Joan Eddy has been returned as Fitzroy President for the 11th year and David Leydon has been appointed Vice President following the Fitzroy Football Clubs 135th annual general meeting held at Brunswick Street Oval community rooms on Sunday.
The Board has a full contingent of 10 Directors for the first time
in many years, after Dr Kasey Symons and Lesley Dredge were also officially appointed to the Board at the AGM.
Coming off the back of a very successful 2018, the club has announced a $14,000 loss for 2019, with a significant increase in football-related costs (including the new Under 23s team) and a reduction in income for the year.
The club returned a profit of $23,000 in 2019, having won two premierships, but things were not quite as rosy in 2019.
Treasurer, Michael Smale, who thanked company secretary Bill Atherton for his tireless work on the accounts, said the result showed the significant need to grow the income base to keep pace with the growing costs of running the club.
President Eddy tabled a report of activities for the year, including the increased work on player wellbeing and the grant and infrastructure program, which has seen lights go up at Brunswick Street and planning well underway for a new electronic scoreboard and the redevelopment of BSO.
Please download the report.
Four life members were also appointed with Julian Turner the first ever captain to be awarded life membership whilst still playing. He was joined by Max Ellis, Michael Cussen and Steve Hurl.
Senior Mens Coach, Luke Mahoney, spoke at the AGM and first acknowledged the life members, saying they had a shared passion for Fitzroy and their recognition was well deserved.
Luke outlined his thoughts that 2019 had been a changing of the guard on field, with a number of young players being thrown in and given a great opportunity to develop, the benefit of which could be seen late in the season as the team gelled and fought hard to stay in Premier B. The preseason has started with excellent numbers and enthusiasm.
Speaking at the AGM, new Director Communications and Marketing, Kasey Symons, spoke of her passion for the written word, sport and community
and that it felt very special to be given the opportunity to be part of a club that brings all of that together at Fitzroy. Kasey has significant experience
with the AFL, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda and is part of a new sports research centre at Swinburne University.
Lesley Dredge, mother of senior players Bill and Ted Clayton, will be in the Director Governance role and brings a wide range of experience in community and not for profit leadership roles. She said she was looking forward to Bill and Ted being back in the Fitzroy colours and lots of cheering and winning out on BSO.
Kate Nolan has stepped down from the Vice Presidents role but will continue as a Director of the Club. Michael Smale was re-elected Treasurer and Sharon Torney was re-elected Secretary, also for the 11th time.
Lifelong Fitzroy fan, David Leydon, takes the Vice Presidents role with great pride. Read this wonderful story, written by fellow Director Gabrielle Murphy, about his familys love for the club.
