By Men's Reserves coach Bernie Carter

After last playing a competitive game in 2019, and not having a season due to Covid-19 in 2020, it was going to be a really interesting season ahead. Our preseason was fantastic, we just wanted to get back out on the park with the boys and run around again, having a kick. The number of players we had attending preseason training was amazing. New players, returning players and players who had trained during 2020 returning as well.

Getting to know the new players and how they would fit into the team was an interesting challenge in itself and over the preseason and practice matches, the task only seemed to get harder. But that was a great experience and it got me excited about the year ahead, hoping to win enough games to qualify for the finals. However, there was a lot of hard work ahead of us in the journey we were on together.

There was a lot of highlights for the year and some disappointments as well. We won seven games from an 11-game season and by the time when the season was officially cancelled, we finished fourth on the ladder. We were looking to compete in the finals which would have been fantastic for all the hard work the players had put in during such a stop-and-start season.

The players turned up to training each week with enthusiasm and motivation to train hard and get the best out of themselves, ready to play and compete in the Fitzroy jumper.

It was great to see Cailean Moore play his 200th game against Ajax and come away with a win for him on such a special day. And he played a great game that day. Watching some guys have the opportunity to play their first games of Senior football for the Club was also a proud moment and seeing the development of players during the course of the year was a huge highlight.

To welcome a host of new players to the Club and watch them during preseason and the season proper, representing the Club for the first time was also special. Seeing their enjoyment of playing footy again, making new mates and embracing the culture of the footy Club really summed up what Fitzroy is all about.

A tough moment for the year was our narrow loss to Beaumaris at Banksia Oval by 3-points on the last kick of the day in very difficult conditions. The boys played a fantastic game but we just fell short.

Obviously, the biggest disappointment was the season being cancelled and not getting the opportunity to represent the Club in finals. The players were looking forward to meeting that challenge head on. All we can do now is look forward to another great preseason, and hope to get back on the park in 2022 for a full season of footy.

I would just like to thank President Joan Eddy and the Board, our supporters, partners, coaching staff, sponsors, volunteers and players for all their support during the year and making sure we could play the game we love.