratulations go to Hilary Collett, who celebrated 50 games in Round 6.
True tears of joy
By Guy Gorilla
A journey down the highway to Mentone. Awaiting the Roys’ convoy was a St Bede’s outfit that last week accounted for the highly-regarded Haileybury. And Fitzroy had experienced that tough encounter with ladder leader Uni Blacks. How would we meet the challenge? McKay, Toohey and Symons returned to the side, along with 17-year old newcomer, Dane Harvey, a tall, lively athletic type, with a Fitzroy surname. Taller than his predecessors though. Outs included Ramshaw with a Carlton appointment, Holden, Wilson and Grace. Megennis was also initially named in the 2s, but returned meaningfully to perform a great lock down role on the opposition’s best play maker. Opportunity knocks sometimes in strange ways.
A blustery wind favoured the southern end, blowing in from the highway side. They kicked with it in the first, and despite kicking three goals, we out possessed them for most of the session. McKay was controlling the ruck, and our forward tackling was superb, rewarded by honest, personable umpiring. 20–2 at the break their way, but it was a strong wind, and we seemed to control the football.
The Roys were quickly on the board with a smart read off the pack by Hollywood Faubel. Then skipper Hart goaled after great clearance work from Mc Kay and Toohey. Ligris was again a beacon of consistency in defence, and what he didn’t get, Seakins collected. We hit the front after Hollywood got it to the skipper again. Ted Clayton was working away with the dedication of someone trying to win an election: blue collar, tough, correct intentions. He got it to Pyers for another. Bede’s lost their cool for a bit, their ruckman was ordered off for a stray arm, a resultant 50 took it to a resurgent Minahan goal. Ligris then pinched another 50, and the laconic left-footed defender slotted another. It was all Fitzroy, 40–21 at the main break.
What went on in the shed at half time would go a long way towards putting the game out of Bedes’ reach. We expected a quarter of holding and restricting the opposition, and snagging a couple of our own into the wind.
A critical moment early in the third. Hart marked and simultaneously received a high Tsiolkas-like SLAP. It echoed around the southern suburbs, causing much family consternation. Importantly for us, the resultant 50 meant an easy goal. They replied at the 13-minute mark, but our sure-handed ‘in and under’, Wotherspoon, pirouetted for a goal after a great chain out of our defence. Apart from the aforementioned backmen, Ellis, Doherty, Green and Lowrie were also diligently superb, creative into the bargain. Minahan marked and goaled after smart analytics by Professor Borland. A 33-minute goal to Bedes made it 59–43 our way at the final change.
Coach Mahoney was very positive at the huddle. “You’ve been doing it all day, one more quarter.”
There’s been a bit of bulldozing bull in the media recently. Minahan bulldozed in the right manner, and barged his way through for the opening salvo of the quarter. ‘The Kid’ Harvey was popping up everywhere without getting the major we all wanted him to get. Ligris caressed it to Kyroussis for a sausage or a souvlaki or whatever. The Kid combined with The Professor, on to Ted Clayton for a bomb from 60. Then another. Gibraltar Green stood tall in defence. A 6-goal win, we’ll take that down the highway.
The coach was astute, and importantly, brave in his decision making. I shook his hand on it, a broad grin returned. The team was complimented on a very even team performance.
Have a look at the Facebook page to see The Professor, Mr Fitzroy or whatever, on Ligga’s and E-Dog’s shoulders on the occasion of his 200th. Proud, humble. Baby Gorilla chipped him a little later in the car on the way home, “maybe a tear in the eye at Mahn’s words, Ross?” He replied that he got a bit of gatorade in the eye with all the shenanigans in the rooms, it stung. Gatorade will do that to you, mixed with true tears of joy.
Old Carey at home next Saturday on a very important day for the club, and the country. Which former Liberal wannabe played more than 200 for Carey? I'll buy a beer and give a bit of voting advice to the first, correct response.
Respectful Relationships Program at Fitzroy
Following discussions with members of our senior playing group in 2020, the club committed to introducing a Respectful Relationship Program for the playing group as an opportunity for players to explore the key issues connected to this topic and develop their own learning and understanding.
The club engaged Banksia Gardens Community Services, a community service organisation, to deliver their Good People Act Now (GPAN) program across the club.
Led by Georgia Ransome and her team, the leaders of our senior women and men's squads had an introductory workshop in 2021 before Covid intervened and delayed our plans.
The program resumed in March this year with an introductory workshop which over 30 of our Under 19s and women's players attended and engaged in constructive discussions throughout the evening, supported by some of our senior player leaders. The feedback from the evening has been overwhelmingly positive.
The following week, our senior leaders were involved in a second workshop involving a range of strategies to actively monitor and reinforce the type of positive behaviours that will continue to help build the safe and inclusive culture we all want to foster at the club.
The Respectful Relationship Program will continue through 2022 with a second workshop planned for our younger players, providing an opportunity to refine the course as we make this a permanent part of the club’s commitment to ongoing wellbeing support of our playing group.
Thanks to the senior team leaders who have involved themselves in this program along with all the other players and coaches for their contributions.
A special thanks to Georgia, Emily and the other GPAN people who have facilitated the workshops.
Thank you to our fabulous volunteers
We couldn't have done it without you!
In this year’s Volunteers Week we pay tribute to our loyal band of volunteers who, as usual – week in week out – get our players on the park and make us the envy of the VAFA.
So thank you for…
• attaching the goal post covers/taking them off again • attending the tribunal • being social (media that is) • cooking the barbecue • decorating the tables • feeding the players • hosting club functions • hosting the lunches • knitting beanies • looking after the players • looking after the sponsors • schmoozing with opposition administrators • training • taking the stats • minding the books • officiating at club functions • playing the song • protecting the umpires • putting up the scores • putting up and taking down signs • selling raffle tickets • selling the merch • setting up the rooms/putting it all away again • sponsoring the players • running the canteen • running the raffle • running the water • serving drinks • umpiring the games • washing jumpers • watching the clock time after time • waving the flags • writing the stories • signing up the sponsors • taking the photos • taking the stats…
And all the one hundred and one things you do to make Fitzroy fabulous!
2022 player sponsorship – a tax-deductible option!
As most supporters know, there are considerable costs associated with fielding teams to represent our great club. This includes grounds, trainers, coaches, footballs, insurance, league fees and much more.
Many of our players are students who study full time, work part time, or are graduates at entry level jobs. So finding the $315 to $430 for registration fees each season can be a huge challenge.
To help ease this pressure, the club has established the Fitzroy Football Club Player Assistance Fund (supporting the Player Sponsorship program) to be used exclusively to cover player registration fees.
Donations to the Fitzroy Football Club Player Assistance Fund are fully tax deductible.
These donation payments come to the club, and not to the player, so it doesn't breach the amateur status nature of the competition.
Through the club’s fundraising partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation, the Player Assistance Fund enables supporters to receive a tax deduction for assisting FFC players to cover the cost of their registration.
The suggested donation amounts per player are as follows:
Team Player assistance donation
Men’s Senior and Reserves $430
Women’s Senior and Reserves $315
Men’s Thirds $315
If you’d like to make a contribution towards assisting a player but don’t want to pay the full amount, please feel free to do so and your contribution will be grouped with other kind donations. It all adds up and is a great help for our players.
To assist a player, please complete the donation form here. If there is a particular player you’d like to provide assistance to, please note their name in the ‘supporter message’ on your form.
If that player has already been supported, we’ll get in touch with you to allocate your donation to another player’s fees.
After years of dedicated service, much-loved Fitzroy member and volunteering stalwart Suzanne Madeley has stepped away from the role, so we need someone to take over as Senior Men’s timekeeper.
The Senior Men’s timekeeper role is made slightly complicated by the need to keep tabs on umpires signalling time on and stopping and starting the clock accordingly, but there will be lots of training and support to anyone who puts their hand up.
The timekeeper also gets the best seat in the house in the grandstand, with most away games also offering warm, covered spots for this vital role!
What was Fitzroy, the suburb, like in the 1960s? What was it like growing up there as an immigrant? And what role did football play in rebellion and 'Australianness'?
Professor Joy Damousi, head of ACU’s Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, will share her tales and photos of growing up Greek in 1960s Fitzroy.
Professor Damousi will explore local history, talk about who lived in the suburb we love then and now, and how generations of immigrant families didn’t always see eye to eye on football codes.
This lunch will put a spotlight on our sponsors ACU, and take place before our Senior Fitzroy-ACU Women take on Old Geelong at Brunswick St Oval. Bookings are essential ← secure your ticket now!
Date: Saturday 28 May Time: 11:45am for 12pm start Cost: $35 for lunch (provided by Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Catering).
Drinks at bar prices. Where: Community Room, Brunswick Street Oval
Save the date for our Fitzroy IT Sir Doug Nicholls Lunch
Don't miss our Fitzroy IT Sir Doug Nicholls Lunch on Saturday 4 June.
This lunch, before our Senior Men take on De La Salle, will feature First Nations speakers and will be followed by a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony. More details and tickets on sale soon.
