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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: PHIL MURDOCH
2016 SEASON’S END
In the blink of an eye our children are another 6 months older and, I can confidently say, all the better for being part of the Fitzroy Junior Football Club/Village.
In her recent acceptance speech, our 2016 Club Person of the Year, Jodie Munro, quoted the ancient African proverb “It takes a Village to raise a child”. I reckon she was spot on.
As parents we look for an environment where our children can grow and flourish; where they are challenged and learn to take risks. As a Club/Village, we help them search within themselves to recognise their potential. As mentors and role models, together we provide a cocoon around our children that provides stimulation, opportunity and responsibility … and they learn to play football!
As parents, though, we also embark on our own journey: the privilege that comes with being the Village elders. There is conventional wisdom that is handed down, but we have to learn together with our other families the path to be travelled. Just as our children grow, so do we … and we get to have a kick of the football!
Highlights this year for our Club include:
- Our inaugural Under 10 girls’ team.
- All four girls’ teams capped out in numbers, standing girls football in great stead for the future.
- Family friendly themed Roys Recovery’s – a place to make a destination on a Sunday evening.
- Our children taking on umpiring duties.
- The development of our Culture and Conduct policies which contributed to us not having one League disciplinary tribunal appearances
- On the back of being the first Club to have 3 Colts teams in 2015, having 3 Colts teams in 2016 coming top 2 – a testament to the Clubs development from 10 year old boys.
- 24 teams with 570 players
Travelling around to watch the games, I loved watching our players, irrespective of their aptitude, run around each Sunday wearing the Fitzroy jumper with commitment and enthusiasm.
To our committed coaches and team managers and the support of our many parent volunteers, I extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you.
To our sponsors the Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bendigo Bank, Tassal Salmon, Chemist Warehouse, Brisbane Lions FC, Donnini’s Restaurant, Fitzroy Bowls Club, Fitzroy Rotary and Jonathan’s the Butcher. THANK YOU.
Finally, to our dedicated Committee members who do so much work behind the scenes: projects and outcomes that we take for granted. Again, THANK YOU.
Keep an eye out for our new interactive website due to be launched shortly.
While you get out the cricket bats, tennis racquets, swimming cozzies and lawn mowers, we now go into the season review and strategic planning for 2017. You maybe interested in joining the Committee or assisting in various voluntary roles – let us know at [email protected]
I am proud to be a part of this Village.
And remember - you ARE the Fitzroy Junior Football Club.
Go Roys!
Phil Murdoch
ANNOUNCING - James Doughney Girls 2016 Club Champion of the Year Award. - NELL MORRIS-DALTON
Nell this year (as a 15-16 year old) has played in both the U18 National Championships for Victoria (title winners) as the starting Ruck and the National School championships (U16s).
Nell also played for the Calder Cannons in the inaugural U16 State League early in the season and regularly figured in the ‘best player’s that lead to selection for Victoria.
Certainly not least Nell has been a key player for the Youth Girls success this season both on game day and at training despite missing several games due to her representative commitments.
Whether Nell is playing for FJFC, Calder or Victoria, she competes with such competitiveness and effort that her opponents are routinely are made to look like bystanders.
Her game-sense is exceptional in reading and anticipating the movement of the ball and her ability to win the hardball at ground level or in the air belies her height.
Equally comfortable in a congested pack or running in space and taking a bounce, Nell makes the most of every possession and is able to turn the game in her teams favour – Nell is a dominant player and rarely puts in a bad performance even when her multiple commitments become physically demanding.
But perhaps Nell’s greatest quality is her positive outlook – whether its cracking gags with her team-mates or calling for them to play together and lift when needed, she is an exceptional player and team-mate – SOMEONE THAT MAKES FOOTBALL WORTH WATCHING.
Gray Barton - Youth Girls Co Coach 2016
ANNOUNCING - James Doughney Boys 2016 Club Champion of the Year Award. - SUNNY BRAZIER
Sunny has enjoyed an excellent year on-field – as Captain of the side and playing as a key forward as well as in the midfield, he has been a significant part of the team’s success.
Having played over 100 games with the Club, he has personally matured as a leader of the team, and whilst he enjoys the camaraderie and friendship that football brings, he has lead the team by example with his training attendance, work effort and encouragement of those around him.
His ability has seen him previously play representative footy, and his form this season has elevated him to playing Colts 1 as well.
Sunny has grown as a player and a person during the season, and has proved to be an outstanding leader of the team.
Robbie McKenzie - Colts 3 Coach 2016
ANNOUNCING - Brisbane-Fitzroy Historical Society Club Person of the Year Award. - JODIE MUNRO
Presented by Sam Lord - Brisbane Lions Victorian Manager.
This award recognises Jodie’s outstanding contribution to the ongoing development of the FJFC, community-based football and young people.
It reflects her 5 years of service to the Club as Team Manager and Committee Member responsible for Football Operations.
Jodie’s commitment to the Clubs' values of Fairness, Sportsmanship and Wellbeing are to be lauded.
Phil Murdoch - President 2016
Jodie dipped her toes into the football ocean when her son Darcy joined Auskick. Not content with standing on the sidelines she became the Coordinator of the Fitzroy/Carlton Centre and ran it with precision and accomplishment.
As Coach of her son, I looked no further than Jodie to be our Team Manager of the fledgling U10 FJFC team. Behind the scenes she organised the team "to with in an inch of its life" for 3 years.
As President of the Club, her legacy is in her role on the Committee and as Football Operations Manager over the past 5 years.
From 18 to 24 teams to facilitate, she managed this portfolio with authority and direction.
However Jodie's intellect, compassion and sense of Community is what sets her on a pedestal for the Fitzroy Junior Football Club.
In Jodie's words "It takes a Village to raise a child and I am proud to be a PART of this Village"...indeed Jodie played her significant PART.
CONGRATULATIONS JODIE.
U12 Girls, U15/1, Colts 3 - Premiers 2016
2016 Finalist Announced...
The home and away season now complete. Well done to all of our 24 teams and 560+ kids that ran out to play for the Roys this year.
As a club, our aim is to win roughly as many games as we lose... Winning is not everything and our parent and player surveys strongly reflect this. It's a delicate balancing act with team selections and working closely with the YJFL with grading - usually, we get it pretty right. Not forgetting our stellar coaching line up who all contribute to uphold the FJFC coaches philosophy of Teamwork • Respect • Mentoring.
Across the club this year, we have landed in the sweet spot - 161 wins, 139 losses and 3 draws! (so far...)
We are now looking forward to the finals!
From 17 eligible teams, we have 9 qualified for finals.
Congratulations and best of luck to:
• Colts 1
• Colts 2
• Colts 3
• Youth Girls (first finals appearance)
• U15.1
• U13.1
• U13.2
• U12 Girls
• U11.3
A special mention to the Under 10 Girls - winning the first ever U10Girls Lightning Premiership!
Keep an eye out for match announcements and get out to support the boys and girls in the coming weeks.
Go Roys!
Matt Drew
FJFC Coaching Coordinator
ROUND 15 - UMPIRES APPRECIATION ROUND
PUT SIMPLY - Without the Umpires our game could not proceed.
As we reach the last home and away game this weekend it's time to recognise the contribution our Umpires make week in week out. It can be a thankless role, which is all the more reason for us to individually and collectively take the time to thank them.
Our Club and others have children that take an official umpiring role either on the field or boundary each weekend. It is an endeavour that we encourage and support. Potential junior Umpires take their cues from us as coaches, parents, supporters and fellow players. We can set the tone of encouragement by our actions.
So this weekend think twice about offering that gratuitous advise and instead take the time to pat them on the back and say THANK YOU.
Roys Recovery this weekend will be themed around our Umpires Appreciation Round.
Phil Murdoch
President
AFL Coaching course for females
The YJFL and AFL Victoria will be running a Level 1 Coaching Course this year for females only, to be held during the September school holidays. Participants will earn an AFL Level 1 Coaching accreditation which will be valid for 4 years. The course will give you an understanding of youth participation, with a specific focus on what motivates youth participants, social aspects of working with and managing players in this age range (12-18), specific communication skills and developing higher level skill and understanding.
The course will be held on Saturday 17th September. We have made the course on a weekend during the school holidays which will hopefully allow for all girls, mums, sisters and aunties to attend.
Price will be given at a later notice, depending on the level of interests
Roy Girls Footy Carnival
A day to celebrate the growth of the Fitzroy Junior Roy Girls!!
An all-day of girls footy across our home grounds and continued to celebrate the day into the night with another Roy's Recovery at the Fitzroy Bowling Club and welcomed Katie Brennan as our guest speaker.
Congratulations to:
- Sadie Gray our 1st Roy Girl registered and still playing
- Ellie McKenzie and Nell Morris Dalton for being selected to play in the National U15 girl’s championships in Queensland and to The Club for raising a huge amount on the night that will them help finance their trip.
- 5 x Rotary Sports Leadership Scholarships recipients:
- Maddie De Bondt - U12 girls
- Luke Williams - U14 boys
- Dominque Quirk - U15 girls
- Nell Morris Dalton – Youth Girls
- Jason King - Colts boys
Special Thanks to:
- All Roy Girls and Coaches for playing with pride on the day.
- Katie Brennan (Western Bulldogs) for sharing her journey and for offering development coaching to support Nell and Ellie.
- Our Roy Girls Molly Eastman (Youth) Ella Smallacombe (u15); Claudia Hetherington (u12) and Zoe Hargreaves (u10) for getting the courage to participate in the Q&A with Katie.
- Peter Hille (Director of Rotary Club & Chairman of Community Bendigo Bank) for being our charismatic MC.
- Jeff Hooper (YJFL Female Football Director) for making time to attend.
- Steve Margettes for hosting the Fitzroy Merchandise stall after coaching a game and supporting another.
- Jimmy Cotte for his Café Van and donating proceeds of the day back to the Club.
- Sophie Ioannou (Roy Girls Development Manager) for initiating and facilitating this inaugural event.
- Phil Murdoch (President) for his usual tireless efforts.
Roy Girls Footy
Welcome to Country
Despite an ominous forecast of rain, a large and enthusiastic crowd gathered at Victoria Park for our special Friday night Indigenous Round. (Perhaps the past elders of the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of the land, intervened.) Our Welcome to Country ceremony was held under clear skies and shining brightly stars. Uncle Ron performed the ceremonial smoking ritual, adorned in his possum skin cloak. He told stories of the Indigenous attachment to land and recounted the remarkable life of Sir Doug Nicholls.
With perfect conditions, two exciting games of footy and a spirit of respect and generosity, the event was a huge success.
Thank you and well done to both Beverley Hills and Park Orchards Junior Football Clubs for their involvement.
Thank you to our Mayor Roberto Colanzi for his presence and support.
Congratulations to our Youth Girls and Colts 1 Boys on their wins.
Special mention to our Joe Johnson medal winners Molly Eastman and Harrison Grace, who were presented their awards by last year’s medallist, Aaron Tatchell.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: PHIL MURDOCH
AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round
Doug Nicholls’ life is one of the great stories of Australian Rules football. He played 54 games for Fitzroy and was also a brilliant all-round athlete. The first Indigenous person to be knighted, he served as Governor of South Australia and was devoted to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Fully engaging in white Australian life while staying true to his culture, he epitomised the spirit of reconciliation
Since 2011, the Fitzroy Junior Football Club has recognised our shared history during the AFL’s Indigenous Round.
Apart from its association with Sir Doug Nicholls, the Fitzroy Football Club is also known as the club where, in 1904, the first “known aboriginal” player, Joe Johnson, played football.
Joe played for three years with two Premiership flags in 1904-05. His great-grandsons, Robert and Trent Cummings. went on to play at Fitzroy.
At each of our 24 games this weekend, we award the Joe Johnson Medal to two players from each game (one from each team) who demonstrate the values of the Indigenous Round: “Endurance, Tenacity, Courage, Loyalty and Pride”.
Just as we are a proud community sporting club, so the Australian Indigenous community is proud and resilient.
Our Club pays respect to the Elders - past, present and emerging - of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional owners of the land where we gather and play football every week.
We believe that understanding our shared past and recognising our interconnected lives today will achieve the goal of Reconciliation.
I invite all members of the FJFC to come together at Victoria Park this Friday night to celebrate the opening of the Indigenous Round starting with our Youth Girls playing (5.30pm), then Welcome to Country Ceremony (7.00pm) and Colts 1 playing (7.30pm). Also join us on at the Fitzroy Bowling Club on Sunday from 5.30pm onward for Roys Recovery.
This is our chance to raise our voices in support of the values and aspirations of an inclusive, respectful, reconciled Australia.
Round 7
Indigenous Round
JOE JOHNSON MEDAL
Fitzroy Football Club is known as the club where in 1904 the first “known aboriginal” player Joe Johnson, played football.
Joe played 3 years with 2 premiership caps in 1904-05. His great grandsons going onto play for Fitzroy – Robert and Trent Cummings.
Since 2011 the Fitzroy Junior Football Club has recognised our Shared History during Indigenous Round alongside the AFL.
We award a medal to two players from each game this round (one from each team) who demonstrate:
“Endurance, Tenacity, Courage, Loyalty and Pride”
Since 2011 the Fitzroy Junior Football Club has recognised our Shared History during Indigenous Round alongside the AFL.
We award a medal to two players from each game this round (one from each team) who demonstrate:
“Endurance, Tenacity ,Courage, Loyalty and Pride”
A message from the president: Phil Murdoch
2016 SEASON’S WELCOME
It’s that time of year again, when we say goodbye to Summer, bring out the brolly, brush off the footy boots, upgrade the mouthguard and drag out the hoodie. Welcome to the Yarra Junior Football League Season 2016!
This season, the Fitzroy Junior Football Club welcomes 120 new players who will be wearing the famous Lions guernsey for the first time. Added to our existing list, the Club can count over 510 players within 23 teams.
WILL our girls and boys be excited, be nervous, beam with delight when taking a mark, frown in frustration when missing a goal, look to the boundary for praise or for reassuring support, be proud to wear our guernsey? YOU BET!
As I talk to people both inside and outside the Club, I am reminded of how the Fitzroy Junior Football Club is respected and held in such high regard. From its humble beginnings in 1993, our Club has grown to be one of the largest junior football clubs within Australia.
But our strength is not only in our numbers. It is also in our values: of Fairness, Sportsmanship and Wellbeing.
We are a Club that prides itself on participation rather than top-of-the-competition success and as a result our players of all ability are appreciated and encouraged.
Our children grow to become young adults and experience the life skills that come from playing a team sport, including the attributes of resilience, tolerance and fairness. They share the rewards of success and deal with the tribulations of defeat. They do this under the shelter and safety of our Club’s umbrella, with the guidance of our dedicated Committee Members, Coaches and Team Managers and the support of our many Parent Volunteers. To all of you, I extend an early and heartfelt THANK YOU.
I love that all of our players, irrespective of their skill, run out on the ground each Sunday wearing the Fitzroy jumper with pride, commitment and enthusiasm.
This is time also to recognise the Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bendigo Bank, our major sponsor who generously provide our guernseys. Again, THANK YOU.
Keep an eye out for our new interactive website due to be launched shortly.
A warm welcome to all of our players, families and extended community. I look forward to being of service and interacting with you all over the course of Season 2016. Please don’t hesitate to tap me on the shoulder and say hello
And remember - You ARE the Fitzroy Junior Football Club.
Go Roys!
Phil Murdoch