Fitzroy Rotary is again playing a strong role in developing the leadership potential of our young players, with four Under 19 players recently presented with their scholarship at the annual awards night at the Fitzroy Victoria Bowling and Sports Club.

The Rotary largesse spreads right across many of the local Yarra sporting clubs and the lucky recipients for Fitzroy were Ethan Carswell, Jack Walter, Alex Prokos and Donald Bryce.

The recipients are chosen as those carrying the values behind rotary itself dedication, initiative, leadership, selflessness and in return for the sponsorship, the recipients will each undertake some form of community service with Rotary in the future.

Under 19s coach Greg Coleman nominated Fitzroys four scholarship recipients and here is a little of why they were chosen, with one tipped to be a future coach himself.

Ethan Carswell is the youngest in the Fitzroy Under 19 squad, having stepped up from Colts last year to help out with numbers. He is always the first to training and has rarely missed a training session since the start of preseason. Ethan only started playing footy in the Under 14s and hailing from a Queensland rugby playing background, has a reputation for frenzied tackling. Noted for his third and fourth efforts, Ethan took out the most courageous award in his second year of footy.

Alex Prokos  was another who was late to take up footy, but his coach says youd swear hed been playing all his life. Alex is a line breaking runner with a raking left kick but most feared without ball in hand, as a run-down tackle specialist. He is a strong runner and builds his game around that, and is in his schools all-time top 10 beep testers. Alex has been praised for his commitment, making the long trek from Mernda to each training session so that he can play with his Northcote High mates at Fitzroy.

Jack Walter crossed from Kensington to Fitzroy three years ago and also makes a strong effort to get across town for every training session. The Under 19s centre half back just keeps improving and clearly sets himself some pretty lofty goals. He trekked the Kokoda track last year and is a winner of the Pierre De Coubertin medal for his school, for sporting achievement and endeavours consistent with those of the Olympic movement.

Donald Bryce was a long time Fitzroy junior, starting AusKick when he was six. Hes been playing footy for two thirds of his life and has won a couple of team best and fairests along the way! Like Ethan, Donald answered the call for help with Fitzroy Under 19 numbers last year as a Colt. He is often out-sized, but never out-smarted. Greg Coleman says he sees the game so well hes a definite future coach.

Congratulations boys and a huge thank you to Fitzroy Rotary for their ongoing support and for the wider role they play in the local community.

You can see the boys in action tomorrow when the Under 19s play Collegians at Ramsden Street at 2pm. Its must-win game.