Thank you to Fitzroys members, fans, players and in particular our volunteers who helped put on an incredible day of local footy at Brunswick Street Oval
on Monday.
A huge crowd on Hipster Hill added to the atmosphere during the triple header against Ajax, in which the visitors took the
overall points for the day, winning the seniors and the thirds.
On field, the incredible highlight was a pressure kick from Jack Beech after the siren to win the Reserves game. He kicked truly to steer Fitzroy home by one goal in a major milestone game for Sam Buckley and Richard Willingham.
In the seniors, Ajax proved the stronger team and with straight kicking would have been well in front at half time. In the
second half, Fitzroy showed plenty of fight and determination but went down in the end by 18 points. Tom Biscaro and Tom Cheshire were Fitzroys best,
along with vice-captain Dom Pound-Palmieri, who took the one percenter award for the second week in a row.
Speaking after the game, Ajax coach Marty Pask said hed like the Anzac Day game to be an annual fixture between the two teams.
For a terrific write up of the day at Brunswick Street Oval, John Harms' piece in the Footy Almanac is a must for Fitzroy fans. For more on the game check out the VAFAs write up and they also featured an interview with our two 150 gamers on VAFA Tragics and in this story a href="http://www.vafa.com.au/latest-news/from-boys-to-roys/">Boys to Roys
A day like Monday doesnt happen without the incredible commitment and hard work of a wide range of volunteers, but special
mention must go to Kerry Winchester (and her fab kids) who worked the best BBQ in the VAFA all day long for a huge crowd. Bill Atherton, Wendy Symonds
and Janet Graham also did a roaring trade at the merchandise table. Thank you to one and all.
Commemoration of the Anzacs
In addition to the spine-tingling
playing of the Last Post pre-game, a moving ceremony at half time in the senior game on Monday acknowledged the fallen former Fitzroy players, with
wreaths laid at the war memorial at Brunswick Street Oval.
City of Yarra Mayor Roberto Colanzi and Peter Woods, President of Fitzroy History Society laid a wreath alongside another from the local RSL branch. The names and details of the players lost at war were read out by Fitzroy company secretary, Bill Atherton.
As part of the ceremony, the father and uncles of Fitzroy player Tom Cheshire sang the Flowers of the Forest, a beautiful tribute to the World War 1 diggers. Toms father Frank also spoke at the pre-game lunch about his uncle who had died in battle at Fromelles. The family will be going over to France for the 100th anniversary later this year. The grandfather of Ajax player Nick Lewis and father of Ajax President Ronnie Lewis, Gunner Lewis, also spoke about his experiences in World War II.
