The Fitzroy-ACU Senior Women’s side will host local rivals
West Brunswick to make history as the first senior sides to
play under lights at Brunswick Street Oval on Friday 14 June.
A successful Pick My Project grant bid, has enabled the installation
of new, more powerful lighting at BSO, which means more flexible
use of the ground and a greater ability to have the senior
women play at Fitzroy’s main home ground.
Fitzroy President, Joan Eddy said “We want to thank the community
for getting behind the club and voting for the lighting upgrade.
It would not have been possible without funding from the State
Government and the hard work of the City of Yarra team to get
the lights upgraded during the season.
“Our teams are simply thrilled to have the opportunity to
play under lights and I’d encourage everyone to come down and
be part of history with Friday night football at BSO.
“West Brunswick is having a very good season and I expect
it will be a great standard of game,” Joan said.
Fitzroy-ACU Senior Women’s v West Brunswick Brunswick Street Oval Friday 14 June 7.30pm
Welcome and smoking ceremony to see in tomorrow's game
For Reconciliation Week and to coincide with the AFL’s Indigenous
Round, Fitzroy is lucky enough to have Wurundjeri Elder Uncle
Ron Jones to welcome us to country tomorrow.
A smoking ceremony will precede the senior game tomorrow before
Fitzroy takes on Parkdale Vultures for the Norm Johnstone Trophy*.
Please be at the ground by 1.45pm if you’d like to be part
of this special moment.
Tomorrow’s lunch guest speaker Glenn James OAM, Yorta Yorta
man and former VFL Umpire, will be speaking about his experiences
as an Indigenous man umpiring our great game but will also
tell some stories about fellow Yorta Yorta man, Sir Doug Nicholls,
after whom the Indigenous Round is named.
It promises to be a big day so let’s get a big Fitzroy crowd
down to Brunswick Street – rain, hail or shine.
*Norm Johnstone played 228 games for Fitzroy in the 1940s
and 50s and was named in the Fitzroy team of the Century. He
hailed from the Chelsea Seagulls.
Sunny the VAFA star
We may not have had the
win, but Sunny Brazier’s performance last Saturday turned heads.
The star forward and former Fitzroy junior, who is now playing
a majority of his football with the Northern Knights, did his
best to get the seniors over the line against Old Geelong in
his first 2019 appearance for Fitzroy.
Despite the loss, Sunny was named as the VAFA’s Men’s Rising
Star for Round 7, thanks to his four goal, best on ground performance.
Read more on the VAFA website.
'Away from home' truths
This column
has started out being conversational, supportive, recognition
of the efforts of players even when the results don't
go our way. It understands the difficulties involved
in suburban football and has attempted to provide some
blow-by-blow accounts of what transpired in a game,
often with a satirical, humorous edge. Funny for some
I'm told. I'm sorry, that won't happen this week.
The 2s were inspirational in their endeavour, and
again, the result came their way. It would have been
easy after some of the defeats early in the season,
to concede, accept, roll over. Not this mob, well done
boys, more to come.
I have only fleetingly referred to my five pages of
notes in writing this.
What was dished up by the senior side in the last
20 minutes of Saturday's contest with Old Geelong was
simply not acceptable. To a large degree, it reflected
where the season sits, but to concede in the manner
we did was extremely hurtful to those that care. And
we must realise now the challenge that confronts the
club over the coming weeks. Anything less than maximum
effort on and off the track won’t cut it.
We can look for reasons, for statistical analysis,
for opinion, but be humbled by the fact that the opposition
showed more oomph, more system, more desire, more will
to win than we did in the last stanza. The game was
there to be won. After a tight first half in which
we led, we dominated the third, and were on top by
13 points early in the last. Signs were good immediately
after the final huddle.
Why the collapse? Football is not an easy game, but
it frequently requires effort beyond the norm. We can
look at our age profile, our youth, our paucity of
seasoned performers, but to use an expression I hate
using- ‘it is what it is’. You must find a way, using
the example of those who put body and mind on the line.
Injuries and unavailability are a curse. I understand,
football in the 'amo's is not a profession, it's an
interest, but is has to be an interest that has passion,
desire, team spirit and self-sacrifice in the mix.
Without it, you may as well be playing trugo in the
backyard, or bowls at the club next door. Or watching
on the hill with those who can't or won't play. Always
give yourself the best chance of playing and contributing.
There has to be a harder edge, with every individual
taking responsibility for providing it. You have a
fantastic supporter base; it encourages and provides
at every opportunity. The hard part of me wonders why
you are clapped off when you lose, or at half time
when you're in front. It's because they love you, love
the club, they want to see you with a winner's smile.
After Saturday at Como, you blokes owe a lot back.
Apologies to those who gave their all for the entire
game. No names, no pack drill, that's what should be
reasonably expected of you. A special mention however
to Sunny Brazier for his nomination as the round’s
Rising Star. It comes as no surprise to those of us
who know him and have seen him play before. He is continuing
to progress his game to higher levels.
Some say nice guys don't win football games. We have
the chance this Saturday against Parkdale to make some
very obvious public statements. Commitment to the cause,
raw courage, intelligent game sense, support of the
coach’s message. Nice guys can win football games!
Guy Gorilla.
Photos of the team in the Fitzroy heritage colours, by ACU student, Ellie Mitsch.
A big, beautiful win to the Under 23s
It was reward for persistence and determination. Our newest
team, the Fitzroy Under 23 Men, scored their first win on Saturday
and they did it in style.
Fitzroy led from start to finish against Old Brighton, coming
home strongly to win 15.10.100 to 5.6.54. A huge congratulations
to Tony Keehan and his team, who had battled hard for the start
of the season without a win.
A six goal first quarter
set things up and Fitzroy just put the foot down from there.
Daniel O’Connor kicked four goals and there were two each to
Ezra Darby, Daylon Seakins, Jack Barrett and Tom Hall, who
was also named as the best on ground. He was lucky enough to
pick up the first Under 23s Best on Ground award from Student Flights,
our latest sponsor.
There is another big opportunity tomorrow as they take on
Old Camberwell, who have also found the going tough in the
first few rounds of the season.
On Sunday, the Thirds notched up another win, coming from
behind to defeat arch rival Ajax at Gary Smorgon Oval. They
stay just one game behind ladder leader Caufield Grammarians.
The talented forward combo of Simon Heather (3 goals) and Tim
De Natris (2 goals) were on song, with Heather proving the
game winner, providing a strong target in gale force conditions.
The final score was 9.10.64 to 8.5.53.
The Reserves Men also added to the wins column on Saturday,
with a strong win against Old Geelong at Como Park. The team
is starting to get its mojo back and has moved up into 7th
spot on the ladder with that second win on a trot.
Old Geelong, as they always do, came home strongly at Como
Park, but the Roy Boys held firm and took the win 9.12.66 to
7.11.53.
They might not have taken the points, but the Fitzroy Under
19s gave it a red hot go when they took to Brunswick St Oval
against Old Ivanhoe on Saturday.
The Fitzroy team has been getting a taste of what the top
sides are capable of over the last few weeks, but they can
see the gap is not huge. The final score was 12.10.82 to 8.6.54.
Lewis Johnson and Jonathan Zapantis were the best players
and Charlie Johnstone kicked another three goals.
Tomorrow presents another tough test against second side Mazenod.
Peter Harrison captured some of the action below.
Half way and it's all to play for in the women's comp
It’s the halfway point of the VAFA Premier Women’s season
and Fitzroy-ACU has a huge mountain to climb to avoid relegation
in 2020.
The struggle was real against St Mary’s Salesian at Ramsden
Street on Saturday, with both sides working incredibly hard
but falling short.
A slow start was again the issue for the senior side; showing
plenty of talent and skill in the second half but not enough
to overcome the goalless first half. In a strong second half
showing, Tash Ross-Harris, Tess Plant-Thomas and the side’s
more experienced leaders Alexa Madden, Luci Murphy and Jess
Hayes gave it everything to try and get the points.
In the Ressies, Martha Loughnane and Calypso Poole battled
hard as St Mary’s showed their strengths. The loss leaves last
year’s grand finalists on the bottom of the ladder, equal with
several other teams, but with a low percentage.
The pictures tell the story and thanks to Peter Harrison,
we can bring you a gallery of the best images.
The final results were:
Senior Women: St Mary’s Salesian 5.4.34 to Fitzroy-ACU
2.7.19
Reserve Women: St Mary’s Salesian 3.13.31 to Fitzroy-ACU
0.2.2
Major Raffle – buy early, buy often!
Each year the Fitzroy Senior Coaches and leadership groups
nominate senior male and female players they believe would
benefit from sponsorship.
A sponsorship means our best players – or those who perhaps
need a bit more support – have the cost of their subs covered,
which enables them to go out and represent our club to the
best of their abilities.
If you have been a player sponsor in past years or have agreed
to be so in 2019, thank you for your support.
If you would like to support a player this year – in either
senior squad – it is not too late to take out Player Sponsorship.
All you need to do is click on the Player Sponsorship section
on the club website – click here or copy and paste this URL: https://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/sponsorship/categories
Your support is greatly appreciated by the nominated players
and by the club.
Do you have a favourite player you'd like to sponsor?
Each year the Fitzroy Senior Coaches and leadership groups
nominate senior male and female players they believe would
benefit from sponsorship.
A sponsorship means our best players – or those who perhaps
need a bit more support – have the cost of their subs covered,
which enables them to go out and represent our club to the
best of their abilities.
If you have been a player sponsor in past years or have agreed
to be so in 2019, thank you for your support.
If you would like to support a player this year – in either
senior squad – it is not too late to take out Player Sponsorship.
All you need to do is click on the Player Sponsorship section
on the club website – click here or copy and paste this URL: https://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/sponsorship/categories
Your support is greatly appreciated by the nominated players
and by the club.
Val on the mend
Just quick update to say our most vocal of fans, Val Alpress
is doing much, much better and has been able to go home after
a stint in the St George's Hospital in Kew.
Val had a fall earlier in the year, breaking her hip and her
wrist and while recovery has been slow, going home is a great
milestone.
Thank you to everyone who has visited, sent flowers or wished
Val well. She is definitely on the mend.
Get your cakes in the oven!
Fitzroy will host its annual afternoon tea at half time in
the game against Old Scotch on Saturday 29 June.
Save the date and VAFA bye
The Rotary Club of Fitzroy will host the next home game lunch
at Brunswick Street Oval on Saturday 22 June as Fitzroy takes
on the Monash Blues.
Details to come shortly.
As there is a VAFA bye over the June long weekend, there will
be no RedRoy Mail next week.
This weekend's games
Mazenod v Fitzroy Under 19s – Holmesglen
U19 Division 1 – Central Reserve North, 9.20am, Saturday
1 June
Old Camberwell v Fitzroy Under 23s – VAFA
Under 23s – Gordon Barnard Reserve, 9.20am, Saturday
1 June
Old Trinity v Fitzroy-ACU Reserve Women – VAFA Premier Reserve Women’s – Hughes Oval No 4,
11.40am, Saturday 1 June
Fitzroy Thirds v Beaumaris–
VAFA Thirds Division 1 – Ramsden Street Oval, 11.40am,
Saturday 1 June
Fitzroy Reserve Men v Parkdale Vultures
– VAFA Premier B Reserves – Brunswick Street Oval,
11.40am, Saturday 1 June
Old Trinity vFitzroy-ACU Senior Women –
VAFA Premier Women’s – Hudson Oval, 2pm, Saturday 1
June
Fitzroy Senior Men v Parkdale Vultures
– VAFA Premier B Seniors – Brunswick Street Oval, 2pm,
Saturday 1 June