Getting creative

Photo: Phyllis Quealy on Instagram

Each week we'll keep trying to bring you some Roys love to brighten up your day. We'll celebrate moments past, share what our team's are up to, be a bit creative and have some fun.

If you've got a favourite FFC moment you want us to highlight, let us know! Email media@fitzroyfc.com.au and we'll see what we can do!

While we're on highlights - many of the brilliant photos we've been able to share lately are from the incredible Phyllis Quealy.

If you have yet to check out Phyllis Quealy getting creative with her photos on Instagram, we strongly encourage you to give her a follow and see what she's up to. Some brilliant work she's creating! They might even come in handy for a Zoom background for your next online meeting/catch up with friends!

If the AFL couldn't get rid of us, the coronavirus sure won't!

The Fitzroy Football Club is a strong, vibrant community club with a proud history that we are passionate about preserving and strengthening as we pursue success on and off the field.

It's a tough time right now as the world looks to manage the impact of COVID-19 and plan as best we can, to find a way through.

Our club is doing what we can to manage during these times and we're playing our role to stop the spread of the coronavirus and keep our community safe. We’re a strong and resilient club. We're going to get through this.

But we also need as much help as possible to keep thriving and come out the other side of this in a position that allows us to continue at our best.

We know it’s a hard ask, but for anyone who is in a position to, we have the Fitzroy Forever Operations Fund up and running for any donation, big or small.

In an exciting partnership announced at the end of 2019, we have connected with the Australian Sports Foundation, which allows all donations to the Fitzroy Forever Operations Fund to be fully tax deductible.

Any donation will help the famous Fitzroy Football Club come through this crisis and allow us to continue bringing our community together through football.

We are so appreciative of any support and can’t wait to be back at the football again with you all.

Thank you for your support and stay strong Roys family.

To donate click here.

Self-isolated Roys: Pandemic Profiles

Fitzroy-ACU Senior Women's Captain Jess 'Lenny' Hayes has been busy collecting 'Pandemic Profiles' from her team. Here's the next instalment!

2016: The year the Roygirls Roared

By David Leydon

Throughout the course of the 137 year history of the Fitzroy Football Club there have been many memorable moments and proud achievements both on-field and off.

The year of 2016 was one of those years for our magnificent Fitzroy-ACU Women's Team.

This week RedRoy looks back at the memorable finals series of that season.

In only their second year since their formation, the Roygirls competed in Division 3 of the VWFL competition in 2016.

To say the season got off to a slow start is probably an understatement when the girls lost their Round One clash against Gippsland by 130-points.

They lost again in Round Two by 19-points against Ajax before turning things right around to win 7 of their next 10 games to finish in 3^rd spot by season's end.

For the team to make the finals in just their second season was already an outstanding achievement, but they were not going to rest on their laurels just yet.

The first Semi Final was played on Sunday 7 August, 2016 at the Bill Lawry Oval in Northcote against the SKOB Saints. On paper and on form, it looked like it was going to be a difficult task for the Roygirls as SKOBs had beaten them in both the home and away clashes during the season, including the last round just the week before the finals.

But this was the big time finals atmosphere that the Roys had been craving all season and they were not going to let this chance slip.

Fitzroy-ACU held a 6-point lead at quarter time that increased to 12-points by halftime, and a near unassailable 26-points at the last change.

Our girls showed no mercy in the final quarter and crushed the SKOBs by 33-points to claim the first ever finals victory for the mighty Fitzroy-ACU Women's Team.

This meant a Preliminary Final battle the next week again at Bill Lawry Oval against old rival Ajax.

The Roygirls went into this game a fired up, focussed and ready unit and it was a pleasure to watch them run all over their opponents right from the start and record a memorable 27-point victory.

Now for the big one – the 2016 Grand Final against the all conquering Gippsland team.

The Grand Final was played at the famous old Dandenong VFA ground, Shepley Oval on a cold and wet Saturday night on the 20^th August, 2016.

A huge contingent of Fitzroy-ACU supporters rugged up and made their way out to Dandy for the game.

There was a cyclone blowing to one end of the ground which made scoring nearly impossible at the other end. In fact, the only score against the wind was recorded by the Roygirls who kicked a point in the last quarter.

I vividly remember sitting at this game and feeling immensely proud of our club. Our Fitzroy-ACU Women’s Team gave their all against the Gippsland team who had gone the whole season undefeated. It was Gippsland who defeated our girls in Round One of the season by 130-points and here we were a few months later, not only playing against them, but matching them all over the park in the biggest game of the year.

When the Roys led by 5-points at three quarter time, it was well and truly game. On.

Unfortunately the Gippslanders had that strong wind in the last quarter and held on to win by just 9-points in a classic Grand Final struggle.

When the final siren sounded, the Roygirls were mobbed by their loyal fans in the middle of the oval.

Despite the loss, everyone recognised and acknowledged the huge achievement of this team to make it all the way to the Grand Final. The way they played their hearts out for the club that night brought many a tear to a hardened football eye.

After the on field presentations to the winners, the mighty Fitzroy ACU Womens Team left the ground to a standing ovation from our supporters.

Many of the players in this team have gone on to become the mainstays and backbone of our Womens team.

Names like Minuz, Murphy, Madden, Ross-Harris, Atkinson and “Golden Boot” Olney have become champions of the club and they were all there in that famous finals series of 2016.

Fitzroy's Fabulous Century by Peter Carter

"You beauty! I was one happy chappy when Andrew Finlay, managing director of Perth’s Optima Press, phoned me to say that Fitzroy’s Fabulous Century: The 100 Greatest Victories, 1897-1996 was printed, boxed and ready to go. The dreadful COVID-19 coronavirus has impacted all of our lives, and is certainly far more serious than any game of football. Of course, there are no games of football for the foreseeable future. However, this 388-page book may help people remember Fitzroy’s glory days."

Writer and Roy for life Peter Carter has written t his wonderful book chronicling the 100 greatest Roys victories in the span of 100 years.

Peter has some special offers for our Fitzroy community to celebrate the release of the book!

Offer 1: Save $5 off the RRP of $30 (including postage) and get the book for just $25!

(If you want to buy some for gifts - you can get two copies (sent to the same address in the one parcel) for just $45 and three for $60).

This deal is available via direct deposit and you can email Peter at fitzroypete@yahoo.com.au to arrange.

Offer 2: If you prefer to pay via PayPal instead of the $5 discount, Peter will throw in a complimentary copy of his first major book, Dreamer, Drifter, Drunk.

When purchasing through PayPal be sure to type 'FFC' in the "Instructions to merchant" section or email fitzroypete@yahoo.com.au to let him know you're a Roy & have paid via PayPal to get the 2 books for 1 offer.

It's the perfect time to add to your reading pile so be sure to grab a copy!

You can read more about the book here and if you want more information about the book or the offers, be sure to send Peter an email.

VAFA Sponsor - William Buck financial viability Webinar

Once you hear it...

The Royboys at The Ranch are at it again!

Check out this latest video featuring Will Zaghis, Nick Harrison, James Graham, Sam Batterton and Liam Garrard and share it around with your friends to help the boys get 'internet famous'!

They've already made it on to Channel Nine News so the sky's the limit!

Follow their facebook page for more hilarious videos and to keep up with how they're going in quarantine.

It's business as usual for our online shop!

With exercise in the open air one of the only ways we can escape our own four walls, make sure you do it in style. Fitzroy style! You’ll not only look great, but promote the Club and help provide much-needed support in these troubled times.

Merchandise sales go a long way to supporting our club financially so if you need some new gear – there’s never been a better time!

Online orders can be made here.