Get on Red

The Fitzroy preseason camp marks the start of the serious business as we head towards the season proper and the teams certainly threw themselves in with gusto at Portsea.

Just wait until you see them in action at the first intra-club game on Saturday 2 March at Victoria Park from 9.30. The Men play the curtain raiser, followed by a Women’s intraclub from 11.40am.

This kicks off a calendar of pre-season games in March aimed at getting the teams in tip top shape before Round 1 (see the calendar later in this Red Roy).

The Senior Men have some testing hit outs against St Bernard’s, Uni Blacks and Marcellin. The Senior Women will have some time against St Bernard’s with games also against Kew and Marcellin. The full schedule across the club is a work in progress, as grounds become available.

Meanwhile, back at camp, it was the Black team that took bragging rights in Fitzroy’s version of the Amazing Race, but restoring some pride, the Red team (aka the Crown Jewels, featuring both senior captains) pulled it out of the fire with an overall points win as camp champions.

Check out some of the pics from the weekend courtesy of Sharon Torney and Luke Mahoney.

A new Fitzroy team

Fitzroy will field an Under 23 Men’s team in season 2019 and the call is out for a new coach.

The Board has agreed to establish another men’s team following the high number of players registered last year. The additional team will be an Under 23 team as the VAFA is looking at establishing a new Under 23 competition in 2019.

The Under 23 team will be a development squad providing an opportunity for players to bridge the gap between Under 19 and senior football, to continue to build and develop their football skills and enable the players to continue to play and enjoy football.

We are in the process of recruiting a coach. The ad has been placed with the VAFA and AFL Victoria and if you know anyone suitable, here it is.

Alternatively, please contact Sharon Torney at secretary@fitzroyfc.com.au

Petti puts his hand up as coaching panel grows

The Fitzroy coaching team keeps getting stronger.

One of Fitzroy’s 2018 Senior Premiership Players, Andrew Pettigrove, has joined the senior men’s coaching panel as one of the team’s assistant coaches for 2019 and will provide plenty of recent experience and input.

The 212-game veteran ruckman provided guidance and support for our younger players as they took on finals in 2018 – many of them for the first time – and should slot seamlessly into the role.

Andrew’s professional experience is also in sport, having worked at football and cricket clubs here and overseas. He is currently the Sport Events Coordinator at La Trobe University.

New Under 19s coach, Monty Stuart, will also be joined by two assistants, Mel Story and Silvano Inserra.

Mel is the second female on the Fitzroy coaching team this year and brings extensive coaching experience from junior football and other sports. She has been head coach and club coordinator at Northcote gymnastics club for 20 years and coaches athletics at Collingwood Little Athletics.

Across Fitzroy, Carlton, Knights and Northcote Junior Football Clubs, Mel has been assistant, head or line coach of several teams, including forward line coach for the Fitzroy Colts in 2017. She is club vice president at Northcote JFC also the Collingwood All Stars Under 16 basketball coach.

Mel is studying a double diploma in sports development, leadership and management at Swinburne and the Richmond Institute of Sports Leadership.

Silvano (pictured at training) is coming full circle with this year’s appointment. He started his coaching journey in the winter of 2008 at Auskick at Fitzroy (Brunswick Street Oval). “I was fortunate to coach 80-odd, 6-year-old boys and girls. A large number of those boys played for FJFC Premiership Colts team in 2018. A number also played in the seconds squad. These are same kids will now the eligible to play Under 19s at Fitzroy Football Club in 2019.”

Silvano has Level 1 AFL Coaching accreditation and was until last year a player/coaching assistant with the Melbourne Masters Football Club (Albert Park).

Last year Silvano was runner and defensive assistant for Matt Larkin, who was coaching the FJFC Colts 2 team. Following a two-year stint with Auskick, he coached a FJFC side every year from 2010 to 2014.

February is Fitzroy membership month – join in the fun!

You’ve got less than a week to go into the running for our great member prize.

Anyone who signs up for a Fitzroy membership before the end of February will go into the draw for our prize pack, which features the new FFC players’ singlet and a voucher from Bontempo Pizzeria.

We’ve had a lot of interest in these singlets and the only way a non-player can get one is to win this prize!

There are some other great parts to the package too. Our friends at Bontempo Pizzeria on Brunswick Street will provide a $50 voucher to the winner. And although it might be hotter than hades right now, a hand knitted Fitzroy beanie will come in handy in mid-June; there's a brand new batch and they're looking good. So this prize has you covered all year round. There might be some other surprises too.

This year we have some new member benefits, designed to encourage people to come down to Brunswick Street and join in with the after-match festivities and/or the famous barbecue. Check out the membership packages on our website. There is also a business membership package.

And fear not if you got in early. If you already have your membership for this year, you’ll automatically go into the draw.

All you need to do is pick the best membership for you, sign up and pay online by midnight on Thursday 28 February.

The winner will be drawn and announced at the season launch on 30 March at the Fitzroy Victoria Bowling Sports Club.

And look out for our new membership postcards, coming soon to a letterbox in Fitzroy!

When Irish eyes are smiling

Tom O’Donnell and Emma Delaney have been selected as Fitzroy’s representatives, when the VAFA takes on the Victorian Gaelic Athletic Association as part of a festival of Irish Sport over the St Patrick’s Day weekend.

The men’s and women’s games of International Rules will be held at Elsternwick Park, along with a Hurling display and a Kids Zone on Saturday 16 March,

For more details of what promises to be a great day, check out the VAFA website

The VAFA is keen to make this a big family day, so get along if you can.

Umpires: we can’t play without ‘em

Do you have a passion for football but playing is not your thing? Love to run? Want to combine to the two?
If you’ve said yes, yes and yes then we have the role for you: VAFA Field Umpire!

We are required to have club field umpires for a number of our teams including the Women’s teams and the Thirds. You can either be a club umpire and only do our home games, or you could join the VAFA ranks and go into the pool of umpires and be paid by the VAFA. If going into the pool, you can still do our home games. With either option you will receive training.

The games simply cannot start without field umpires so this is an extremely essential component to the game day happening!

If you’re interested in becoming a club umpire, please contact Sharon Torney, Director Football Operations on 0415 420 487 or email secretary@fitzroyfc.com.au

If you’re interested in becoming a VAFA umpire, then email Haydn O’Connor, VAFA Umpire Operations Manager, haydn@vafa.com.au - don’t forget to tell him you’re from Fitzroy FC.

Kick start for the South Pacific

The Fitzroy Football Club will be getting behind an AFLPNG and AFL South Pacific Kick Start Program and collecting old football boots for those who might like to give the game a try.

Men’s and women’s boots no longer required here, will be shared with PNG, Solomons, Vanuatu, Nauru, Fiji and Tonga who are all under the AFL South Pacific Development program.

Fitzroy Under 19 player, Callum Harrison – who is eligible to play in the International Cup for PNG next year – and his parents Peter and Helen, are heavily involved in the development of the game in PNG and are planning on taking the boots over to the South Pacific in April.

Once we get back to BSO, in the fortnight leading up to the season, players will find a box in the changerooms where they will be encouraged to leave their old boots.

It would be great to help the development of the game in the South Pacific in some small way, so have a hunt around in the bottom of the cupboard and find those boots!

Photograph of the Binatangs team (PNG) 2015, by Peter Harrison.

Volunteer game day roles for all

One of the best ways to help your footy club and get some real-life experience at the same time, is to put up your hand for a volunteer role.

The club is constantly on the lookout for reliable volunteers for everything from running water, to selling raffle tickets, social media and writing to managing one of the teams. There is literally something for everyone.

If you want to know more or are keen to get more involved with the Fitzroy community, have a look at some of the roles on our volunteers’ web page and contact us about your area of interest. You can use the online form or contact Director Volunteers, Gabrielle Murphy at volunteers@fitzroyfc.com.au

Family fun with the Lions and Bulldog

Fitzroy will again have a presence at the Lions’ Victorian Family Fun Day at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Sunday 10 March.

The entire Brisbane Men’s team will be on hand, before heading over to watch the Round 6 AFLW clash between the Lions and Carlton at Ikon Park. And rumour has it one Kevin ‘Bulldog’ Murray will also be making an appearance.

Fitzroy Director Member and Sponsor Relations, David Leydon, who has a deep, abiding passion for both clubs, will be ensuring the connection with ‘old Fitzroy’ as he spruiks beanies, memberships and all things FFC. If you’d like to help him out, email David at client_relations@fitzroyfc.com.au

Head on over to the State Netball and Hockey Centre from 1pm to check it out.

Season launch all set for Saturday 30 March

Saturday 30 March will be a stern test for the full club as we take on Marcellin in all grades at Brunswick Street Oval; a nice curtain raiser to the season.

The games will be followed by a season launch at the Fitzroy Victoria Bowling and Sports Club from 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Hope to see you there as you meet the new coaches and players and hear about the season ahead.

Footy’s back function at The Royal Derby

Our home away from home, the Royal Derby, is throwing out the red carpet for both of its beloved teams on Friday 29 March.

The Derby will hold a football launch for the Brisbane Lions and Fitzroy fans and sponsors, featuring past Fitzroy champions Chris Johnson and Laurie Serafini.

Tickets ($30, which covers finger food throughout the night) will be available via the Derby website in the days ahead but can be purchased now from the hotel bar. The night will kick off at 6.30 for 7pm.

Book in for the Fitzroy Golf Day – 24 March

Bookings are now open for our 2019 Golf Day and this year we’re heading out to Freeway Golf Club in North Balwyn.

Last year’s winners, Fitzroy IT, got in early and booked their spots. We think they need a bit of competition!

Join our players, supporters and sponsors on Sunday 24 March for a bit of fun in a friendly two-person Ambrose format starting at 1pm.

You can book online for yourself and your partner or book separately. We can partner you up if you want to book as an individual.

There'll be prizes for the winner, the longest drive and closest to the pin. Don’t miss a fun day before the footy starts.

Important dates

Saturday 2 March: Fitzroy intra club games, Men and Women, Victoria Park, 9.30am
Sunday 10 March: Brisbane Lions Family Fun Day in Melbourne, State Netball and Hockey Centre, 1-3pm.
Saturday 16 March: VAFA International Rules, Elsternwick Park
Sunday 17 March: pre-season games v St Bernard’s
Saturday 23 March: pre-season game v Uni Blacks (men’s squad) and Kew (women’s squad), grounds TBC
Sunday 24 March: Fitzroy FC Golf Day, Freeway Golf Club, 1pm start.
Saturday 30 March (day): pre-season games v Marcellin at BSO (men’s and women’s squads)
Saturday 30 March (pm): Season launch, Fitzroy Victoria Bowling Club, 5.30-7pm.
Saturday 6 April: Round 1, 2019