In the spirit of reconciliation, the Fitzroy Football Club incorporating the Fitzroy Reds acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Our football club is a place free from discrimination, where everyone belongs. We respect and celebrate the diversity of our communities, including people of all cultural and faith backgrounds, classes, gender or sexual identities, ages and abilities and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for all.
For Nathan (pictured left, during the 2018 Premier C grand final),
the reasons he cites for coming back to Fitzroy are multi-faceted:
the culture, the history, the supporters, the jumper and the
famous old home ground itself. Matty echoes the sentiment,
with an emphasis on the culture of the playing group.
There are two players
who come to mind for Matt. “Max Ellis has been selfless and
consistent in every game he’s played and Dr Tom O’Donnell is
another who has a red-hot crack every week and has developed
into a great leader at the club.”
The crowd was in, the lights were
on, the cameras and livestream were rolling. It was a beautiful
moment as the VAFA Premier Women made history on Friday night
playing the first senior game under lights at Brunswick Street
Oval.
As I strolled into
Princes Park Caulfield, I noticed a bloke of similar vintage
running around in the opposition’s 2s. Well, maybe a touch
younger, bit better nick. Barking instructions, kicking long
from defence. The Roy Ressies were on the money again however
(woops, forgot it's the Amos), and despite being challenged
in the third, went on to win by 12 goals. Wouldn't find a better
2s coach than Bernie Carter (pictured above in a recent game).
Can we get a finals spot?
The zing button was not
turned on at the start of the third. They got the opener; we
were lacklustre, and our bench rotations were severely limited
by injury. Our big man stocks were especially depleted, with
Baker off for the game, and Bill Clayton carrying an injury.
It was quiet on and off the field. They hit the front for the
first time at the 17-minute mark and were on a roll. Leadership
was required, but no one flew the flag and they skipped away.
It had been 10 goals to one since quarter time. We had no bench
to speak of. 68-47 their way.
Mia Sutherland is a 25-year-old
employee at the farm, has worked there in paid employment for
eight years, but has been a volunteer since she was eight.
A Batchelor in Science majoring in Ecology at Melbourne Uni,
our only ‘real’ learning institution. Back in the day, she
lived just up the road with her Mum and Dad and elder brother.
They all thought the farm was a good thing to try, she loved
it then, loves it now. She is still glued to the place, her
parents having moved out to other climes. Mia now lives in
a share house close by with her brother and a Fitzroy teammate.
Let’s deal with them
first. Mia learnt how to knit at primary school. She had been
at Fitzroy for a couple of years, was out with a long-term
injury, and was bored out of her brain. Knitting was the elixir,
Fitzroy beanies and other goods. No doubt you’ve seen them
on the heads of players, volunteers and at the memorabilia
table below the Grandstand.
It hasn’t been all
beer and skittles. In 2017, Mia injured her ACL, played on,
but eventually tore it, requiring a reco. She missed the rest
of that season. In 2018 she trained while still in rehab, in
fact never missed one session. Her goal was to play just two
games in 2018 when she got the all clear. The psychological
hurdle – she did. She had a solid pre-season this year, has
been rewarded with the captaincy, a sure sign of respect. Mia
now plays midfield/forward, is having such a great time with
a really close group of girls. There’s been a great deal of
personnel change, but she loves “getting around the new girls.
It’s an easy place to fit in. Everyone contributes a little.”
Currently, the 2s are knocking on the door of the Four.
You’d be hard pressed
to find a stronger guest speaker line up than what we’ve got
planned on Saturday 27 July.
George Megalogenis – journalist, author and one of Australia’s most respected
political commentators. His book The Australian Moment won
the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Non-fiction and
the 2012 Walkley Award for Non-fiction, and formed the basis
for the ABC documentary series Making Australia Great.
His most recent book is The Football Solution: How Richmond’s Premiership Can Save Australia.
Christos Tsiolkas is an award-winning novelist, playwright, essayist and poet.
Two of his best-selling books, The Slap and Barracuda,
have been adapted into ABC television drama series. Christos
has a longstanding interest in the convergence of sport and
literature. He barracks for Richmond.
Dr Chris McConville is
an historian, Victoria University academic and former member
of the Coodabeen Champions. His fields of expertise include
urban history, sports history and the history of gambling in
Australia. Chris is a Fitzroy local and an often be found
lurking in the BSO Grandstand of a Saturday arvo. He also barracks
for Richmond.
