With a tough five-point win over its more fancied opponents the University of Melbourne in the Premier Women’s Reserves preliminary final, Fitzroy-ACU Reserves has made it through to its first grand final.
For the second week in a row, the game was played with a strong wind favouring one end, this time at Williamstown’s VFL ground, and the result was the same.
Despite Melbourne Uni having a lot of possession in the first quarter with the ball locked in their forward half, Fitzroy scored against the wind thanks to a beautiful team goal kicked by Susie Worthington and took a five-point lead into the first break.
A bad head clash late in the quarter between two Roy Girls led to a lengthy delay and the team needing to play most of the game two short. Tess Plant-Thomas, probably one of the favourites for the best and fairest this year (see the Lettuce story below), had to leave the ground for Williamstown hospital with a bad cut to the forehead and a broken nose. Teammate Cass Blake also had a cut above the eye and suspected concussion.
The strong defence under the weight of possession was something we’ve come to expect from this Reserves side and they managed to keep the University of Melbourne goalless for the first half. Going into the break 2.0.12 to 1 point, the Fitzroy-ACU side was full of confidence but realising the big challenge was yet to come.
With the coach’s message ‘You haven’t let me down so far and I don’t expect you to’, the Roy Girls headed back out after half time to face a fired up MUGARS outfit with the wind at their backs.
It didn’t take long for the Uni team to use the conditions to best effect with one goal early in the third quarter and another late, to put them three points up at the final break. The tension and the tackling only stepped up in intensity from there.
It took a gutsy effort in the final quarter to thwart Melbourne Uni’s repeated efforts to build on their lead and then a cool, calm, assured shot from Calypso Poole, about 25 metres out on an angle, tipped things back in Fitzroy’s favour.
The final score was 3.2.20 to 2.3.15 to set up a grand final against a Marcellin side that has taken all before it this year, with only one loss for the season and a percentage of over 1000!
The coach named Shannon Alexander as Fitzroy’s best player for her work in the backline, dropping back behind the play especially after her teammates went down. He could have named half a dozen or more; captain Rachael Telfer led from the front all day, Freya Shearer was simply outstanding with her reading of the bounce and often taking on more than one opponent and repelling their attack with her pace and guile, Bridie Murphy, Loz Field, Nikita Smith, Tess Young and Katie Hillier also got in and did a lot of the hard work. Susie Worthington backed up her performance of last week with two goals.
The three-point win means Fitzroy-ACU will play the grand final at the home of VAFA football at Elsternwick Park on Oval 1 at 12pm this Sunday 19 August. Given the signage and the costumes we’ve seen at the two finals so far, the grand final may well be as big off field as on.
Our hearts go out to Tess Plant-Thomas and Cass Blake who will miss Sunday's grand final due to their injuries; they have been instrumental in the team getting this far and will be cheering from the sidelines.
Post grand final celebrations
Win or lose, we will be congratulating the team on their season at a special function at the Royal Derby on Sunday evening. The club has a function room booked from 4 to 8pm and everyone is welcome to join us.
VAFA finals entrance fees:There will be a fee for all VAFA preliminary and grand finals and no pets will be allowed to enter the ground.
Adult fee (full entry fee for 18 years of age and over): $10.00
Concession fee (for the following categories): $5
– Pensioner Concession Card
– Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
– Full-time student with a current Student Card
Free entry: Children UNDER the age of 12 years.
And please remember NO PETS. If you show up with your dog (or other pet) you will not be able to enter the ground.
Luke Mahoney reappointed for two more years
Fitzroy has moved to extend the contract of senior men’s coach Luke Mahoney ahead of the finals, after an outstanding first season with Fitzroy.
As Fitzroy heads into a top-of-the-table clash with Williamstown CYMS this weekend and its first Senior finals series since 2012*, Luke has agreed to terms with the Fitzroy Board for a two-year extension.
President Joan Eddy said the Board was delighted to announce the re-appointment and create a sense of certainty before the finals.
“Luke has secured some very good results in Premier C but our decision is based on much more than the on-field performances.
“The impact Luke has made with our playing group and helping to build on the strong Fitzroy culture is what has really impressed the Board,” Joan said.
“We have a strong commitment to a ‘one club’ culture and Luke has worked hard with the other coaches to bring in a consistent game style, to ensure strong engagement between the players and the club’s supporters, volunteers and directors, to ensure the male and female players work to support each other where possible, and to help build on strong relationships with the junior club, which is important for our future.
“His work with the younger and more experienced players, to bring out the best in people and develop the team ethos has been really strong and we wanted to ensure that, regardless of our final ladder position, we can continue to work together and take it further.
“Clearly our aim is to head back into Premier B as soon as we can, but this decision is an indication that the partnership between Luke and the club is strong and working well for everyone.”
The coach himself said the decision to extend was an easy one.
“It wasn’t a hard decision for me because I am committed to taking the playing group as far as I can take them.
“I have really enjoyed this year with the playing and coaching groups and my involvement with the people around the club. Fitzroy people have been very welcoming to me and my family and that means a lot.
“It’s certainly nice to have a vote of confidence from the board and the club even before we get to the finals… it feels like we’re on the right track,” Luke said.
“You always want to make sure you leave a club in a better place than when you arrived. You want to see constant development. There should be no ceiling for what we can achieve next year or the year after because we are playing a really good standard of football that I think would be competitive at a higher level and that is an exciting prospect.
“We have a mixture of young and exciting talent mixed with a good senior group of players and all of them have been keen to learn and get the best out of themselves. They are very coachable and willing to develop and try new things, which makes our job rewarding.
“The players are keen to be around the club and keep turning up even though they might not be assured of a game and that’s always a great sign. It tells us that we’re building a positive culture and they are enjoying the vibe we’re creating… winning always helps of course!”
Luke has also been blown away by the colour and commitment of the Fitzroy fans. “The passion and loyalty of Fitzroy supporters is different from what you find in other amateur clubs. There are a lot people here just to support the footy club and that’s just fantastic. It definitely lifts the side out on the ground, especially at Brunswick Street Oval and speaking to coaches and players from other clubs, they always find it incredible to come here and experience it.”
Running into what will be Fitzroy’s first finals series since 2012, Luke wants to make sure his players really enjoy this period leading into finals, knowing such opportunities can be rare.
“In a way they shouldn’t feel the need to do anything different. Every week at training we’re reviewing our ball movement and structure and we’ll keep doing that.”
Luke says what he does want to see is each player thinking about how they can give themselves the best opportunity to play by concentrating on how they look after themselves between training sessions and games.
With his reappointment made before finals, Luke now has the benefit of being able to plan for the short and longer-term and set the side up for success, but he knows there’s a lot of hard work to do and that’s not just on the playing side.
Luke says we need to get a lot better at recruiting and networking and links those things to issues such as player welfare and employment – something A grade clubs do very well.
“We have a great brand at Fitzroy and we need to use it well to attract as many quality people and players as we can.
“I believe our large group of loyal supporters can help us with their considerable networks and by getting more involved; I think that will be really important in helping us achieve our potential.
“How can we get them more involved? Who do they know who might be able to help us with sponsorships, with employment opportunities for the players, with access to stats packages or things that make life easier for coaches or players, or even in securing more coaching and director talent? These are the conversations we need to have.
“We also need to keep strengthening our relationship with the junior club so players coming up make the Fitzroy senior club their first choice.”
But for the next five weeks the goal is pretty clear… a successful finals’ campaign. Go Roys! *The Fitzroy Reserves were in the finals in 2013.
Bernie set to return for 2019
With his team sitting comfortably atop the Premier C Reserve ladder, Bernie Carter has also agreed to terms with the club and will again coach the reserves men’s side in 2019.
We will bring you more on this story in the coming weeks.
Thriller sees Thirds into preliminary final
Last minute goals to Will Symons, Harry Jorgensen and the presence of mind of Ben McDonald to run the ball over the Fitzroy goal line for a point, saw Fitzroy turn a 12-point deficit into a one-point win all in the final minutes of play at Ramsden Street Oval in Semi Final 1 against Old Trinity on Saturday.
It was enough to send the crowd, who had been debating the extra time rules, into a frenzy and Coach Trent Coleman was barely able to speak for some time after the game.
The unlucky Old Trinity side made the cardinal sin of kicking badly for much of the day, going into the long break behind 4.5.29 to 2.10.22, having had many more scoring shots, including some that sailed wide. Their first two goals came only after they’d scored 10 points.
This was a game played in fits and starts with many of the goals being scored against the run of play and in bursts.
Trinity’s early tactics to lock down and turn the game into a ground level scrap and stop Fitzroy’s run, was very effective. They dropped a man back in defence and made sure to stick close to the in-form captain and goal kicker Tim de Natris, but equally they came up against a formidable back six for Fitzroy and also failed to take advantage of their repeated forward forays.
Two excellent late goals in the second quarter, both from out wide on the boundary and the second to the skipper after the half time siren, gave Fitzroy a seven-point buffer at half time.
The third quarter was a tough affair and Fitzroy edged out to a 10-point lead, scoring the only goal of the quarter with Old Trinity growing increasingly frustrated by their goal kicking, adding a further three points to their tally. From a momentum perspective, in the last part of the third quarter, the play seemed to open up a little and it felt like it was with the home side. The visitors had other ideas.
The final quarter had to be seen to be believed. Having been wayward all day, Old Trinity straightened up, ran the ball in closer to goal, and quickly piled on three early goals. Having scored two goals to three quarter time, they suddenly had five.
Fitzroy then wrestled back some possession and drive into attack, but had caught the goal kicking yips as the teams reversed fortunes, missing three of its own gettable shots.
In a game where there were no easy possessions, Trinity got out to a handy – and what appeared as though it might be a match-winning – lead when a controversial deliberate out of bounds free was paid in the forward pocket and Old Trinity kicked truly from the boundary line to score its sixth goal.
With minutes to play the Fitzroy faithful were feeling the game had slipped away, but the team on the field wasn’t about to dip out in the first semi final for the second year in a row.
A terrific running goal from Will Symons turned the tide, followed by a snap off the ground by Harry Jorgensen with just seconds to play.
Having secured the all-important possession out of the middle, the Fitzroy players all pushed forward and Ben McDonald had the presence of mind to run the ball over the line for a point just ahead of the siren.
Adam Taib was the best on the ground for Fitzroy, repeatedly repelling Old Trinity’s attacks into Fitzroy’s forward 50. Given the job on one of the competition’s leading goal kickers, David Cowley, Taib kept him to just one goal, whilst also creating plenty of momentum out of the backline.
Rhys Dolby created plenty of run and attack through the middle of the ground, Jorgensen, Symons and Hugh Morris-Dalton, in his 5oth game, were all strong, and Nathan Grimshaw again stood tall.
To some extent the shock of the weekend was the loss of minor premier De La Salle to Beaumaris, for the first spot in the grand final. It was the second loss to Beaumaris in three weeks for the previously undefeated side.
De La will now present a significant challenge for Fitzroy in the preliminary final, which will be played at Waverley Oval in Malvern East on Saturday morning at 9.20am. Go Roys!
Top of the table clash in Williamstown
Fitzroy set up its top of the table clash with Williamstown very nicely with a clinical victory over Old Ivanhoe on Saturday.
In a ruthless defensive display, against a team which still had finals aspirations, Fitzroy kept Old Ivanhoe goalless for the first half.
Coach Luke Mahoney would have been pleased with the balance between his team’s miserly defence and the ability to move the ball quickly and find multiple avenues to goal.
Ted Clayton worked beautifully from the midfield and earned best on ground honours. Rory Angiolella seemed to be everywhere and Jacob Long continued his development in defence, combining very well yet again with Max Ellis and Tom O’Donnell.
It certainly didn’t hurt having star youngsters Sunny Brazier and Nino Lazzaro providing great targets and the wily Will Fenton chipped in with four goals. Jack Dalton and Sam Baker were also terrific and accurate with three goals each.
By the end of the day, the Roy Boys had stamped their dominance on the opposition winning 18.15.123 to 6.14.50.
Meanwhile the Ressies went quietly about their business and were equally as dominant. The team benefitted from a few more very handy inclusions pressing for senior selection. Michael Cussen enjoyed a day out with five goals, Ross Borland was amongst the best players and there was also a pretty handy fullback named Tom Biscaro, who made it through unscathed.
Sean Laidlaw, Drew Olarenshaw and Sam Batterton again stood out as the goals were evenly spread and the team ran out to a 17.14.116 to 3.6.24 win.
A day out at BSO with King George III
This week’s summary of the action from Brunswick Street comes to you from the Footy Almanac correspondent, King George III (and father of Saturday’s leading goal kicker – in the seniors that is!).
Veterans deliver: Dan and Dave on our selection
Danny Wilson, long time FFC raconteur and U19 player at Fitzroy when the club played at the BSO in the VFL, hosted the guests at last Saturday’s President’s Luncheon with the deft skill of one who trained for war and sport but knows the gulf of reality between the two.
Our host Danny used the interview he conducted with Dan Cairnes and Dave Farrell, both returned distinguished Australian Defence Force veterans, to tease out the their current careers as founders of Veterans in Construction (VIC) a project designed to assist returning service personnel to reintegrate into civilian worklife as seamlessly as possible after what for many is a period of service, sacrifice and gallantry without decoration, and can often create a disconnect on return home.
They pointed out that though the Defence forces tried to accommodate their ambitions with an array of opportunities, on return, within the military, once the decision to leave was made structures to assist transition outside the military were as thin on the ground as had been their situation in theatres of war where they had needed to summon all the ‘groundhog day’ repetitive training to bring them from the dark into the light.
Their enlightenment of the gathered was warmly appreciated and especially by David Leydon and his Union guests when Dan mentioned that many of those who availed themselves of jobs sought and sorted by VIC became members of the CFMMEU!
Onto question time our guests were Bren gun fired by Mandy Hudson (mother of Toby Hudson Bevege), Gabrielle Murphy (mother of ‘good one’ Max Ellis), and Narelle Winchester (the delightful aunt of Rory Angiolella) before Madame President (and mother of ‘Top Cat’ Tom Cheshire) pointed out to MC Danny that even in a femocracy we should allow a question from a father of one of our senior players!
After official proceedings ended, Fitzroy ‘diehard’ (we exchanged triple bypass stories whilst carefully selecting our buffet lunches) MP Dick Wynne drew the raffle ticket prizes and like the two left wings of the ALPatross – the ACTU and GetUp – he could only find red and green wynners in the bowl leaving we other ticket holders very blue indeed. We hope to see you winging it to Fearon Oval next week, Dick, as everyone will be needed in the field.
At least one veteran lion won a prize – Dyson Hore-Lacy, an oversized bottle of Tahbilk wine – in no way enough compensation for the battles he and Bill Atherton fought against all odds way back when to keep the Fitzroy entity going even in exile until it re-emerged in its current metamorphous state. Even the record defamation compensation payment he retains after Rebel Wilson’s failed Court of Appeal case is miniscule reward for his truly lion hearted efforts on behalf of Fitzroy Football Club and the army of unfortunates he has helped during his legal lifetime.
On the field of dreams…
Veteran ‘Bungalow’ Borland back from basking in Botswana barrelled a binary for Bernie’s brigade in the twos whilst Michael Cussen and Will Pickering kept the heat on their protégé forwards in the ones with their performances.
In the seniors the twin ‘tow balls’ Jack Dalton and Rory Angiolella continue to impress whilst the Baker and the Brazier keep cooking their opposition and Nino showed he could kick running goals with either foot.
Some weeks ago, we saw a veteran of another side, Robert Campbell of Old Camberwell, a 2008 AFL premiership player with Hawthorn, give one of the best performances seen by this scribe in any of the games watched this year. That he did so in a skilful and fair way provided a lesson to our own players who played on or against him that day namely Jack Hart (when Campbell rested in the forward line) and Matt Gaite, Andrew Pettigrove, Bill & Ted Clayton, when he rucked at centre bounces and around the ground. Gaitor grew in stature immediately doing a double Dusty fend off and a well feigned look ahead 25 metre sideways hand ball in the said game. Each of these boys’ games have positively incrementally improved since that encounter which is important for the denouement of Fitzroy’s season.
As always, the Admiral of the ship Coach Luke Mahoney in well measured tone told the players following the victory over Old Ivanhoe we now have the opportunity this week to do what no other team in our competition has done this year – defeat Willy at the Fearon Oval.
Scouting the ground after the magnificent victory by Coach Simon Jackson and Captain Rachael Telfer’s Fitzroy-ACU Team in the curtain raiser at the nearby Seagulls VFL home ground, this observer saw what he thought to be CYMS stalwart Smokie Dawson’s rust chassied VW Kombi van with trailer parked oblong to reserve car spots for the big game. Don’t worry Smokie we’re coming by car, train, boat, bus, helicopter or on foot. See you all by the seaside Saturday.
By George!111
Pick my project – open for voting
Women love footy. And we love watching them play.
But as we know, access to enough grounds across Melbourne is a challenge. We'd love our women to be able to train in better light and to be able to play under lights at Ramsden Street and Brunswick Street Oval too.
So we’re encouraging people to vote on a football oval lighting project as part of the State Govt's Pick my Project community funding round, which is open for voting until Monday 17 September. There is $30 million available across the State to fund local projects, with the most votes receiving funding.
Better lighting and an electronic scoreboard at Brunswick Street Oval will ensure our women have access to the same quality of training and playing arenas as our men's squads. And give greater access to playing, spectating, and volunteering for everyone in the local community.
You don't have to live in the area, just have a connection with (or wish the best for) the Fitzroy Football Club and want to support our women to train and play in decent conditions!
All you need to do is follow the instructions below, share the link and encourage all your friends, relatives, neighbours…everyone…to vote.
Log on to Pick My Project at pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
Click the ‘Register’ button on the top banner of the website.
Follow the instructions to complete your registration.
Then it will ask you to “set your location and discover projects in your local community”. Enter Fitzroy North as the suburb/community. A map of Fitzroy will appear and you will be asked to “confirm your location” (bottom left-hand corner). Click the “confirm your location” button.
You can then browse the project ideas in the Fitzroy Football Club area and create a shortlist of your favourites.
Pick “Giving women equal opportunity to play footy in Yarra” as one of your three favourite project ideas to create a shortlist and verify your mobile number.
You’ll then be able to submit your vote.
Vote!
Share on your social media networks.
Voting closes 5pm on Monday 17 September 2018.
Check out the video recorded by the Roy Girls at Ramsden Street (with just a little bit of help from The Boss). Share it with everyone you know too.
Read what happens when we toss it to Lettuce
Fresh to the game and hailing from the USA, Tess Plant-Thomas has not only had to get used to the Aussie nick naming tradition, but experienced first-hand a version of the hospital hand-pass – in her case, a hospital head-clash!
She can do everything, this girl: intrepid traveller, singer-songwriter extraordinaire, talented and gusty give-it-a-go Aussie Rules footballer.
And nothing wipes the smile from her face. Not even a bloodied broken nose and facial scratches after sustaining some friendly fire in the amazing win her team mates notched up to get the Roy Girls Ressies to their first-ever grannie.
Lettuce (as she’s affectionately known) moved to Australia last November to join her Australian boyfriend, Josh, on his return to Melbourne from La Jolla, her hometown in California, where he’d been on a year-long working visa.
“I unabashedly hurried to join him two months after he returned,” says Tess, “and since then I’ve been mixing travel with settling into life here.
“I’ve loved Melbourne since landing, but it was joining Fitzroy that really gave me a sense of belonging.”
Tess says she first started hearing about this mysterious Australian sport of footy from Josh back in San Diego. He’d showed her a few clips of his brother, Aiden Burke, playing for Fitzroy, and she was intrigued.
Then after going to Carlton practice matches at Prince’s Park and the season opener at the MCG Tess was, as she puts it, “beyond hooked”.
Before joining Fitzroy, Josh and Tess would go the park every other day to kick the Sherrin with his family’s two Jack Russell terriers. But it was Josh’s mum, Susan Burke, who really pushed Tess to play footy.
“Susan had said from the very beginning that I should join a footy club,” says Tess, “that I would love it and my background in soccer and athletics might make me well suited for it.”
So after significant procrastination, and needling from the Burke family, Aiden gave Tess the number for the women’s coach.
“I called Mick and he invited me to training that night,” says Tess. “And from there I fell in love.”
Tess says she loves the Fitzroy community. That it's incredibly inclusive and supportive.
“Everyone respects each other and it’s a beautifully quirky team of women from all sorts of backgrounds, who are tough as nails and full of passion.”
When pressed, Tess nominates Susie and Pip (or Calypso) as those she loves playing with most.
“I love hearing Susie’s voice when I’m in the ruck: ‘On your right Lettuce, on your left Lettuce, behind you Lettuce.’ She’s a rock and I love knowing she’s always there to receive my erratic taps.
“As for Pip, she has such an amazingly positive attitude – she makes me believe we can win, even when the wind is blowing a gazillion miles an hour and I’m huffing and puffing like a steam train.”
Tess lets out a long EEEE when she considers that the girls will be playing in the grand final.
“While I won’t be able to play with my current zombie face, I’ll be there cheering my heart out for my red, yellow, blue.”
And we’ll be with you all the way Lettuce. Go Roys Girls!
Tess had surgery during the week for her broken nose suffered early in last week’s preliminary final and will miss the grand final, along with teammate and second head-clash victim, Cass Blake. Despite her hospital admission (right), Tess was all smiles and high fives for a fabulous RoyGirls2 win against a more experienced MUGARS side to advance to the Grand Final, our girls’ first ever!
Word has it that Tess sings a song she wrote dedicated to Fitzroy-ACU! Those lucky enough to attend our upcoming Women in Footy lunch will get to hear it for themselves.
Roy Girls return for Women in Footy lunch and ACU Game
Each year the Fitzroy Women in Footy lunch gets bigger and bigger and this year a classy panel will take a look at the experience of and pathways for female footballers at several levels of the game.
The pre-game lunch on 25 August at Brunswick Street is a key feature of the ACU Game before Fitzroy takes on PEGS in the final home and away game of the season.
Hosted by award-winning sports journalist Megan Hustwaite, AFLW’s Kaitlyn Ashmore (Lion turned Roo) makes a return to the panel, while winner of the Debbie Lee Medal for first year player in her 2016 season with Fitzroy-ACU, Ash Riddell, and Roy turned Pie leadership group member, Hillary Grubb, make a return to BSO to talk about their paths to the AFLW and VFLW respectively. The VAFA’s Manager of Women’s Football, Shona MacInnes, will also make her first appearance to talk about what’s next in our own fast-growing women’s competition.
The make up of the panel will allow us to explore the current state of play at the VAFA, VFLW and AFLW and potential pathways for talented female footballers coming up through the ranks.
Recent North Melbourne AFLW signings Ashmore and Riddell are currently playing with the Melbourne University MUGARS in the VFLW and it will be interesting to hear how things are coming together for one of the expansion clubs set to join the AFLW this year.
Kaitlyn was on the panel last year representing the Brisbane Lions and her departure to come home to Victoria as part of the inaugural North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos was somewhat of a surprise. We reckon she’ll still wear the Fitzroy beanie though!
Ash has made a meteoric rise, playing her first season of serious football with Fitzroy-ACU in 2016 and in the same year winning the VAFA’s Debbie Lee Medal for best first year player. She has since gone on to play in the VFLW with the MUGARS, has also been signed by North Melbourne and is getting ready for her first season of AFLW footy.
Another Fitzroy-ACU success story is Hillary Grubb, who is still a Fitzroy-listed player but is enjoying a hugely successful first season with the ladder-leading Collingwood side in the VFLW. Hillary made the transition from Fitzroy’s leadership group, straight into the Collingwood leadership group and it will be interesting to explore the differences she has experienced this year.
Shona MacInnes recently wrote of the experience of bringing women’s football to the VAFA saying 3,000 young women have created the largest women’s football competition in the country and describing the benefits and challenges that go with that.
Bringing all of this together will be top notch emcee and sports journo, Megan Hustwaite, who featured on our cricket panel earlier this year and has covered all kinds of sports for newspapers and radio, including the WNBL, cricket, AFL and more.
There will be very limited tickets for the day. Get in fast.
You can book here: https://fitzroyfc.worldsecuresystems.com/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=97602
Be in the running to win the best footy raffle prize going around
There's still time to buy your tickets for this year's Major Raffle. Your final opportunity to be in the running for double-passes to the 2018 Toyota AFL Finals series tickets (donated by the Brisbane Lions AFC: AFL Authorised GF Promotion Code GFAFL 18/17), including the 2018 Grand Final, will be at our home game on August 25 when the prize will be drawn after the game.
Don't worry if you can't be there on the day, as the Club will contact you directly if you have won one of our fabulous prizes.
Top 10 finish for ‘Everywhere’
Erin ‘Everywhere’ Gogerly has finished equal 10th in the VAFA Premier Women’s Best and Fairest, which was announced on Monday night.
Erin was selected in the VAFA rep squad earlier in the year, and at one stage topped the disposals and marking stats for the competition.
Other Fitzroy-ACU players to score votes were Alice Batterton, Gemma Minuz, Hannah Coffey, Lauren Atkinson, Ruby Condon, Hillary Collett, Bethany West, Jessica Hayes, Teresa Zampaglione and Lucy Kerr.
Taylor Padfield from Marcellin was the winner.
Vale Barry Leeder
The Fitzroy family is shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of one of our most loyal supporters.
Barry Leeder was a familiar face at Fitzroy lunches and matches, always happy and smiling and proudly sporting his Fitzroy Foundation tie.
Barry was born and bred Fitzroy and lived most of his life around the corner from the Brunswick Street Oval. Most recently residing in nearby Woodside Street, Barry loved nothing more than watching his beloved Roys go round on the grand old ground.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Barry’s mates and fellow Roys’ supporters, and especially to his daughters Natalie, Vanessa and Victoria.
Barry’s funeral will be held on Thursday 23 August (details to be published in the Herald Sun on Monday 20 August).
Photos: Barry Leeder, happy to be celebrating Fitzroy’s win against Marcellin earlier in the season.
Barry Leeder (right), in the Fitzroy clubrooms earlier in the season with former Fitzroy footballers including Ian McCrae, Danny Wilson and Bob Tozer
Under 19s back on the winners’ list
Fitzroy’s Under 19s and coach Greg Coleman are working hard to finish season 2018 on a positive note this Saturday against one of the competition’s top sides.
Fitzroy scored a strong win over bottom side Old Melburnians last weekend, 15.14.104 to 9.4.58 with full forward Rory Patterson proving the difference, kicking six goals.
With some more senior experience under their belts, Harrison Grace and Noah Wright led the charge and were the best players. Marcel Laidlaw, who has had a very consistent season, kicked two goals and John Jorgensen kicked three, taking his season tally to 48. John can be rightly proud of an excellent season up forward and should finish in the top three of the goal kicking for the Section 2 comp, which is an outstanding achievement given the team will not feature in finals.
This week it will be a far greater challenge against third-placed Parkdale. The Roy Boys will use the home ground advantage and seek to finish their season on the right note.
The VAFA Census is online now
The VAFA is running a census to map the size of its community and they’d love to get to know you better.
The competition management is seeking to get some more accurate data to find out the make-up of its community, details about family connections, volunteering, past players, engagement with the VAFA’s media channels, feedback on health and wellness issues and the lifestyle trends shaping the VAFA community now and into the future.
Check it out here. It will only take about 5 minutes. Your data will be protected, and individual responses will not be analysed.
This weekend’s games
Preliminary Final: De La Salle vs Fitzroy Thirds – VAFA Thirds Division 2 – Waverley Oval, East Malvern 9.20am, Saturday 18 August
Williamstown CYMS vs Fitzroy Reserves – VAFA Premier C Reserves – Fearon Reserve, 11.40am, Saturday 18 August
Williamstown CYMS vs Fitzroy Seniors – VAFA Premier C Seniors – Fearon Reserve, 2.00pm, Saturday 18 August
Fitzroy U19s vs Parkdale Vultures – Holmesglen U19 Section 2 – Ramsden Street Oval, 2.00pm, Saturday 18 August
Grand Final: Marcellin vs Fitzroy-ACU Women’s Reserves – VAFA Premier Reserve Women’s – Elsternwick Park, Oval 1, 12.00pm, Sunday 19 August
With a tough five-point win over its more fancied opponents the University of Melbourne in the Premier Women’s Reserves preliminary final, Fitzroy-ACU Reserves has made it through to its first grand final.
The strong defence under the weight of possession was something we’ve come to expect from this Reserves side and they managed to keep the University of Melbourne goalless for the first half. Going into the break 2.0.12 to 1 point, the Fitzroy-ACU side was full of confidence but realising the big challenge was yet to come.
The three-point win means Fitzroy-ACU will play the grand final at the home of VAFA football at Elsternwick Park on Oval 1 at 12pm this Sunday 19 August. Given the signage and the costumes we’ve seen at the two finals so far, the grand final may well be as big off field as on.
The coach himself said the decision to extend was an easy one. 
Running into what will be Fitzroy’s first finals series since 2012, Luke wants to make sure his players really enjoy this period leading into finals, knowing such opportunities can be rare.
Last minute goals to Will Symons, Harry Jorgensen and the presence of mind of Ben McDonald to run the ball over the Fitzroy goal line for a point, saw Fitzroy turn a 12-point deficit into a one-point win all in the final minutes of play at Ramsden Street Oval in Semi Final 1 against Old Trinity on Saturday.
The third quarter was a tough affair and Fitzroy edged out to a 10-point lead, scoring the only goal of the quarter with Old Trinity growing increasingly frustrated by their goal kicking, adding a further three points to their tally. From a momentum perspective, in the last part of the third quarter, the play seemed to open up a little and it felt like it was with the home side. The visitors had other ideas.
Adam Taib was the best on the ground for Fitzroy, repeatedly repelling Old Trinity’s attacks into Fitzroy’s forward 50. Given the job on one of the competition’s leading goal kickers, David Cowley, Taib kept him to just one goal, whilst also creating plenty of momentum out of the backline.
Fitzroy set up its top of the table clash with Williamstown very nicely with a clinical victory over Old Ivanhoe on Saturday.
Meanwhile the Ressies went quietly about their business and were equally as dominant. The team benefitted from a few more very handy inclusions pressing for senior selection. Michael Cussen enjoyed a day out with five goals, Ross Borland was amongst the best players and there was also a pretty handy fullback named Tom Biscaro, who made it through unscathed.
On the field of dreams…
As always, the Admiral of the ship Coach Luke Mahoney in well measured tone told the players following the victory over Old Ivanhoe we now have the opportunity this week to do what no other team in our competition has done this year – defeat Willy at the Fearon Oval.
Women love footy. And we love watching them play.
She can do everything, this girl: intrepid traveller, singer-songwriter extraordinaire, talented and gusty give-it-a-go Aussie Rules footballer.
“Susan had said from the very beginning that I should join a footy club,” says Tess, “that I would love it and my background in soccer and athletics might make me well suited for it.”
“While I won’t be able to play with my current zombie face, I’ll be there cheering my heart out for my red, yellow, blue.”
Hosted by award-winning sports journalist Megan Hustwaite, AFLW’s Kaitlyn Ashmore (Lion turned Roo) makes a return to the panel, while winner of the Debbie Lee Medal for first year player in her 2016 season with Fitzroy-ACU, Ash Riddell, and Roy turned Pie leadership group member, Hillary Grubb, make a return to BSO to talk about their paths to the AFLW and VFLW respectively. The VAFA’s Manager of Women’s Football, Shona MacInnes, will also make her first appearance to talk about what’s next in our own fast-growing women’s competition.
Ash has made a meteoric rise, playing her first season of serious football with Fitzroy-ACU in 2016 and in the same year winning the VAFA’s Debbie Lee Medal for best first year player. She has since gone on to play in the VFLW with the MUGARS, has also been signed by North Melbourne and is getting ready for her first season of AFLW footy.
Erin ‘Everywhere’ Gogerly has finished equal 10th in the VAFA Premier Women’s Best and Fairest, which was announced on Monday night.
The Fitzroy family is shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of one of our most loyal supporters.
