The Fitzroy Football Club is thrilled to provide some good news in what has been a difficult year for the football community, we can now proudly announce the re-signing of our Senior Mens Head Coach, Luke Mahoney, for Season 2021.

The decision to reappoint Luke was unanimously voted by the Board off the back of his progress with the Senior Mens side in previous seasons including coaching the team to the 2018 premiership in C and promotion to Premier B in 2019 in which the side was able to maintain their place in the division.

Season 2020 was not a year anyone could have anticipated and while we were keen to see the continued development of the side under his stewardship on the field, it has been his leadership during this most difficult of times that has beyond impressed the Board, the players and the wider Fitzroy community.

The Club is excited to extend this opportunity to Luke to continue building on the development and game plan he envisioned, but also to work closely with the Mens program as we come out of this tough time and aim to re-set for Season 2021.

Fitzroy President Joan Eddy is ecstatic about Lukes reappointment, "Were thrilled to have Luke continue to be part of our Club and commit for season 2021 after weve all experienced such a difficult time this year. It gives our players, our members and community, a strong sense of confidence and assurance for the season ahead."

Luke is looking forward to 2021 and his continued involvement with the Club:

Im really excited to be involved again in 2021. For me, in football terms, 2021 will feel like a natural extension of 2020, and I was keen to keep working with the group that had committed themselves through the preseason and throughout the interrupted period due to Covid-19. The continual development of the younger players, the influx of new faces and the injury free veterans position the club well as we hopefully head back into a football season."

Director of Player Wellbeing and Recruiting, Michael Pickering was also keen to ensure the Clubs Senior Mens squad coaches were locked in for 2021 after the setbacks 2020 had provided so work on recruiting could begin as soon as possible.

The entire club is excited and buoyed by Lukes reappointment for 2021 and the commitment by all the other Senior Mens squad coaches to be involved next season." Pickering said.

"Whilst the non-season has been frustrating for all, it has given Luke and his team the opportunity to invest more time into our core of young talented senior type players to ready them for what we hope will be an really exciting 2021 season for the club in Premier B/p>

The Club is also proud to announce contract extensions for the current Senior Men's squad coaches for 2021 as follows:

Bernie Carter: Mens Reserves Coach
Michael Manley: Assistant Senior Mens Coach
Karl Jackson: Senior Mens Line Coach
Andrew Pettigrove: Senior Mens Line Coach

The Club will make announcements for the Fitzroy-ACU Senior Womens squad positions and other coaching positions in due course.