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What’s better than a Fitzroy win for Father’s Day? Two Fitzroy wins!

Get dad, mum and the whole family down to Bill Lawry Oval in Northcote this weekend for semi final week. You can bring your friends too, just no pets.

There is no AFL, so no excuses! Let’s get the red, yellow and blue beanies there in big numbers.

The Seniors are up against Williamstown on Saturday at 2pm.
The Reserves take on Old Geelong on Sunday at 11.40am.
Go Roys!

Fees for VAFA Finals
As with all VAFA finals, there is a fee payable at the gate:
- Adults over 18 - $15
- Concesssion (pensioner concession card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, full-time student with a current student card - all cards will be checked by the gate attendants) - $10
- children under 12 are free

Parking (where available) is $5, the Amateur Footballer is $3 and there are no pets allowed at any VAFA-hosted finals games.

All set to spring into finals

Fitzroy warmed up for the semi-finals with a heart-stopping come from behind steal against PEGS at Brunswick Street Oval on Saturday.

With perhaps one eye on the semi final and no chance to move from second spot, the team was severely challenged by a determined PEGS outfit, before coming home to win by 2 points.

Fitzroy was off to a flier with Max Ellis surprising everyone in the forward line and combining with the returning Nathan Jumeau for the early goals. After something of a shootout – not ordered by the coach – Fitzroy led 7.4.46 to 4.1.25 at quarter time.

With only one goal in each of the next two quarters, Fitzroy looked in trouble. PEGS, who had inflicted Fitzroy’s first defeat of the year, looked like pulling off the double when they had a nine point lead and the momentum going into three quarter time.

But if you want the ball in the hands of one man – four points down, 50 metres out, five minutes to play – its Sam Baker. Having been rewarded for the perfect tackle, he kicked from just beyond the arc and sent the big home crowd into a frenzy.

If you want to see the brilliant tackle and goal, check out the highlights in this week’s Risk Care Roundup: https://vimeo.com/287435838

It was certainly a case of winning ugly but a good sign that the team found a way to get the job done when they were perhaps a bit lucky to come away with the victory.

Baker and Ellis ended up with three goals each and along with vice captain, Tom Cheshire, were the best players for Fitzroy.

Here is the VAFA write up of the final round: https://www.vafa.com.au/latest-news/roys-wellers-ready-to-rumble/

But this week is all about semi final two against the minor premiers, Williamstown CYMS, who defeated the Roy Boys at home two weeks ago.

The stakes are high with the winner straight through to the grand final and the promotion to Premier B. This is big.

If we think we’re keen to be back in B grade, you can imagine how keen Williamstown is; having spent 35 years in the ammos they have never been in B!

For a bit of inspiration and a great read about our venue over the weekend, the Footy Almanac’s Andy Fuller has written a lovely piece. He says: “Even though the name is ‘Bill Lawry Oval’: I find myself thinking more of Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls. If I am not mistaken, this is the oval where he played for Northcote while in the VFA. Nicholls had left Carlton due to racist abuse and found a home at Northcote, before later playing for Fitzroy in the VFL.”

You can check out the full story here: http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/field-ground-oval-stadium/

There are always unlucky players when the coach has the unenviable job of selecting a side for the finals.

Unfortunately for Jimmy Butler, who has played with guts and determination in the midfield, he injured his ankle late in the day and misses out. Also unlucky to miss and named as an emergency, Will Fenton will play his 100th game for Fitzroy on Sunday in the Reserves and depending on how the games play out over the coming weeks, may just get to his 200th VAFA game before the season is done.

Ressies take the minor premiership

The Fitzroy Reserves took out the minor premiership in the Premier C Reserves competition on Saturday with an emphatic victory over PEGS at Brunswick Street Oval.

And if winning form is what you need heading into finals, they are in good shape. The final score was 27.18.180 to 2.4.16.

But it is one of two sides to defeat them this season who await them in Sunday’s second semi final; Old Geelong.

Old Geelong defeated Williamstown on Saturday to dislodge them from second spot and earn the double chance. Last time the teams met out at Como Park on a wet and muddy day, the home side held on for a win with kicking inaccuracy costing the Roys dearly.

There were several gentlemen who definitely had their goal kicking radars tuned in on Saturday and will be hoping to keep them there. Noah Wright, returning from several games in the Under 19s, kicked six goals, while best on ground, Gus Richardson had five.

If anything, the side will be further strengthened this week with the inclusion of Will Pickering and Will Fenton.

Congratulations to the Ressies for a terrific season and check out the story about their coach below.

Flying high under the radar

It’s very hard to fly under the radar when you finish top of the ladder, but that’s exactly the desire of our newly re-appointed reserves men’s coach Bernie Carter.

This week Bernie joined Luke Mahoney with a two-year extension to his contract; a fitting reward for his work this year.

It’s fair to say the best performed home and away side at Fitzroy in 2018 has exceeded expectations and the coach is the first to admit it.

“At the beginning of the season, not knowing who we might have in the squad, we looked at last year’s results and what it took to make finals and the initial goal was nine wins. To exceed that is just fantastic. The group has done extremely well; they’ve adapted to a new game plan and they’ve all bought into what we’re trying to achieve, which makes the coaching job easier.”

Bernie says he and the team are excited and nervous, but they recognise the great opportunity that awaits them with the start of the VAFA Finals series this weekend.

“In a way the nerves are because we finished on top – there are expectations now that we need to follow it through. It is a great opportunity and some of the guys haven’t played in finals since 2012.

“All the hard work they’ve done from November until now is all about trying to realise that ultimate goal and we have a couple of weeks to see if we can.

“If we win a flag fantastic, but if we don’t then we know there has been so much progression from the team and the squad since last year.”

Whilst admitting to a few sleepless nights in his quest to work with the team to win this weekend’s semi-final, Bernie knows the firm focus of the club is about the senior side’s promotion

“We’ll be doing all we can to support that and to support Luke. We’ve been doing that all year in terms of playing players in roles so they are ready for senior selection and adopting the club’s game plan.”

One of the biggest challenges in the lead up to this game may well be team selection. “After the last game I said to them, we can’t fit 35 into 22. But we have had a team-first approach all year. All 35 guys have contributed to getting us this far and they are part of the team; it’s not about individuals. I have advised them to keep training and make sure they are ready for selection, because the side selected may well depend on match ups, injuries, conditions… we will select the 22 to put us in the best position to win the game for Fitzroy.”

Bernie said he was absolutely ecstatic and a little surprised the club had shown faith in him for a two-year extension. Something he accepted after close consultation with his biggest supporter; wife Michelle.

“I’m really honoured the club has seen fit to give me another two years. I really appreciate it; I love the club, the players, the environment. When you look out at the city buildings after the games or when the Seniors run out to the song, there is just an unreal vibe and I’m very happy to be a part of it.”

In typically modest style, Bernie had a long list of thankyous starting with Luke Mahoney, President Joan Eddy, Football Operations Director, Sharon Torney, and coaches Michael Pickering and Sam Bishop, but he saved particular thanks for his assistant coach Leigh Quinn (pictured right) and Reserves captain Jack Atkinson.

“Jack’s leadership has just been fantastic. He’s very supportive of me and I know I can bounce ideas around with him as he will with me. We’ve worked really well together and I can’t speak highly enough about what a great leader he is.”

Let’s see what the two leaders and their team can do this weekend. Best of luck on Sunday boys.

The Fitzroy Reserves will play Old Geelong at Bill Lawry Oval in Northcote at 11.40am. There is surely no better way to spend Father’s Day!

Captain’s Cap tradition grows

Fitzroy’s new Captain’s Cap tradition has gone to a new level, with all the former Senior Men’s captains, since the merger with the Reds, presented with their individually monogrammed Fitzroy caps last Saturday.

The first captain of Fitzroy FC (incorporating the Fitzroy Reds) – with his captaincy spanning both clubs – Jimmy O’Reilly was first cab of the rank, presented with his cap by Rory Angiolella (who inspired this idea) at the pre-game lunch. Rory credited Jimmy with some aspects of his captaincy approach, in particular getting to know the young players well and taking an inclusive approach.

In the post-match function, Will Fenton, Sam Baker and Daniel Bisetto were presented with their caps by President Joan Eddy with Will making the acceptance speech on behalf of the group and describing his love of the club and BSO, the best ground in the world!

With a call up to the Essendon VFLW side, Alexa Madden, the inaugural women’s captain of the Fitzroy-ACU team, couldn’t be at the Fitzroy-ACU lunch for her cap presentation, but it will happen in coming weeks.

Vale Ian Unkenstein

Sadly, during the week Will and Maddie Symons’ grandfather, Ian Unkenstein, passed away after a short illness.

Both Fitzroy teams will wear black arm bands in the semi-finals as a mark of respect. The Fitzroy family sends its love to Mick, Annie, Will, Maddie and the whole family.

Ian was a keen sportsman and had a rich history in the VAFA being part of Collegians’ legendary three-peat of A grade grand final wins from 1957-1959. He was a regular attender at Collegians’ reunions, happy to re-tell many stories from those halcyon days.

He took great pleasure in watching his grandchildren play for Fitzroy.

Ian was a warm and generous soul who loved his family dearly. He will be sorely missed. He is pictured here with Will.

Women's competition set to grow

The ACU Game and final pre-game lunch of the season lived up to expectations on Saturday, with an all-star panel talking about all aspects of women’s football.

Coming off the bench after wisdom tooth surgery, sports journalist Megan Hustwaite led the discussion, first with VAFA supremo of Women’s Football, Shona MacInnes, and then the players took centre stage.

Shona talked about the can-do approach taken by her team at the VAFA in getting such a large competition up and running, with unexpectedly large numbers and growth, and attempting to meet all the needs of the clubs – existing, new or coming from other competitions – to form part of the largest amateur footy competition in Australia. The overwhelming feedback from the teams has been women’s football is great for their clubs.

Shona indicated there would be more competition in 2019, with 8-10 new clubs coming on board with women’s teams.

North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos AFLW players Kaitlyn Ashmore and Ash Riddell, were joined by Roy Girl and Collingwood VFLW leadership group member, Hillary Grubb. Their insights on the pathways for women playing football in Victoria were really open and honest and no doubt helpful for any other women seeking to follow in their footsteps. Thank you to the clubs and the players for their involvement.

At the start of the day Georgia Dyer, representing the Australian Catholic University, also spoke about the Uni’s relationship with the club and the passion they had for women’s football. Not only that but she said they’d taken quite some inspiration from the performance of our female players this year, which was lovely to hear. (Georgia is pictured here with Roy Girls Hillary Collett, Lucy Murphy, Rachael Telfer, Freya Shearer and Gemma Minuz).

But all of them somehow had their limelight stolen as the highlight of the ACU Game day was Fitzroy-ACU player Tess Plant Thomas singing her Fitzroy-ACU song, which this week featured up front on the VAFA Tragics. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out: https://www.facebook.com/VAFA.HQ/videos/2251665025055794/

Thank you to Nick Armistead of the VAFA who attended and took the video of the song and picked it as his highlight of the weekend. Just to clear up any doubt, Tess is American!

Pick my project – have you voted yet?

We’re encouraging people to vote on a football oval lighting project as part of the State Govt's Pick my Project community funding round, which is open for voting until Monday 17 September. There is $30 million available across the State to fund local projects, with the most votes receiving funding. Everyone who votes can pick their three favourite projects for the area.

Better lighting and an electronic scoreboard at Brunswick Street Oval will ensure our women have access to the same quality of training and playing arenas as our men's squads. And give greater access to playing, spectating, and volunteering for everyone in the local community.

You don't have to live in the area, just have a connection with (or wish the best for) the Fitzroy Football Club and want to support our women to train and play in decent conditions!

All you need to do is follow the instructions below (or register via Facebook), share the link and encourage all your friends, relatives, neighbours…everyone…to vote.

Log on to Pick My Project at pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
Click the ‘Register’ button on the top banner of the website.
Follow the instructions to complete your registration.
Then it will ask you to “set your location and discover projects in your local community”. Enter Fitzroy North as the suburb/community. A map of Fitzroy will appear and you will be asked to “confirm your location” (bottom left-hand corner). Click the “confirm your location” button.
You can then browse the project ideas in the Fitzroy Football Club area and create a shortlist of your favourites.
Pick “Giving women equal opportunity to play footy in Yarra” as one of your three favourite project ideas to create a shortlist and verify your mobile number.
You’ll then be able to submit your vote.
Vote!
Share on your social media networks.

Voting closes 5pm on Monday 17 September 2018.

2018 Fitzroy major raffle drawn

Fitzroy President Joan Eddy had the pleasure of calling the winners in the club’s major raffle, which was drawn in the post-match function in the community rooms at Brunswick Street Oval on Saturday 25 August.

Former Under 19s player Matthew Gloster was the lucky winner of the double-passes to the 2018 Toyota AFL Finals series tickets (donated by the Brisbane Lions AFC: AFL Authorised GF Promotion Code GFAFL 18/17), including the 2018 Grand Final.

And would you believe, it was senior captain Julian Turner who sold young Matthew the winning ticket! Matthew is a Geelong fan and Jules loves his Pies, so if Collingwood make the grannie you can bet Matthew might be getting a phone call about his +1 for the big day at the ‘G.

Second prize of the beautiful Fitzroy quilt went to former Director Grant Hammond, and the $300 Caltex petrol voucher went to Jack Nicolson.

Thank you to the Brisbane Lions, Louise Maniatakis and Caltex for our wonderful prizes and most of all, thanks to the fabulous Helen Manoli, who ran a hugely successful raffle. Thank you to all those who purchased tickets to support our football club.

Tram Conductors ring the bell

Rory Angiolella and Sam Baker shared the Tram Conductors’ player of the year award on Saturday evening, with a unique presentation in the rooms after the game.

The pair had just underlined their credentials with the role they played in the narrow victory over PEGS and now get to share in the golden bell.

Max Ellis took out second place and third was Matt Kyroussis.

Earlier Murray Johnstone and Anthony Lewis of the Tram Conductors presented two special awards – with the awarding of the Tram Conductors’ pens to Michael Pickering for his role as ‘father figure’ around the club, and to Ross Borland for embodying the pride and passion the conductors like to see from those in the Fitzroy colours.

In presenting the award, Anthony said “I’m a lifelong Fitzroy fan and I don’t give a stuff whether you win, lose or draw when you’re out there, I just love seeing the Fitzroy jumper and playing with pride and passion.”

Northcote High does it again

Congratulations to Northcote High School, winning the State Championships for the second year in a row, with a 27-point victory over Galen Catholic College, Wangaratta.

The side was co-captained by our own Donovan Toohey and Sunny Brazier and featured a number of Fitzroy Junior Colts and Fitzroy Under 19s, including Max Tieman, Alex Prokos, Darcy Lowrie, Marcel Laidlaw and Liam O'Connor.

Dedication for Sportsman’s War Memorial

Members of the public and the club are invited to the dedication of the beautifully upgraded Sportsman’s War Memorial at Edinburgh Gardens on Sunday 9 September from 2-4pm.

The Mayor, Councillor Daniel Nguyen, and Councillors of the City of Yarra will join members of the public to pay recognition to the importance of the memorial.

The Sportsman's War Memorial was erected in memory of members of the local sporting clubs who died in the First World War. To further highlight the position and significance of the Memorial, some interpretive and enhancement works have now been completed.

The memorial was funded and erected by the Fitzroy cricket, football, tennis, baseball and bowling clubs and the City of Yarra has undertaken the works.

If you would like to go, please RSVP by Tuesday 4 September to brona.keenan@yarracity.vic.gov.au or 9205 5212

BBQ queen Kerry Winchester will be working so that guests can have a sausage sizzle as part of the day.

Photo by Phyllis Queally.

Redlow bookings open

Last year it was Max Ellis and Tash Ross-Harris who took senior honours on Redlow night.

To be at Fitzroy’s night of nights for the announcement of the best and fairest winners in all six teams, book your ticket for Redlow 2018 on Friday 5 October.

The club will again celebrate its season at the Regal Ballroom in Northcote and with four teams making finals, the competition for bragging rights will be hot.

Bookings are open now and will close on Thursday 20 September. You can book individually or any number up to 10 tickets. There are 10 seats to a table.

Book online here.

This weekend’s games

Semi Final: Williamstown CYMS vs Fitzroy Seniors – VAFA Premier C Seniors – Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote, 2.00pm, Saturday 1 September (charges apply)
Semi Final: Fitzroy Reserves vs Williamstown CYMS – VAFA Premier C Reserves – Bill Lawry Oval, Northcote, 11.40am, Sunday 2 September (charges apply)