Fitzroy Reds

Fitzroy Reds
Names
Full nameFitzroy Reds Amateur Football Club
Former name(s)University (E)
University Reds Football Club (1954−1997)
Nickname(s)Reds, Roys
Former nickname(s)Uni Reds (1954–1997)
Club details
Founded1954; 70 years ago (1954)
Dissolved9 December 2008; 15 years ago (2008-12-09)
CompetitionVAFA (1955−64; 1973−2008)
FFL (1971−72)
PresidentCraig Little
PremiershipsVAFA (5)
Ground(s)Brunswick Street Oval (1991−2008)
Crawford Oval
Princes Park
University Main Oval
Yarra Bend Oval
Uniforms
Home
Away
Other information
Official websitefitzroyreds.com.au

The Fitzroy Reds was an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. The club was formed in 1954 as the University Reds (or simply Uni Reds), competing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).

In December 2008, the Reds merged with the Fitzroy Football Club, which is now officially known as "Fitzroy Football Club (incorporating the Fitzroy Reds)" and currently competes in the VAFA's Premier Division.[1][2]

History

University Reds

Fitzroy Reds logo in 2002

University Reds was formed in 1954, joining the University Blacks and University Blues as the Melbourne University Football Club's third team in the VAFA for the 1955 season.[3]

The club, which was originally in E Section and known as "University (E)", provided opportunities for Blacks and Blues players who were not selected in either of those sides to get a regular match.[4][5]

In 1964, the VAFA mandated reserves teams for all clubs. This forced the Reds to go into recess at the end of the season, however they soon returned and joined the Federal Football League (FFL) before returning to the VAFA in 1973 after two seasons in the FFL.[3][4]

The Reds won their first seniors premiership in F Section in 1980.[4]

Split from Melbourne University

Following the 1997 season, under increasing pressure from the Melbourne University Sports Union to meet the required number of undergraduate and post graduate registrations to obtain funding, the club split from the university and were renamed to Fitzroy Reds, with 1998 their first season competing under the new name.[3][6]

In 2003, the Reds played a curtain-raiser match against West Brunswick at the MCG before the Brisbane Lions met Collingwood during the AFL Heritage Round.[7][8]

Merger with Fitzroy

Fitzroy Reds logo in 2003

On 2 April 2008, Reds president Craig Little announced a plan to merge the club with the Fitzroy Football Club. Fitzroy had left the AFL following the 1996 season, but had not entirely disbanded and had a sponsorship arrangement with the Reds.[9]

In December 2008, the Reds formally transferred all its assets to the Fitzroy Football Club. The Reds terminated its membership of the VAFA and was wound up as an incorporated company and football club.[10]

By special dispensation from the VAFA, the Fitzroy Football Club then replaced the Reds in Division 1 of the VAFA, beginning in the 2009 season, fielding a senior and reserves side, as well as two under-19s sides and a Club XVIII side.[11]

Honours

Team of the Century (1955−2000)

Back Peter O'Keefe Greg Cook (vice-captain) Stephen Drury
Half-Back Andrew White Chris Anderson Greg Thomas
Centre Russell Heddles Greg Roughsedge Daniel Cahir
Half Forward Paul James Jack Clancy Denis Fossa
Forward Bruce Dare Marc Marsden Justin Doyle
Followers Peter Clayden Gerry Hardy Michael Smale (captain)
Interchange Charlie Hosking Peter Barone Patrick Jackson
Ian Jennens
Coach Andrew McNair

Seasons

See also: List of Fitzroy Football Club seasons § VAFA

Source: [12][13]

Premiers Grand Finalist Minor premiers Finals appearance Wooden spoon

Seniors

Year League Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
1955 VAFA E Section
1956 VAFA Marc Marsden 102
1957 VAFA
1958 VAFA E Section 2nd 16 2 0 Marc Marsden 52 [14]
1959 VAFA
1960 VAFA L. Walker 48
1961 VAFA E Section G. Hardy
1962 VAFA
1963 VAFA
1964 VAFA E Section J. Clancy [15]
1965 VAFA (In recess)
1966 VAFA (In recess)
1967 VAFA (In recess)
1968 VAFA (In recess)
1969 VAFA (In recess)
1970 VAFA (In recess)
1971 FFL
1972 FFL
1973 VAFA K. Frencham D. King G. Courtis P. Lipshut 45
1974 VAFA K. Frencham S. Maule J. Clarke;
G. Lipshut 		D. King 37
1975 VAFA K. Frencham R. Sheppard R. Grigg L. Lachal 29
1976 VAFA N. Sharpe N. Sharpe N. Sharpe N. Sharpe 42
1977 VAFA D. Cole D. Cole S. Bayley;
G. Long 		J. Sturm 30
1978 VAFA Andrew McNair R. Wright M. Smale Peter Hille 42
1979 VAFA Andrew McNair R. Wright M. Smale Peter Hille 71
1980 VAFA F Section 1st 16 2 0 Andrew McNair M. Smale Chris Anderson Peter Hille 103 [16]
1981 VAFA Andrew McNair M. Smale P. Clayden [4]
1982 VAFA A. Holloway G. Thomas P. Clayden
1983 VAFA G. Mahoney Chris Anderson Russell Heddles
1984 VAFA I. Steward I. Steward G. Funston
1985 VAFA I. Steward I. Steward Greg Roughsedge
1986 VAFA R. Chitty R. Chitty Greg Roughsedge
1987 VAFA F Section 9th 6 12 0 L. Duffus Charlie Hosking Greg Roughsedge [17]
1988 VAFA L. Duffus Charlie Hosking Greg Roughsedge
1989 VAFA L. Duffus Andrew White Ian Jennens
1990 VAFA L. Duffus Andrew White F. Godschan
1991 VAFA G. Burgen B. Condon B. Kane
1992 VAFA I. Ewing G. Cook P. Curry
1993 VAFA I. Ewing G. Cook J. Doyle
1994 VAFA I. Ewing Andrew White J. Doyle [18]
1995 VAFA E Central M. Farrell B. Pickett G. Wright [19]
1996 VAFA M. Farrell B. Pickett Stephen Drury;
S. Rowland
1997 VAFA J. Doyle A. Jackson Paul James
1998 VAFA G. Hammond M. Farrell Peter Jackson M. Farrell 23
1999 VAFA G. Hammond Stephen Drury Jeremy Rawlins[20] C. Farrell 32
2000 VAFA G. Hammond Stephen Drury Stephen Drury;
S. Addicott 		T. Mitchell 21
2001 VAFA Division 3 1st 0 Graham Burgen Stephen Drury Stephen Drury D. Ronchi 65 [4]
2002 VAFA Division 2 6th 8 10 0 Graham Burgen Stephen Drury Stephen Drury J. Tornese 65 [21]
2003 VAFA Division 2 2nd 15 3 0 Graham Burgen Stephen Drury T. Clarke J. Tornese 59 [22]
2004 VAFA Graham Burgen T. Clarke;
P. Diacogiorgis 		B. Atherton K.P. Cianci 35
2005 VAFA Division 1 1st 17 1 0 Graham Burgen V. Cahill;
P. Diacogiorgis 		V. Cahill;
M. Zika 		Phil Cianci 80 [23]
2006 VAFA C Section 6th 8 10 0 Graham Burgen V. Cahill;
Jeremy Rawlins 		C. Meighen K. Maghamez 48 [24]
2007 VAFA Steve Maus Tim Davis[25] C. Meighen Nick Shuttleworth 22 [26]
2008 VAFA Division 1 11 James Taylor Jimmy O'Reilly[27] Matthew Biggs Leon Holderhead 18 [4]

Reserves

Year League Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
1973 VAFA
1974 VAFA
1975 VAFA
1976 VAFA
1977 VAFA
1978 VAFA
1979 VAFA
1980 VAFA F Section 1st 17 1 0 [16]
1981 VAFA
1982 VAFA
1983 VAFA
1984 VAFA
1985 VAFA
1986 VAFA
1987 VAFA F Section 10th 3 15 0 [17]
1988 VAFA
1989 VAFA
1990 VAFA
1991 VAFA
1992 VAFA
1993 VAFA
1994 VAFA Tim Bell [28]
1995 VAFA E Central [19]
1996 VAFA
1997 VAFA
1998 VAFA D. Kane M. Frisby E. Kyriacou 37
1999 VAFA D. Kane G. Box C. Prior 64
2000 VAFA D. Kane G. Box D. Kane 39
2001 VAFA A. George J. Card D. Kane 56
2002 VAFA Division 2 2nd 16 2 0 A. George A. Grant D. Kane 44 [29]
2003 VAFA Division 2 3rd 15 3 0 D. Kane M. Baker M. Foster;
S. Pidotto 		19 [22]
2004 VAFA C. Tehan Damian Hannam Sam Baillie R. Capodiferro 40
2005 VAFA Division 1 1st 16 2 0 C. Tehan Sam Baillie Sam Baillie R. Capodiferro 70 [23]
2006 VAFA C Section 3rd 12 6 0 C. Little N. Evans J. Tornese 59 [24]
2007 VAFA F. Cameron C. Sullivan P. Wood;
E. Tice 		D. Hannam 36
2008 VAFA Division 1 F. Cameron J. Nagorka Jayred Dawson-Smith Tristan Pinkster 55

Thirds

Year League Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
2002 VAFA G. Box J. Hamilton N. Currie 6 [21]
2003 VAFA G. Box T. Jackson C. Prior 29 [22]
2004 VAFA G. Box J. Grimmett J. Grimmett 54
2005 VAFA A. George S. McCarthy;
T. Belleville 		J. Grimmett;
M. Foster;
A. Walsh 		15
2006 VAFA A. George Tim Campbell D. Hannam A. Dawson 27
2007 VAFA A. George A. Grant R. Trigg Gregg Crane 21
2008 VAFA A. Grant R. Hunter Tim Campbell

Fourths

Year League Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
2005 VAFA C. Little Tony Jackson Tony Jackson C. Prior 23
2006 VAFA T. Leske Tony Jackson N. Schofield M. Kelly 27
2007 VAFA J. Steer D. Schleibs Nick Auden 27

Under-19s

Year League Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
2003 VAFA Red (2) 3rd 13 5 0 Tim Bell M. Zika K. Maghamez 100 [22]
2004 VAFA Tim Bell M. Zika K. Maghamez 112 [28]
2005 VAFA Red (2) 6th 9 9 0 Tim Bell C. Dullard K. McKenzie 32 [23]
2006 VAFA Tim Bell K. Donato Christopher Ligris 52 [26]
2007 VAFA Tim Bell Matthew Biggs
2008 VAFA Section 1 Tim Bell A. Harbor Christopher Ligris;
Luke Novello 		31
Section 2 B. Edwards

Club XVIII

Year League Division Finish W L D Coach Captain Best and fairest Leading goalkicker Goals Ref
2002 VAFA North 7th 3 12 0 [29]
2003 VAFA North 3rd 9 5 0 [22]
2004 VAFA Section 2 3rd [30]
2005 VAFA Section 2 4th 10 5 0 [23]
Section 3 3rd 10 3 0 [23]
2006 VAFA Section 2 3rd 11 4 0 [31]
Section 3 2nd 12 3 0 [31]
2007 VAFA
2008 VAFA

Grand finals

Premiers Runners-up Drawn
Year League Division Grade Opponent Score Venue Date Report
1980 VAFA F Section Seniors Thomastown Beaurepaire Centre[16] 6 September 1980
1981 VAFA Seniors [4]
1994 VAFA Reserves VUT [19]
1995 VAFA E Central Seniors [4]
2001 VAFA Division 1 Seniors [4]
2003 VAFA Division 2 Seniors Peninsula Old Boys 12.9 (81) d. 9.12 (66) Central Reserve[32] 13 September 2003 [22]
2003 VAFA North Club XVIII Old Essendon 11.7 (73) d. 7.2 (44) [30]
2005 VAFA Division 1 Reserves Old Mentonians 13.5 (93) d. 5.5 (35) Box Hill City Oval[23] 10 September 2003 [33]
2005 VAFA Division 1 Seniors Ormond 24.6 (150) d. 10.11 (71) Box Hill City Oval[23] 10 September 2003 [33]
2006 VAFA Section 3 Club XVIII Old Essendon 9.10 (64) d. 5.7 (37) Elsternwick Park[26] 25 August 2006 [30][34]

References

  1. ^ "You can take Fitzroy out of the AFL, but you can't take it out of the people". The Roar. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024.
  2. ^ Holmesby, Luke (9 December 2008). "Fitzroy back from the dead in alignment with VAFA club". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "History of the VAFA". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Reds". Fitzroy Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Our Club". fitzroyreds.com.au. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  6. ^ "SENIOR OFFICIALS 1960 TO 1989". Melbourne University Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. The University Reds were a team between 1955 and 1997 when they were let go as they did not comply with Melbourne University Sport regulations. They became the Fitzroy Reds and are now Fitzroy.
  7. ^ "Brighton tops B-grade". The Age. 12 May 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Old loyalties die hard as amateurs fight black and blue for University". The Age. 28 June 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
  9. ^ "REDS TO BRING BACK LIONS". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 2 April 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024.
  10. ^ "THE BOYS FROM OLD FITZROY ARE BACK AT BRUNSWICK STREET". fitzroyreds.com.au. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  11. ^ Barrett, Damian (9 December 2008). "The old Lion roars again as Fitzroy is reborn". Herald Sun.
  12. ^ "Fitzroy Reds Honourboard". Fitzroy Football Club. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  13. ^ "125 years of VAFA and Fitzroy names its greatest contributors". Fitzroy Football Club. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  14. ^ McLellan, Bob. "OBGFC: A Tribute" (PDF). Old Brighton Grammarians Football Club. pp. 1–194. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  15. ^ "BRUNSWICK VS. FITZROY". Brunswick Football Club. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "The Amateur Footballer Week 22 1980" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. 7 September 1980. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  17. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer Week 23 1987" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2024.
  18. ^ "The Amateur Footballer Week 1 1995" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. 1 April 1995. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "The Amateur Footballer Week 2 1995" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. 8 April 1995. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Fitzroy Reds Football Club". fitzroyreds.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2006.
  21. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 20, 2002". Issuu. VAFA Media. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "The Amateur Footballer, Week 23, 2003". Issuu. VAFA Media. 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "The Amateur Footballer, Week 21, 2005". Issuu. VAFA Media. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  24. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 19, 2006". Issuu. VAFA Media. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Fitzroy Reds Football Club". fitzroyreds.com.au. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  26. ^ a b c "The Amateur Footballer, Week 18, 2006". Issuu. VAFA Media. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Fitzroy Reds Football Club". fitzroyreds.com.au. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  28. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 19, 2006". Issuu. VAFA Media. 3 February 2016. p. 61. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024. Reds coach Tim Bell coached a Reds U19 flag in 2004 and a Reds Ressies flag in 2004
  29. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 19, 2002". Issuu. VAFA Media. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  30. ^ a b c "Club XVIII Premiers". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  31. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 17, 2006". Issuu. VAFA Media. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  32. ^ "The Amateur Footballer, Week 22, 2003". Issuu. VAFA Media. 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  33. ^ a b "The Amateur Footballer, Week 22, 2005". VAFA Media. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  34. ^ "VAFA 2006 Club XVIII Grand Final Essendon Grammer v Fitzroy Reds". YouTube. RJA15 Productions. 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.