Fitzroy Football Club

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Top four after Ajax win

Fitzroy has taken fourth spot in Premier B with a 3-goal win over bogey side Ajax on Saturday.

But there won’t be much time to rest as Ajax, Monash and Mazenod (our next two opponents) are just one game behind.

This weekend Fitzroy will take part in a big day of history for Mazenod, as they celebrate Founders’ Day, marking 50 years of Mazenod College.

They are expecting a big crowd at the College (not their usual ground) and the Nodders, in a special commemorative jumper, will be very keen to impress, so the pressure is on the Roys.

But they will relish the opportunity to back up the much awaited win over Ajax; the first in many years. As coach Nick Mitchell said after the win, the team will take great confidence from the way they ran out the final quarter, having given away an early lead. It was a tight and tense affair in front of a large crowd at Brunswick Street until Julian Turner and Aidan Lambert (best on ground) used their pace out wide and gave Fitzroy the extra run and class to get over the line.

Earlier in the game it was Nathan Ligris, Aiden Burke, high schooler Ted Clayton, Corbin Stevic, Jack Dalton and Owen Symington, who locked down on their opponents and came out winners more often than not. Nino Lazzaro again showed some signs of his skill and finesse close to goal and bounced through a ripper to open Fitzroy’s account.

Read more about the injection of youth and what it’s done for the side in Gabrielle Murphy’s piece below.

And who better to do justice to the on-field action than the Footy Almanac scribes:

King George III was very excited by both the pre and during game action, admiring the efforts of captain Rory Angiolella and his youth brigade, whilst noting the talent sitting on Hipster Hill: http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/vafa-premier-b-fitzroy-v-ajax-roys-discover-their-donquix-and-re-join-the-quest/
Phil Hill gives credit where it’s due…but we’re not sure his nickname for Ted Clayton (Lower Universal Forceps) will catch on any time soon. Young Mitch Bottomley will be very happy with a few years shaved off his age: http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/fitzroy-v-ajax-all-hail-the-universal-forceps/

The Ressies will be looking for some answers this week against Mazenod having been on level pegging with Ajax at half time, only to watch as the visitors turned on a huge last quarter and put them to the sword. The Thirds suffered a 13 goal loss to Ajax at their home ground.

It’s fourth place also for Fitzroy-ACU Women 1, which bounced back strongly after their first loss and took the points against Marcellin. This weekend they are looking forward to a tough clash when they play the University of Melbourne (Muggars) for the first time and it’s an early start at 9am on Sunday at Sportscover Arena.

Meanwhile a win must be just around the corner for Fitzroy-ACU Women 2. They came up against a very well-drilled South Melbourne Districts on Saturday and went down 7.13.55 to 0.1.1. This Saturday they will be at home to Bulleen Templestowe.

Aidan Lambert was everywhere in the final quarter on Saturday.

Alex Monacella first to the ball in the clash with Marcellin. Photo courtesy Tayla Whyte.

Young stars shine in stellar performance

They say a champion team will always prevail over a team of champions and that certainly played out on Saturday when the Roy Boys – a mix of young guns with a spine of more mature and experienced talent – took the honours at home against Ajax.

And as a district club unaligned to a particular school (rare in the Amateurs, and particularly at Premier and Premier B level), Fitzroy’s great strength – going back to the days when captain Rory Angiolella was elevated to the seniors in his U19 year – has been our ability to recognise and capitalise on the potential of our feeder teams.

Last week six U19s were named in the senior squad – Aiden Burke, Ted Clayton, Eddie Harley, Nino Lazzaro, Jacob Long and Will Symons.

This takes the tally to eight for the year, with James Butler and Eddie Lincoln also getting guernseys in earlier games and, to a man, proving they have the talent and the passion to match it with the big boys.

This week it will be seven U19s with Eddie Lincoln named in the Senior list.

It goes without saying that six is a lot of players to take out of a team in one fell swoop but, as coach Tim Bell concedes, the U19s is essentially a development squad. As he says “It’s a platform for the seniors and a training ground for a successful club making its way through to the ultimate goal of making Premier.”

For the boys themselves, while they admit to having sympathy for the U19 teammates they have to leave in the lurch when they get the call up, the temptation of playing at the senior level at Brunswick Street, in front of an adoring bumper crowd, is just too good to refuse.

And, on their return, greatly benefit the U19s.

The six U19s who helped conquer Ajax on Saturday (from left to right) Jacob Long, Aiden Burke, Will Symons (top) and Eddie Harley, Ted Clayton and Nino Lazzaro. Photo courtesy Phyllis Quealy

Nino Lazzaro (no 27) has scored a massive eight goals in the seniors so far this season. Photo courtesy Phyllis Quealy

If you are interested in sponsoring one of our young, or slightly older, players click here to register your interest. You will be covering the costs of registration for the player as well as a few benefits for you. Take out a player sponsorship on your own, by your business or do it as a group.

VAFA approves change of division for Under 19 (2) team

Fitzroy’s second Under 19 team has faced a very rough start to the season, which may improve thanks to a change in Division.

The VAFA has approved Fitzroy’s request to change divisions and our Under 19 (2) team will line up in Holmesglen U19 Section 3 starting this Saturday, having made a direct swap with Old Geelong, who take their place in U19 Premier Reserve.

Fitzroy’s first game in the new division will be against Old Ivanhoe Grammarians at Chelsworth Park No 2 starting at 2.00pm. Very best of luck boys.

You can read all about our newest coach, Greg Coleman, and his approach to working with young players to get the best out of them in next week’s Red Roy Mail.

Mish Booth – just 2 good, on land and sea

W2s Captain Mish Booth has what it takes to lead a young squad with courage and distinction. She’s an experienced sea dog, who for over 20 years has sailed on yachts in various guises, exploring the Caribbean, delivering boats up and down the east coast of Australia and, for 13 of those years, working on Sydney Harbour.

When younger, Mish played tennis, then during her time in Sydney, played Oztag – a game similar to touch footy. But like most women across all codes, during her younger years Mish’s experience of Aussie Rules was restricted to having a kick with the boys at school.

“Girls weren't allowed to play back in my day,” she says.

After 17 years away, Mish landed back in Melbourne at the right time. Missing footy more than anything else she’d left behind, Mish took the opportunity of joining the Roy Girls in their establishment year.

“I moved to Fitzroy North and they were starting a team so I thought I'd have a crack,” says Mish. “Fitzroy has an amazing sense of community which makes you proud to pull on the jumper.”

With her tongue planted firmly in her cheek, Mish reckons her goals as captain are to try and use as many footy clichés as possible to motivate the team.

“I just want to play my role, get around the girls,” she says. “As a group we're taking it one game at a time and improving every week, which is great.”

On a more serious note, Mish pays credit to coaches Mick Symonds and Jo Hogan, and their helpers on game day, for all the time and effort they put in.

“I just love getting to run around with a bunch of awesome girls who you'd probably never get to meet if it wasn't for footy,” says Mish.

“So to everyone at Fitzroy who believed in women's footy, #Royspect!”

Travel prize and grand final tickets on offer as major raffle tickets go on sale

Where are you going for your next holiday? Why not have a $3000 contribution to your next trip?

A $3000 travel voucher to the destination of your choice is the first prize in Fitzroy Football Club major raffle for 2017. Tickets are now on sale.

There are some wonderful prizes – for footy fans second prize, may even be better than first - and tickets are just $10 each. Don't miss out on the opportunity to win:

First prize: a $3000 travel voucher (to the destination of your choice)
Second prize: Two (2) tickets to the 2017 Toyota AFL Finals Series valued at approx $1200, donated by the Brisbane Lions FC: AFL authorised GF promotion (GFAFL17/49)
Third prize: a StarCash card to the value of $500, donated by Caltex Australia.

This is the major fundraiser for the club for the year, so please get on board. If you are able to sell some tickets at your workplace or amongst family and friends, even better! Books of tickets are available from Anita Roper (email roperanita@gmail.com) or can be arranged through any of the other Fitzroy Directors.

Tickets must be purchased by 5 August 2017 and they will be drawn at 6pm on 12 August 2017 in the Community Rooms at Brunswick Street Oval during the post-match presentation after Fitzroy takes on Old Carey. Results published 15 August on FFC website www.fitzroyfc.com.au

You can purchase tickets from any Fitzroy player, at home games at Brunswick Street Oval, and via the Fitzroy website.

Thank you very much to the sponsors of this raffle, the Brisbane Lions Football Club and Caltex Australia.

Remembering Fitzroy mothers – one and all

Pat Symonds (nee Ferguson), a lifelong Fitzroy supporter, grew up a stone’s throw from the Brunswick Street Oval in Freeman Street. As a teenager Pat would watch her beloved Roy Boys, when they played at home, from the upper storey of her best friend’s house in Brunswick Street, leaning dangerously over the upstairs balcony. So dangerously, in fact, that her best friend’s mother was wont to caution her daughter to “Hold on to Patty!” to prevent her falling – particularly at heart-stopping moments of play.

On Saturday for our mother’s day lunch, Fitzroy remembered Pat with lapel posies – pastels for the women and dark red roses for the men. This lovely touch came courtesy of Louise Maniatakis and Pat’s daughter Wendy, a stalwart of the club whose lifelong support has been recognised with life membership and, in 2015, as Club Person of the Year.

After she sadly died last August, Wendy and her sister Denise passed on Pat’s arts and crafts box to Louise, a natty craftsperson herself and originator of the fabulous knitted beanies worn throughout the season by players, supporters and volunteers. Louise used some of the contents of the box to fashion the lunch day posies in remembrance of Pat and to honour all Fitzroy mothers, past and present.

Fittingly, the boys in our current team, an artful mix of young and old, bestowed the best gift a Fitzroy mother could want – a win against Ajax at Brunswick Street. The BSO, too, put on a spectacular our rivals envy and can never hope to match – a glorious skyline north and south in perfect autumn weather, hipsters crowding the hill and the old Fitzroy supporters gracing the grandstand and its forecourt.

In the 1944 premiership year Pat, only 18 years old, was known to have danced till dawn in celebration of the grand final win. Let’s hope it’s Wendy and her Fitzroy friends and faithful who’ll be following in Pat’s footsteps when “premiers we’ll be this year”.

Pic 1: Lifelong Fitzroy supporters, Pat and mother Irene Ferguson, outside Pat’s grandmother's home circa 1944 premiership year. Photo supplied.
Pic 2: Wendy Symonds and Louise Maniatakis before the club lunch on Mother’s Day. Photo courtesy Phyllis Quealy

Thank you Jellis Craig

It was wonderful to have a table of the Jellis Craig Inner North team join us for lunch on Saturday and the merchandise of our major sponsor is proving to be very popular.

Last week rain and this week sun – it didn’t matter. The Jellis Craig brollies could be found dotting the landscape and adding to the colour and movement at Brunswick Street.

Despite the beautiful weather, the Fitzroy Tram Conductors, who can be found behind goals at any of our Brunswick Street games (actually most of our games) have adopted the umbrellas and incorporated them in their Fitzroy goal celebrations. And they had plenty to cheer about.

Having been presented with his framed Fitzroy jumper by President, Joan Eddy, Jellis Craig Inner North, Managing Director Craig Shearn, told lunch guests of his long personal involvement with VAFA footy and his pride in being involved with a club like Fitzroy and the Fitzroy Junior Football Club, with its history and longevity in the community.

The Jellis Craig Inner North team with Fitzroy President, Joan Eddy and the framed Fitzroy jumper.

The Tramconductors waive through a Fitzroy goal

Fitzroy Thirds Fan Day and D-Rock’s big milestone

When the Thirds run out in Round 7, they are hoping for a large contingent of die-hard Fitzroy fans to cheer on one of their spiritual leaders in his 200^th game.

The boys are expecting a crowd of 200 or more as they focus on traditional fan football for their first Fan Day.

Not to mention it's a celebration of one of their favourite sons, life member and 200-gamer, d-rock (aka Dan Ryan).

Put Saturday 27 May down in your diary and consider heading to Ramsden Street Oval for a bit of old fashioned community footy. The action starts from 11 with the game at 11.40.

The big community day at Ramsden Street will include:

genuine 1990s tuck shop food and prices (Kerry’s BBQ food, coffee and a canteen will also be supplied)
meat raffle
singing the Fitzroy song before and after the game (they’re confident!)
lots of calls of 'BALL'
the traditional trip out onto the ground at the quarter breaks to hear the coach's message and a kick on ground after the final siren.

After the game there will be enough time to get back to Brunswick Street for the second half of the Seniors’ game, as they also take on Monash, and the post-match celebrations which promise to be big.

For more details see the website: http://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/latest-news/fitzroy-thirds-fan-day or join the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1134734153338731/

This week's games

Fitzroy-ACU Women 2 vs Bulleen Templestowe – Development Division 4 – Ramsden Street Oval, 11.40am, Saturday 20 May
Mazenod vs Fitzroy Reserves – VAFA Premier B Reserves – Mazenod College, Kernot Ave, 11.40am, Saturday 20 May
Old Trinity vs Fitzroy Thirds – VAFA Premier B Thirds – Hudson Oval Marles Playing Fields, 11.40am, Saturday 20 May
Mazenod vs Fitzroy Seniors – VAFA Premier B – Mazenod College, Kernot Ave, 2.00pm, Saturday 20 May
Fitzroy U19 (1) vs Old Melburnians – Holmesglen U19 Section 2 – Victoria Park, Collingwood, 2.00pm, Saturday 20 May
Old Ivanhoe Grammarians vs Fitzroy U19 (2) – Holmesglen U19 Section 3 – Chelsworth Park No 2, 2.00pm, Saturday 20 May
Melbourne University vs Fitzroy-ACU Women 1 – VAFA Wilson Women Premier – SportsCover Arena, 9.00am, Sunday 21 May