History was made when Fitzroy took out the Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier C Senior and Reserves flags against Old Geelong at Trevor Barker Oval yesterday.

It was the first senior flag for the club since the Reds and Fitzroy merged in 2008. And the most senior victory in the clubs amateur history.

It was the first Reserves flag since 2012.

The Fitzroy Reds won a senior flag in 2005 to be promoted to C Grade for the first time.

For the old Fitzroy fans, you have to hark back to 1944 when both Seniors and Seconds won their respective VFL premierships.

In front of a very large crowd, Fitzroy burst out of the blocks and had just about put the result beyond doubt at quarter time with a blistering eight goal to nil first term.

The pressure, run and carry and kicking accuracy in extremely windy conditions, were all first class.

The final score was 16.11.107 to 5.7.37.

The emotion of the day was captured by an impromptu singing of the club song out on the oval with the spectators joining the players.

The full story can be found on the VAFA website: https://www.vafa.com.au/leagues/premier-c-league/roys-create-history-claim-premier-c-flag/

The replay of the game is available on VAFA TV: https://www.vafa.com.au/vafatv/

Rory Angiolella was presented with the Michael Ritterman Medal for best on ground, with 18-year-old Donovan Toohey taking honours from the coach. It must have been nigh on impossible to leave anyone out of the best players with such an even performance across the board.

The premiership medallions were presented by Fitzroy Vice President Michael Smale, who was the University Reds Inaugural Premiership Captain and two-time Fitzroy Reds Best and Fairest winner.

Reserves set the day up for a fairytale

If youd written a script before grand final day youd have thought perhaps the Seniors and Reserves had picked up each others notes!

The Reserves, who had been the clear favourites and best performing side all year in the Premier C Reserve grade comp, had to fight out a thriller against a strong and disciplined Old Geelong line-up.

Fitzroy maintained some dominance in general play for a lot of the game but could not put it on the scoreboard leaving the door well ajar. Geelong also had opportunities and failed to convert in the fluky conditions, with a goalless first half and one in the third quarter.

Fitzroy looked well set up going in to the final quarter leading by 20 points in in a low scoring game, 5.3.33. to 1.7.13. But the pressure soon ramped up a notch. Old Geelong piled on three goals and had the Fitzroy players and fans nervous and under the pump as they pulled to within a point.

The Roy Boys held their nerve and despite missing a couple of shots, finally got the job done.

Usually a dead eye dick in front of goals, the conditions did not help full forward Will Pickering, who came into the game under an injury cloud and missed several set shots he would usually get. But he found a way to redeem himself when he kicked the sealer in the final quarter, running into goal on the end of a terrific train of team play (take a bow Sam Batterton, Noah Wright and Sean Laidlaw) to put Fitzroy 9 points up with seconds to go.

Cailean Moore was the VAFA Best on ground and Will Fenton took the coachs award. Sean Laidlaw, Ross Borland, Luke Edwards, Drew Olarenshaw, Gus Richardson and captain Jack Atkinson all shone, with Shae Skipper also doing some great work down back.

Reserves Premiership co-captain when Fitzroy won its last flag in 2012 in an undefeated season, Jack Beech (also a Fitzroy Life Member), presented the medallions, including to his 2012 co-captain Drew Olarenshaw, who is now a two-time Fitzroy premiership player. Now that is a feat!

Photos by fabulous Phyllis Quealy. More to come once the galleries are published.