Youth-1 Boys 2023

28 May 2023 Round 6: Very special Joe Johnson Indigenous Round

Round 6 at Zerbes Reserve on 28 May 2023 was a very special round for our team; as it is the Joe Johnson Indigenous Round.

Since 2011 the Fitzroy Junior Football Club has recognised our Shared History during Indigenous Round alongside the AFL. Fitzroy Football club is known as the club where, in 1904, the first recognised Indigenous player Joe Johnson played VFL football.

All our teams saw the Joe Johnson medal awarded to players for demonstrating in the most outstanding way, the five principles and attributes of Endurance, Tenacity, Courage, Loyalty and Pride.

The best player from both sides were awarded the Joe Johnson Medal each by the opposing Coach. There was a small ceremony post the game to recognise Joe Johnson and his incredible feats in 1904.

The Fitzroy Football Club has a strong and deep link with Indigenous players. A link beyond geography and the renown Marngrook clearings of Yarra Bend.

As the AFL world celebrates Indigenous Round, Fitzroy Footy Club recognises our part in Indigenous Footy History.

Joe Johnson
On the 7th of May 1904, Joe Johnson became the first known Aborigine to play VFL football and HE played for FITZROY.

In total Joe played 55 games for Fitzroy and in his debut year he became the first ever Aboriginal player to play in a premiership side. He also played in the 1905 premiership side.

Read this article “No Ordinary Joe” by Jon Anderson to understand more about the significant role Joe Johnson played as the first indigenous VFL player.

Fitzroy continued to lead the way when in 1935 another Roy Boy, Doug Nicholls in a match against WA, became the first Aboriginal player to represent the VFL.

Here are the photos.

The coaches award the Joe Johnson Medals

The 2 winners from Doncaster and Fitzroy shake hands

The 2 teams together, after a hard fought and valiant game.

..

The Roy Boy, Doug Nicholls story

This 5 min video on Doug Nicholls Round whose Sunday’s game was named after, is fantastic. Sir Doug Nicholls, a church pastor, Governor of South Australia and the man after whom the annual Indigenous Round is named, was a Fitzroy player.

He played 54 games for the club from 1932-37 and represented Victoria four times.

Video: https://youtu.be/vo3oKl0ly2Q

“Running, boxing and football- He was a champion at everything”. The only indigenous player in the VFL, at the time. This is an incredible story, well worth listening to.

At 25, Nicholls debuted on the football field.

Wearing the number 13 guernsey for Fitzroy, he played against Carlton at Brunswick Street Oval.

He played 54 games for Fitzroy during his career, and in 1935 he made it to the state team.

He played for Victoria four times, becoming the first Indigenous player to represent the state in AFL.

In 2016, the AFL’s Indigenous Round became the ‘Sir Doug Nicholls’ Round, commemorating a mighty man.

The announcement came as a complete surprise to his family, who had been advocating for him to be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.

“The criteria for the Hall of Fame was 90 games. He only had 54, which for a Black man was a lot,” explained his great-granddaughter Ngarra Murray.

“We spoke to the AFL to say [that] his achievements surely still make him eligible.”

The organisation went further than the family expected, and the decision to rebadge the Indigenous round launched Nicholls’ name into the mainstream.

But while Nicholls is predominantly associated with AFL, his life branched into many more realms.

Ngarra describes her beloved great-grandfather as a “trailblazer” and a “man of many firsts”.

Sir Doug Nicholls as a boy posing with his mother Florence. Nicholls was born on Cummeragunja Mission in December 1906. The youngest of five children, he came from a strong Yorta Yorta family.

He grew up loving sports, having a reputation as an esteemed sprinter and boxer.

6 May 2023 FJFC Colts 1 Round 3 Team

Hi All,

I hope you are well and had a great week.

Last week the team showed us all what they are made of. A great win by the team with winners all over the ground.

This week we meet another challenge with a team that looks to be very similar to us.

We make special mention this week to Seb Suarez; who celebrates his 100th game for the mighty Lions.

Please take as many photos and videos of the day as possible.

Game details and positions are as follows:

FJFC Youth Boys 1 v Banyule

Location: Victoria Park
Lulie Street,
Abbotsford

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Victoria+Park/@-37.798367,144.994235,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x6ad643050207f9ab:0xf04567605318280!8m2!3d-37.798367!4d144t.9964237!16zL20vMDgyYzUw

Weather Outlook: 13 Degrees and rain

Home Game – Blue shorts

Please ensure you have maroon socks.

What the boys need to bring/wear this week:

Footy Jumper;
Blue Shorts;
Maroon Socks;
Footy Boots;
Mouth Guard (no mouthguard – no play);
x 2 Water Bottles (preferable and named);
Sports Drink (optional);
Any strapping needs to be completed prior to arriving at the ground (ie: from home);
Warm weather gear for post game;
Towel; and
any other personal requirements (bananas/sports rub/sports oil/etc..).

Victoria Park rooms have secure lockers, so ensure the boys secure their valuables.

Coach Matt Watson
Assistant Coach Darren Oliver
Team Manager Scott Hamilton
Runner Nick Dance
Trainer Katherine Wilson
Ground Manager McQuire Family
Umpire Escort Lou Cozzo
Boundary Umpire Atkinson Family
Goal Umpire Margetts Family
Timekeeper Chiappini Family
Scorer Hodder Family
B&F #1 Colin Moore
B&F#2 Kaye Family
Team Photographer Rob Oldfieild
Orange Duty Damian Carr

If anyone has photos of last round and takes photos/videos during any games, could you please send them through to me as I can add the to the FJFC Colts 1 Team page on the FJFC website. This is a great way for all our boys to not only look at great photos of the game, but an amazing reflection point going forward.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me in need.

Cheers

Scott Hamilton
Team Manager
FJFC Colts 1

Colts Parents & Carers Event 27 May 2023

Dear FJFC – Colts – parents and carers,
Please join us for dinner and drinks.

Details are:
Location: Clifton Hill Brew Pub,

89 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill Time: 6.00pm Saturday 27th May 2023

We’ve booked space in the barrel room.

Just to get in the mood go here (skip the Ad):
Fitzroy Theme Song

Here’s the Eventbrite link to register:

Eventbrite RSVP

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/628976294027

<a href=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/628976294027 ” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>https://www.eventbrite.com/e/628976294027

If it’s easier you can just email Meredith (Iggy’s mum for Colts 1) or Moira (Flynn’s mum from Colts 2).
Looking forward to meeting up with you all. Go Roys!

Meredith Gorman
M 0424 112 445

E. [email protected]

Moira Healy
M 0408 251 167
E [email protected]

Round 6 at Zerbes Reserve on 28 May 2023 was a very special round for our team; as it is the Joe Johnson Indigenous Round.

Since 2011 the Fitzroy Junior Football Club has recognised our Shared History during Indigenous Round alongside the AFL. Fitzroy Football club is known as the club where, in 1904, the first recognised Indigenous player Joe Johnson played VFL football.

All our teams saw the Joe Johnson medal awarded to players for demonstrating in the most outstanding way, the five principles and attributes of Endurance, Tenacity, Courage, Loyalty and Pride.

The best player from both sides were awarded the Joe Johnson Medal each by the opposing Coach. There was a small ceremony post the game to recognise Joe Johnson and his incredible feats in 1904.

The Fitzroy Football Club has a strong and deep link with Indigenous players. A link beyond geography and the renown Marngrook clearings of Yarra Bend.

As the AFL world celebrates Indigenous Round, Fitzroy Footy Club recognises our part in Indigenous Footy History.

Joe Johnson
On the 7th of May 1904, Joe Johnson became the first known Aborigine to play VFL football and HE played for FITZROY.

In total Joe played 55 games for Fitzroy and in his debut year he became the first ever Aboriginal player to play in a premiership side. He also played in the 1905 premiership side.

Read this article “No Ordinary Joe” by Jon Anderson to understand more about the significant role Joe Johnson played as the first indigenous VFL player.

Fitzroy continued to lead the way when in 1935 another Roy Boy, Doug Nicholls in a match against WA, became the first Aboriginal player to represent the VFL.

Here are the photos.