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Reserves win by 93 as seniors lose by 19 points

4.45 pm Saturday 18th May 2013

The Fitzroy Reserves have consolidated their place in the Top 4 with a resounding 93 point win over Old Haileybury at the Brunswick Street Oval this afternoon.

Unfortunately it is a similar story for the seniors, with the Fitzroy team struggling against a classier Old Haileybury side. The game was lost in the first half with the Old Haileybury side jumping to a 32 point lead by half time. Fitzroy fought back in thr second half reducing the final deficit to 19 points by game's end.

A loss today sees the ninth placed senior side under the pump to clear themselves from the relegation zone, with a 0-6 record and possibly two games shy of eighth placed Parkdale.

Final scores in the senior game are Fitzroy 9.11.65 to Old Haileybury 12.12.84.

Fitzroy's 1989 Reserves premiership team re-unite

11.00 am Tuesday 14th May 2013

Fitzroy's Club’s Historical Society in Melbourne recently wound the clock back 24 years ago to reunite the players, coaches and officials who were part of Fitzroy’s 1989 reserves premiership.

It remains the last premiership of any type that our club won prior to the club's exit from the AFL, and is remembered fondly by the old ‘Roys faithful.

The match was played at the MCG as the curtain-raiser to the VFL senior Grand Final between Hawthorn and Geelong, which many still consider to be the best ever. But for Lions fans, it was their own team’s stunning come-from-behind win in the earlier match – coincidentally against the Cats’ reserves – that will forever be associated with that particular day. Fitzroy made their way through to the reserves Grand Final against all odds by defeating the more high-fancied Essendon and Carlton reserves sides.

Their dream run looked to have come to an end midway through the third quarter, with Geelong holding a comfortable seven-goal lead, before a brutal melee erupted. The incident ultimately helped kick-start the Lions who went on to record a remarkable two-point victory. The match would also serve as the last hurrah for some of the Club’s all-time greats – including Michael Conlan, Leon Harris and Ross Thornton – who decided to hang up the boots at the end of the 1989 season. Around 150 Historical Society members and guests joined Conlan, Thornton, Harris, Mark Scott, Chris Waterson, Graham Osborne and many others at Etihad Stadium last Thursday night to take a trip down memory lane. Please find below some of the stories from Fitzroy’s reserves premiership – as they were remembered 24 years later:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBERT SHAW (COACH) On what triggered the turnaround after half-time “Two words – Robert Bolzon. Geelong had two very good players. Darren Morgan, who had kicked five goals in the first half, and he failed to see out the game. And they also had a very good first rover called Gary Cameron, and he failed to salute the judges at the end of game too. One was courtesy of Robbie Bolzon, and the other courtesy of Darren Wheildon. So Geelong were forced to play two short, and we caught them. But seriously, I remember Graham Osborne did some inspirational stuff in the centre of the ground, including a long, long goal just before three quarter time which brought us back to within 30 points. Back in those days 30 points was insurmountable, whereas nowadays you can cruise past it. I guess the old blokes took over then, guys like Leon (Harris), Michael (Conlan) and Ross (Thornton). They really took over.” On the crowd at the MCG “The game was played on a very special day, because it was when Gary Ablett kicked nine goals against Hawthorn, which still goes down as one of the great Grand Finals. And from about halfway through the third quarter and the last quarter, we got to play in front of around 100,000 people.”

CHRIS WATERSON On playing at the MCG “I think we played four finals in a row at Waverley, from memory. It was a lot of hard work to get there. Of course, when you’re 19 you’re used to going to the MCG to watch a Grand Final – you don’t ever expect to go there and play in one. It was a great experience. I remember thinking halfway through the first quarter that we probably weren’t going to win, but that it was still a great experience. And then, all of sudden, it just happened...”

MICHAEL CONLAN On whether he was involved in the third quarter melee “Certainly not. At that stage of my career, being 31 years of age, I was well beyond that. When it did start to happen, I admit that I started to feel sorry for the guys getting hit. Our players did become quite aggressive, and it certainly changed the game. I cringed a little bit at some of the punches that were thrown, and it sent a shock through Geelong. It certainly sparked a bit of enthusiasm for the rest of our players, and then fortunately we went on and played football.”

MARK SCOTT On how Fitzroy qualified for the Grand Final “I think we played Bulldogs in Round 22, and really had to win it to get in (the Finals). For the first final, we had about six senior guys come into the side, and I don’t know about the rest of the guys, but there was a bit of a feeling that it could have been our last game. Then we beat Essendon in a pretty rough sort of game that we weren’t supposed to win. They had some really good players, so it was a really tough game. I remember going to training the next week and there was a different attitude. It was almost like ‘we weren’t finished just yet’. It was brilliant.”

Don’t miss the Historical Society’s annual dinner on Wednesday 31 July at the Veneto Club in Bulleen, when they honour Fitzroy great Bill Stephen.

You can become a member of the Historical Society for just $20, which goes towards helping preserve the wonderful Museum located at Etihad Stadium.

Fitzroy Major Raffle tickets now on sale!

10.30 am Wednesday 24th April 2013

Forget about winning Tattslotto, you've got a better chance of victory by purchasing a ticket in the Fitzroy 2013 Major raffle!

Tickets are $10 each and there are some amazing prizes to be won from Gold Coast holidays to Toyota AFL Grand Finals series tickets - which is not just a ticket to the Grand Final but a ticket for each week of the 2013 Toyota AFL Finals Series!

A table at The Footy Show is also on offer- the most sought after ticket in television and a spending spree at the Fitzroy Shop!

How can you not want to get a ticket for the Raffle?

Prize list is as follows:
1st Prize: 7 Day holiday to the Gold Coast for 2 (incl airfares and accommodation), valued at $2,500 donated by CTS Travel Services, Altona
2nd Prize: Table for 10 people at the Channel Nine Footy Show in 2013 valued at $1,000.
3rd Prize: 2 Tickets to the 2013 Toyota AFL Grand Final Series valued at $1,100 donated by the Brisbane Lions (Code OSAFL 13/16)
4th Prize: Voucher for the Fitzroy Football Club Shop valued at $350 donated by The Fitzroy Shop

Printing of raffle tickets was sponsored by Moonlight Receptions, 622 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy

The Raffle will be drawn on the 15th of June, 2013 at 6pm in the Community Rooms at Brunswick Street Oval, Fitzroy.

CLICK HERE for an order form.

Tatura RSL to auction Kevin Murray signed jumper

9.00 am Saturday 27th April 2013

The Tatura RSL will be auctioning a Kevin Murray signed heritage Fitzroy jumper.

This one off “expression of interest” for an AFL football jumper signed by Mr Kevin Murray, 9 times Best and Fairest for Fitzroy Football Club, Brownlow Medalist, AFL Hall of Fame and AFL legend is kindly donated by Kevin to assist the Tatura RSL in its project to erect a statue in Honour of Private Robert Mactier V.C. and to improve the War Memorial.

The “expression of interest” is open now and closes at 5pm on Sunday the 30th of June 2013, there is a reserve on this one off edition.

The framed jumper measures 110cms high by 80cms wide.

Please send by email to emla53@mcmedia.com.au or by post to:

Tatura RSL
c/o P.O. Box 427
Tatura 3616 Victoria

with your full contact details and bid amount.

For more information 0418 393 525 or the above email address.

As this is a Not for Profit Project only those who are genuine need bid.

Reserves go down by three points as seniors struggle.

10.00 pm Tuesday April 23rd 2013

An inaccurate Fitzroy reserves team have suffered a heart-breaking three point loss in their reserves game against Old Trinity in Round 2 of Premier B.

Meanwhile in the seniors, Fitzroy failed to score against Old Trinity in the first quarter and at half time remain goalless. The third quarter saw a a much more competitive effort as both Fitzroy and Old Trinity kicked three goals. The highlight for Roys supporters at the ground was a fantastic mark by Luke Ablett. At three quarter time Old Trinity have scored 11.13.79 to Fitzroy's 3.6.24 to lead by 55 points. The final score was 5-9-39 to Old Trinity 14-19-103. Best for the day were Mat Kyroussis, Luke Ablett, Daniel Bisetto, Jack Dalton, Tom Cheshire and Luke Baker who was playing his first Senior game – Luke is a member of the Under 19s.

The Reserves took Old Trinity at Brunswick Street Oval after the unfurling of the 2012 premiership flag. The first half of the game was a close one with the scores at the main break Fitzroy 5-10-40 to Old Trinity 7-6-48. In the third quarter Old Trinity were kept scoreless whilst Fitzroy put on 20 points (3-2). The last quarter was a changing one and with inaccuracy again a problem for Fitzroy in front of goal with the final scores Fitzroy 8-17-65 to Old Trinity 10-8-68. Goal Kickers were Chris Doherty and Chris Polidoras with 2 each and 1 each to Antony Harbor, Dan Morgan, James McGee and Max Oliver. The best were Chris Doherty, Cheyne Evans, Mike Lee, Cameron Ball, Chris Polidoras and Antony Harbor. This Saturday the Reserves will take on Old Brighton at Brunswick Street Oval at 11.40am.

The Thirds unfurled their premiership flag at Ramsden Street Reservel before their game against Old Trinity. The first quarter was even and Fitzroy took the lead in the second quarter with the score at half time Fitzroy 5-3-33 to Old Trinity 2-2-14. The boys came out after the main break and didn’t look back, putting on another 7 goals, finishing the game Fitzroy 12-9-81 to Old Trinity 5-7-37. Goal kickers were Philip Carydis, Luke Novello, J. Murray and Bryce McAdam all kicking 2 each, and 1 each to Adam Franklin, Sam Buckle, Stephen Pang and Harry Kemp. This week the Thirds take on Old Brighton, Bright Beach Oval at 11.40am.

The U19s travelled down the Nepean Highway to take on Parkdale Vultures. Fitzroy had a great start kicking 4 goals to none in the first quarter with Parkdale fighting back in the second quarter to bring the half time score Fitzroy 6-3-39 to Parkdale 5-5-35. Unfortunately Parkdale kept on the roll adding 7 goals in the last half to our 3, bringing the final score to Fitzroy 9-9-63 to Parkdale 13-11-89. The goal kickers were Dylan Leech leading the way with 4, Angelo Garcia 2 and 1 each to Jacob Fraser, Jules Meltzer and Otto Ishak. Best players were Edward Bryan, Dylan Leech, Jacob McCormack, Joe Hill, Josh Sawyer and Nick Gibbons. This week they take on Old Carey, Carey Sporting Complex at 2pm.

The Club XVIII took on De La Salle in the 2pm game at Ramsden Street Reserve. De La Salle started out strong in the first quarter and didn’t look back. The final score was Fitzroy 1-5-11 to De La Salle 22-17-149. The only goal kicker was Sean Zurek and the best players were Sean Zurek, Stephen Smit, Chris Fergin, Rod Harmeston, Elias Barnes and Nathan White. This coming Saturday they take on Oakleigh back home at Ramsden Street Reserve, 2pm.

Fitzroy seniors lose but Reserves notch up win

4.50 pm Saturday April 13th 2013

Fitzroy's reserves have got the club off on a winning note as they have defeated the Ajax Reserves by 22 points, in overcast conditions. However Fitzroy's seniors have suffered a significant defeat losing by 93 points to Ajax. Final scores were Fitzroy 4.11.35 to Ajax 18.20.128.

With co-captain Rory Angiolella and last season's Best and Fairest winner Josh Vanisstart missing from the senior line up, the task of winning was always going to be more difficult. After a solid start in the first quarter where the Roys were competitive and only trailing by 14 points, the second quarter was a different story. Ajax piled on 6 goals to a solitary point in the second quarter to lead by over 50 points. Matt Kyroussis was Fitzroy's only goak-kicker in the first half.

Fitzroy were much more competitive in the third quarter kicking three goals to Ajax's four and with more accurate kicking could have kicked another couple of goals. Against the wind in the last quarter, Ajax peppered the goals kicking 4.9 in the last quarter while Fitzroy could only manage three points, going down by a margin of 93 points.

The announced senior team boasts seven new faces from last season's Grand Final team with Max Allen, Alister Green, Michael Racovalis, Daniel Bisetto, Greg Hesse, Alex Ricco and Cailean Moore coming into the side. Sam Baker is captaining today's team by himself as co-captain Rory Angiolella is out for this week.

A new year, a new season and a new grade it seems like just the other day that we were at Sandringham watching two out of three of our senior teams take home premierships.

After a hard summer of pre-season training and a good series of practice games the boys are revved up and ready to go for season 2013.

With the club's promotion to the Premier B level, the highest level Fitzroy, Fitzroy Reds & University Reds have ever been in, means new challenges; new teams and a few old rivalries with other clubs from years gone by will be renewed. The season will be challenging but the players and coaches are up for the challenge ahead.

Don't forget also that the Under 19s vs. Uni Blacks - BSO - 2pm and the Clubbies vs. Old Geelong - Como Park, South Yarra, 2pm

On Sunday 14 April the Thirds vs. AJAX - Gary Smorgon Oval, Albert Park at 2pm

Ins & Outs for 2013

Outs
Scott Cations has hung up his boots and we've seen some players from across all teams move onto other clubs. James O'Reilly had indicated that he was hanging up the boots, but he's looking at running around a few more times this year.

Ins
Daniel Bisetto who has recently been playing with West Preston Lakeside Football Club in the Northern Football League. Daniel is also a former Calder Cannon, played for Fitzroy’s U19s in 2009 and has also played with the Coburg Tigers in the VFL.
Alex Ricco, former Northern Knights player joins us from Northcote Park in the Northern Football League.
Alister Green is joining us from Toora & District Football Club in the Alberton Football Netball League.

Sneak peak at a hip boutique - The Brunswick St. Oval

10.00 pm Friday March 29th 2013

If we're not mistaken, AFL impresario Andrew Demetriou this week admitted that those daggy old suburban stadiums that modern football outgrew might not be such a bad option when it comes to games in Melbourne that are now attended by two men, a dog and a John Denver impersonator humming Tumbling Tumbleweeds. The ground formerly known as Princes Park was floated as an option, along with Punt Road Oval, which last hosted VFL/AFL football in 1964.

Surely, an obvious choice has been missed, although not by some in that inner-suburban hipster belt north of the Yarra, aka Fitzroy.

''Certainly, the door would be open,'' Peter Hille said of a return of top-flight football to Brunswick Street Oval, where he watched a famous old team called Fitzroy play from 1954 until its last game at the ground 12 years later. Hille was the driving force behind University Reds moving to Brunswick Street in 1991, and oversaw their morph into Fitzroy Reds before the 2008 merger with the old Fitzroy Football Club created a new team called, well, Fitzroy.

He has a glorious vision of Brunswick Street as the ultimate boutique stadium. Advertisement What's more, he's full of the sort of ingenuity that sloshes around in the AFL's marketing department, and can see the amateurs getting right behind the concept of VAFA-AFL double-headers. ''Yes, we could certainly have an AFL game as a curtain-raiser to a Fitzroy game.''

ALL THIS, AND LAWN BOWLS TOO!

Templates abound for transforming parks into stadiums in the name of sporting fun and games. At Greenwich last July, 23,000 temporary seats were built around an enormous trucked-in sandpit so posh people could watch other posh people prance around on - and fall off - horses in the equestrian at the London Olympics. The planets have aligned for a similar venture right in the heart of Fitzroy.

Instead of pulling down all of those temporary grandstands at Albert Park and shoving them in storage for the winter, why not truck them across town? Granted, a mountain of scaffolding just outside their front doors isn't exactly the peaceful vista the residents of Freeman Street are accustomed to, but Hille is certain the locals and their footy club buck the trend of blind self-interest when it comes to football.

''You'd easily get 200 in the old grandstand,'' he says of Brunswick Street's infrastructure. ''There's a few plane trees, but we'd work around that without demolishing any of them. You could rig something up over the bowls club, which would give you both a view of the ground, or if you're not that interested there's a fabulous view of the city.''

His imagination suitably limbered up, he can see a Headingley-like, double-sided grandstand offering views to the rear of the Fitzroy Bowls Club. A string of temporaries would line Freeman Street from the cricket nets to the heritage-listed members' entrance and ticket box, with more seating springing up next to the tennis courts. A weekly rush would be on to get one of the prized standing room spots behind the Brunswick Street end goals, although some protective netting would be required, ''because you don't want the ball landing in the No.112 tram and ending up in Preston''.

FITZROY WITH THE LOT

Selling the merits of Brunswick Street Oval is not something Hille has to be bulldozed into. ''We've got magnificent access to coffee and food - the culinary choices would be unmatched,'' he said, picturing trendy food trucks dotting the paths of Edinburgh Gardens. A Geelong-like deal on pourage and catering would, inevitably, be a modern reality of the ''business'' of football, ''because it costs a hell of a lot to run a club in the amateurs''. The neighbourhood's colourful arts community, a regular feature at Fitzroy games, would be an added attraction. ''I'm thinking buskers, torch dancers, the laughter of families through the trees of the gardens, barefoot bowls at half-time …''

Fitzroy president Joan Eddy is a diehard North Melbourne fan, so the Kangaroos would be most welcome visitors. And, with a Swans premiership player in Luke Ablett running around in Fitzroy colours, an appearance from the reigning premier would be a must. ''Luke would be thrilled with that reconnection, I'm sure.''

Really getting into the swing of the idea, Hille says Fitzroy would be happy to honour the best player on the ground just as the best Roy Boy of the week is rewarded - with a voucher from Little Tony's Pizza.

The image of Jonathan Brown strolling into Little Tony's, footy bag over his shoulder, to collect his large capricciosa almost moves Hille to tears.

THE PRIMARY REASON

Incredibly, the timing of a return to Brunswick Street could not be better. In its 70 years as a VFL venue, the ground played host to 616 games. Entering its 14th season, Etihad Stadium has hosted 615 games. Saturday's Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions clash simply has to be moved. In Ablett, Fitzroy has a man ''on the inside'', with the former Swan now working in the AFL's integrity department.

If Demetriou looms as a stumbling block, Hille has that covered too. ''I was his first coach,'' he says, recalling his tenure at the helm of the Coburg North Primary School footy team. ''I see him from time to time, and he's a very loyal sort of fellow.'' For the sake of old - and new - Fitzroy, it's time for Hille to remind the boss that, if he hadn't given him a game with the big boys when he was only in grade four, he'd be nowhere.

Peter Hanlon - The Age - 27th March 2013

Fitzroy needs you!

10.00 pm Wednesday March 20th 2013

We need you! As the season starts to gear up for Round 1 on Saturday 13 April, we need your help. We've been recruiting the players and now we need to recruit a team of volunteers to ensure we get all the teams out on the field each week. There is a wide range of jobs, some only for home games, some just away and some both! We also need a field umpire for our home Club XVIII games.

The VAFA provides one umpire and the home club provides the other. This is a great job for someone who loves their football, likes to keep fit or a player who still wants to be involved but the body isn't up to the bumps anymore! Training is provided. Last year we had to use players to fill this role which would mean they missed out on playing. Click here to see all the roles we need to fill.

Contact Sharon Torney, Football Operations Director shaztorn@dodo.com.au or 0415 420 487 for more information or to sign up for one of the roles.

Download the list of positions that are available from here.

The last round of last round of practice matches will be against Uni Blacks TODAY on Saturday 6 April where we will be playing for The Clyde Cup. The Clyde Hotel in Carlton sponsors both clubs and we all thought this would add a little fun to the day – big thanks to The Clyde for their generous, long time and ongoing support. Again, three matches U19s, Reserves and Seniors. There may be Thirds and Clubbies games as well on this day.

Fitzroy jumpers - on sale at the Fitzroy Shop

1.00 pm Friday January 25th 2013

The 1996 Club Jumper along with the 1957 Heritage jumper are on sale at the Fitzroy Shop together with our new 2013 VAFA Premier B clash jumper.

Fitzroy's pre-season jumpers, including our new 2013 VAFA Premier B clash jumper are also available.

They can be purchased at the Fitzroy Shop in Mordialloc, via phone order by calling 03 9580 6464 during business hours, or on senior match days at Brunswick Street Oval, or by the online order form via our website here.

We also have new stock of our very popular training singlets.

Whilst the Shop does not open for retail business until Sunday the 7th April, Mail Orders are being processed over the Summer break.

The jumpers are just $110 each for long sleeved jumpers and $105 for sleeveless jumpers and are in stock now. They are the traditional knitted with collar jumper, as pictured above with Jimmy and Luke.

And don't forget Fitzroy guernseys are the fashion item that never goes out of style!

Not only are they seen on football grounds in Melbourne every Saturday during winter (as worn by current Fitzroy players, Jim O'Reilly and Luke Ablett pictured above), they are also seen in other football settings as far away as Brisbane and Perth.

It's even rumoured that the Queen has a Fitzroy jumper stored away somewhere in Buckingham Palace ever since she, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne witnessed an VFL match between Fitzroy and Richmond on Sunday 5th April 1970, (the first ever VFL game on a Sunday and the only one to be played in front of a reigning monarch.)

And why wouldn't she? It's no accident that the colours of the royal standard match the red blue and gold colours of Fitzroy. On that memorable day in one of the best football matches seen for decades, in terms of the technical skills displayed by both teams, Fitzroy went on to defeat the more fancied Richmond 16.20 (116) to 14.12 (96).

Fitzroy jumpers can also be seen all over the world. They've been seen at this year's the Tour de France (above) and along the Great Wall of China, so they make a great travel accessory as well

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2013 Fitzroy Memberships now available

10.00 am Friday 6th January 2013

Have you renewed your Fitzroy membership for 2013 yet?

We need your support as we go into Premier B this coming season, which kicks off on Saturday April 13th.

Admission to our games may be free, but your membership pays a vital role in keeping Fitzroy kicking.

The 2013 fixture for Seniors and Reserves will feature some highlights such as a Grand Final re-match against Parkdale Vultures and the return of Fitzroy to the Junction Oval to play VAFA stalwart club Old Melbournians.

Best of all, every game is on a Saturday afternoon and no interstate trips!

All members will receive a 2013 Membership Card and of course, the RedRoy Mail during season 2013. Gold Lion members will receive a Fitzroy Lion pin and a cap.

FITZROY 2013 MEMBERSHIP PRICES:

- Ordinary Membership - $40
- Family Membership - $55
- Gold Lion Membership - $170
- Concessional Membership - $30 (Available to holders of aged/widow pensions, Unemployed, Students, Under 18’s)

You can also make an additional donation to the Club. All Membership prices include GST.

A 2013 membership form for the Fitzroy Football Club can be downloaded from here or by clicking on the Fitzroy 2013 membership logo to the right.

We hope all of our members and supporters will get on board for what is bound to be an exciting 2013 season as Fitzroy makes its first foray into Premier B. With coach Michael Pickering at the helm of our rapidly improving senior list, our 130 year old Club will be looking to play finals in 2013 and advance into Premier A for the 2014 season.

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Good early draw for Fitzroy in 2013

10.00 am Saturday 1st December 2012

Fitzroy will open its 2013 campaign against AJAX on Saturday 13th April in Premier B at Ajax's home ground, the Gary Smorgon Oval at Albert Park.

The following week in Round 2 on Saturday 20th April, Fitzroy will host its first home game when they take on Old Trinity at the Brunswick Streeet Oval.

Four home games in the first six rounds is nonetheless a pleasant welcome to Premier B. Fitzroy will face both relegated teams from Premier A with a trip to Caulfield Grammarians in Round 4 followed by a visit from St Kevin's. Home games against Old Trinity, Old Brighton and Old Haileybury should allow for a positive start.

The Premier C Grand Final rematch will not be until Round 8 when the Roys will host the Parkdale Vultures.

The VAFA Football Operations department that this is a draft fixture only and the fixture is still subject to change. The complete 2013 fixture will be available after the VAFA's AGM next Monday 3rd December.

Round 4 on Sunday April 21st provides the first opportunity for not only Fitzroy's Brisbane Lions fans to see both Fitzroy and the AFL Lions to play in Melbourne at seperate times, but also the opportunity for Brisbane Lions fans, especially those from interstate, to experience a Fitzroy game at the Club's traditional home ground. The Club invites all Brisbane Lions fans to come and see Fitzroy play Old Trinity on Saturday afternoon at the famous and historic Brunswick Street Oval before fronting up again on Sunday Apri 21st at 4.40 pm to watch the Lions take on North Melbourne in the AFL at Etihad Stadium.

The full senior and reserves fixture can be downloaded from here.

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Fitzroy kicks a visitor's goal for Melbourne

 

The 129-year old Fitzroy Football Club has stepped into Melbourne’s tourism infrastructure by inviting visitors to join the club on match days to experience the culture of an inner suburban Aussie Rules football club.

After shopping or just grazing along Brunswick Street in Fitzroy (Melbourne’s first suburb), the club is encouraging tourists to walk a few minutes - or catch a passing tram - to nearby Brunswick Street Oval, the club’s home ground.

The club is offering exposure to “real grass-roots suburban footy”, a Melbourne cultural experience, on the city’s doorstep, and an alternative to the AFL’s games at the MCG and Etihad Stadium.

Fitzroy is briefing hotel concierges and backpacker hostels about the free exposure (there is no admittance fee) to another side of Melbourne’s eclectic visitor experience.

“We may pick up some new interstate and international memberships and we may generate some funds, but really it’s about the club being an advocate to how Melburnians love their footy at a local level,” said a representative from the club.

The ground’s setting is part of the experience …a grand heritage grandstand on one side, grassy banks with gold and orange plane trees wrapped around a large oval which is overlooked by two-storey Victorian terrace houses on two sides and the city skyline in the background, a reminder of the ground’s close proximity to the metropolis of Melbourne.

“Visitors can mingle with several hundred supporters who will gladly explain the rules of the game and talk of the proud and colourful history of the club,”

In Season 2013 Fitzroy Football Club will be playing in the Premier B Division of the Victorian Amateur Football Association.