Rouge et Noir - can we take back the trophy?

It was warm and it was tough when we faced Uni Blacks in Round 2 for the Rouge et Noir Cup. They took the points and the trophy on our home deck.

This weekend we'd like to return the favour as we head to Melborune University's Main Oval with another young team. The trophy would be nice, but the four points are crucial as our season remains on a knife's edge. Get behind the boys tomorrow and see if we can pull off one of the upsets of the season.

Ressies at 11.40am and Seniors at 2pm. Go Roys!

19s head east

The Under 19s had the benefit of a few senior players dropping back last week, but Old Trinity still took the points as Guy Gorilla took a look at the up-and-coming talent.

It was a bit of an opportunity to see how our young blokes looked with a restocking of talent from the ones. Sunny Brazier, Charlie Faubel, Harrison Grace, Darcy Lowrie, Jock Green and 19s debutant Donovan Toohey kitted up in slightly different, smaller jumpers, some with variant numbers. A short trip along the freeway to the playing fields of Old Trinity, an area soon to be disrupted by another tunnel and a freeway. Money to the schools, to the roads, and then to the schools again for relocation. Careful Guy, getting political here.

Very impressive young coach in the rooms before the game. Monty Stuart gives clear, simple instructions, knows the game, inspires respect with a young man's resonance.

The first quarter was marked by periods where we controlled the game but didn't put it on the scoreboard. We won set shots within 30 but didn't convert. Matthew Holgate was rucking aggressively, there was plenty of forward pressure, but in what would be a lesson for the future, we did not run back hard enough. Combined with poor discipline and sloppy free kicks, we were down 13-11 at the break, despite having double the shots.

The coach couldn't have been clearer at the huddle. 'Don't let them slingshot, fairly sit them on their backsides when it's needed. On-ballers, head down but get back defensively. Man on man at the stoppages.'

Grace and Toohey were starting to rack them up, and Brazier and Jono Zapantis (pictured above) were providing dual threats up forward. Charlie Johnstone was in and under, along with Junior Wrecking Ball, Marcel Laidlaw. We hit the front after a Grace goal, but quickly conceded after poor marking in defence. We were down by 12 points at the long break; errant disposal and poor concentration were critical.

Monty reinforced this in the rooms. Focus on the basics and defend when we don't have it. This is a key learning point for all young players. Don't switch off when it's your turn to defend, switch on, that's the mark of a good player.

They stretched the lead to three goals after a long period of nothing much. Zapantis was showing the polish we know he has, and we pulled it back to four points. Jack Walter was defending with vigour, with Alex Prokos showing dash and courage. Ethan Dotchin was continually in and under. We missed easy opportunities however, and then entered a competition to see how many 50s we could concede. It was 10 points the difference at the end of the third in favour of the home side.

Build on the efforts of the third was the message, eliminate the errors, stay controlled. It was starting to snow, and a gap will be hard to close.

Unfortunately, our forward line was impotent in the last quarter. Despite Tom Sullivan and Jock Green defending stoically, kicks off the ground and free kicks for easy oppo goals stretched the final margin to 41 points. Disappointing, considering our enhanced manpower.

Improving individual and team performance will be critical for the remainder of the season. The coach's messages must be adhered to.

Guy Gorilla

Great shots from the game courtesy of Peter Harrison.

Roy Girls brave the elements and the Saints

We had all the elements at Righetti Oval but it didn't prove a happy hunting ground as the Roy Girls had a lot of the play but couldn't get it through the big sticks.

In the lead up to their clash with the SKOB Saints at Righetti Oval last Saturday, the Roy Girls knew they were in for a tough clash. And that was even before the wild weather set in!

After all, a yawning gap separated the sides – for both the Senior and Reserves – with our girls sitting closer to the bottom than the top of the ladder and SKOBS lurking around third spot.

Not daunted, the 2s were resolute and determined and despite what the scoreboard was telling us, were well and truly matching the opposition in ball-to-ball play, certainly for the first quarter. But in those cold and blistery conditions, goals were hard to come by, and by the time the girls ran on after the half-time break into the face of a hard rain that would have defied Bob Dylan himself, their resolution was gradually worn down by an older and more experienced SKOBS side.

True to her best-in-league name, Calypso Poole was best on ground with Sarah Lynas, Phoebe Turnbull, Shannon Alexander, Nikita Smith and Emilie Goegan following in her wake.

The Seniors played almost a mirror-image game, albeit without the rain and hail and with one goal to their credit. Matching SKOBS with a well-conceived and faithfully-followed game plan, it could be argued that the Roys were playing better football for the first half – in play if not on the scoreboard. But luck was clearly sitting with the opposition, and not a true reflection of talent and endeavor.

Injuries leading to a bare bench didn’t help matters, especially in the final quarter when SKOBS ran away with it.

Alice Batterton took out the Bontempo Pizza award for her valiant endeavours and silky skills on show all game and was joined in best-on-ground honours by Claudia Bell, Freya Shearer, Teresa Zampaglione, first-gamer Hannah Martin and goal kicker Lucy Kerr.

Hold your heads up high Roy Girls, clear skies and happier results are just over the horizon.

Despite the growing injury list, this week the Fitzroy-ACU teams look replenished with full benches for the first time in weeks as they head to their home away from home at Vic Park in Collingwood for a clash with the University of Melbourne. The last clash with the Muggars was a close one and this could be a similar affair.

Thirds warm up for first night game

The Fitzroy Thirds are back in action tomorrow with the early game against De La Salle at Waverley Oval, but all eyes will be on Brunswick Street next weekend.

Coming off the double bye, the finals-bound Thirds will have a tough reintroduction taking on De La Salle, who are sitting in third position just behind them on the ladder.

This weekend's game provides a great lead in to next weekend's huge triple header at Brunswick Street Oval, with the Thirds to feature as the first men's game under lights at BSO when they take on rivals, Ajax.

Stay tuned for more on next weekend's line-up as we head back to Brunswick Street for the first time in a month.

But if you want to see the Thirds tomorrow, you'll need to be up early and at Waverley Oval for the 9.20am start.

Congratulations to the Under 23s who were our only winners last weekend. The team pulled off a great win over Whitefriars, causing a bit of a speed bump in their efforts to make the top four.

Playing at home at Ramsden Street, the rapidly improving line up put their opponents away, winning 10.11.71 to 4.8.32.

Josh Robinson and Aaron Tatchell were the stand outs, as Dan O'Connor and Harry Dorrat-Thorpe kicked two goals each.

Tomorrow's opponent is Old Brighton at Brighton Beach Oval. OBs are half a game clear of Fitzroy on the ladder so it's a great opportunity to jump above them with a win, albeit at a ground where Fitzroy sides have strugggled. Go Roy Boys.

Fitzroy-ACU Leadership group member, Cate Rushan and Senior Coach, Gray Barton, braved the cold and wet on Sunday night to head to the studios of North West FM for the annual Women's Footy Forum, hosted by Glen 'Scatters' Scarborough. Several VAFA clubs took part in the chat about all things women's football. You can catch up on the latest VAFA footy news for our region every Sunday evening as Men's Senior Coach Luke Mahoney reguarly chats with Scatters. Thank you Cate and Gray for giving the world an insight into the Roy Girls and our club's approach to the season.

Get set for a makeover with new Fitzroy supporter gear

New Fitzroy supporter gear is set to hit the market in the next few weeks.

With the popularity of the new player hoodies, the club's Director Member and Sponsor Relations, David Leydon, has been working overtime to bring Fitzroy fans some new options to wear on the sidelines.

The following options will be available:

adult hoodie (pictured): $60 + postage and handling
children's hoodie: $50 + postage and handling
polo: $45 + postage and handling
long sleeve t-shirt (pictured): $40 + postage and handling
jacket: $90 + postage and handling

David will have samples at the Men's senior game tomorrow and the gear will go on sale at Brunswick Street from Saturday 27 July.

Postage and handling will apply to online orders only, so buying at the ground will be the best option.

Keep a look out in the Red Roy, social media and the website, as the orders are likely to come online before then.

Save the dates

The social activities continue apace for the Fitzroy Football Club.

Mark the following in your diary and keep an eye out for tickets to go on sale:

Satuday 10 August – Fitzroy IT lunch before the St Bede's Mentone game
Saturday 24 August – Reds Foundation lunch at the final men's home game
Saturday 24 August – drawing of the Fitzroy Major Raffle after the game and a post match function for the players and supporters
Friday 4 October – Redlow.

More details will be coming soon.

Jellis Craig Game – all sold out for the literary lunch

We've had to close bookings early for next Saturday's literary lunch with the community rooms likely to be very full for the Jellis Craig Game.

FFC footy mum, historian and award-winning author, Dr Clare Wright, will host “The Football Solution” and she has put together a panel of three of Melbourne’s most distinguished thinkers and writers to discuss the sex, politics and religion of Aussie Rules. Clare will be joined by journalist and author of The Football Solution, George Megalogenis, award-winning novelist, playwright, essayist and poet, Christos Tsiolkas, and historian, Victoria University academic and former member of the Coodabeen Champions, Dr Chris McConville.

Apologies to those who missed out. The next lunch is Saturday 10 August for the Fitzroy IT game with speaker to be announced this coming week. Keep your eyes peeled.

Major Raffle – you could see every finals game!

Fitzroy's annual raffle is even better in 2019.

The winner will take out the best footy prize going around: tickets for two to every game in the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series (including the Grand Final), again generously donated by the Brisbane Lions (GFAFL19/49).

Second prize, kindly donated by David Leydon, is a framed Fitzroy Team of the Century guernsey featuring Roy legends including Hadyn Bunton, Mick Conlan, Bernie Quinlan, Paul Roos, Allan Ruthven and Garry Wilson, and beautifully autographed by the great Kevin Murray.

And this season Student Flights Melbourne have come on board to offer a $500 travel voucher.

Tickets are only $5 each. You can purchase them at home games, from any of our players, from the Directors of the club and if you can sell tickets, please contact Helen Manoli, who can provide you with books of 10. Email her at helenmanoli4@gmail.com

This weekend's games

De La Salle v Fitzroy Thirds – VAFA Thirds Division 1 – Waverley Oval, 9.20am, Saturday 20 July
Old Brighton v Fitzroy Under 23s – VAFA Under 23s – Brighton Beach Oval, 11.40am, Saturday 20 July
Uni Blacks v Fitzroy Reserve Men – VAFA Premier B Reserves – Main Oval, Uni Melb, 11.40am, Saturday 20 July
Fitzroy-ACU Reserve Women v Melbourne University – VAFA Premier Reserve Women’s – Victoria Park, Collingwood, 12pm, Saturday 20 July
Fitzroy Under 19s v Mazenod – Holmesglen U19 Division 1 – Ramsden Street Oval, 2pm, Saturday 20 July
Fitzroy-ACU Senior Women v Melbourne University – VAFA Premier Women’s – Victoria Park, Collingwood, 2pm, Saturday 20 July