Fitzroy Stars coach Neville Jetta discusses the club’s expectations and preparations
31 for 31: Fitzroy Stars aren’t shying away from their ambition of winning a premiership and after coming so close last year and successful off-season, there’s plenty of buzz.
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Last season’s motto was “bring the buzz back to Fitzroy Stars”.
On that front, 2024 was a major success for Fitzroy Stars and there’ll be even more buzz surrounding the club in 2025 after a eye-catching off-season.
The Stars fell agonisingly short in last year’s NFNL Division 3 grand final, having more scoring shots but losing by 15 points to Old Paradians.
Since, former Melbourne star and current Collingwood assistant Neville Jetta has taken the reins as club coach.
Former best-and-fairest winner Ethan Penrith has returned and big man Brock Carter, Jayan Farrant, Kyle Wheatley, Exavier Whitnall and Lachy Edwards have come on board.
Ex-North Melbourne and current Footscray VFL star Phoenix Spicer and Casey VFL-listed Roy George have signed on, while AFL legend Eddie Betts is set for a series of appearances too.
It will see Fitzroy Stars enter the year as red-hot premiership favourites but Jetta isn’t taking anything for granted.
“It’s the goal (to win a premiership), we’re not going to shy away from wanting to get back there and win it,” Jetta said.
“We’ve recruited pretty well and set ourselves to get back there.
“In my experience, you’ve got to get there again, there’s no promises and nothing is guaranteed.
“You’ve got the put the work in over pre-season, you’ve got to win games to get to finals and got to win finals just to get to the grand final.
“Everyone else has recruited well, so the boys know it’s going to be a tough season, nothing is going to be given to us.
“Overall, it’s exciting, everyone is saying we’re going to win it – that’s great – but there’s a lot of work between now and September.”
After just five wins in 2023, the Stars stormed up the ladder last year, winning 14 matches – its most since 2014 – to claim the minor premiership for the first time since 1992.
Allan Norris claimed the club best-and-fairest and was one of seven players to play all 18 matches, along with Keadin Ronnan, Michael Brown, Jai Burns, James Trajkovski, Anthony Walker and Alex Williamson.
Spearhead Patrick Farrant was limited to 11 games but finished the campaign with 59 goals, including back-to-back eight-goal hauls in the semi and grand final.
Farrant, Burns, Kain Proctor and Jetta were all named in the Team of the Year.
After several difficult seasons, Jetta is pleased with what the club has built on and off the ground.
“We laid some great foundations last year, we got a lot of things in place, brought a lot of good people in on and off-field,” he said.
“It would have been great to win (last year) but we’re in a much better place now.”
While the likes of Proctor, Burns, Farrant and Tyson Pickett form the core.
The new coach has been particularly pleased with the development of the club’s young talent.
“A lot of our young guys have taken a step forward. It’s great to see their development on the physical side of the game,” he said.
“We’ve got Ralph and Jacob Bamblett, Connor and James Trajkovski, Raman Winmar, Keadin Ronnan, Anthony Walker and Jordan Proctor, there’s young Joharo (Harvey-Connellan) too, he’s a great young kid down from Trinity.
“They’re driving standards to the point where myself, Kain Proctor, Jai Burns and our leaders rock up to training and they’ve set up training and doing extra touch.”
While much of Fitzroy Stars’ recruiting has been impressive, perhaps the best was saved for last with Betts confirmed to play a handful of games.
Jetta said how many would be up to Betts and his commitments but he’d certainly be asking the question of a Round 1 start against Laurimar.
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“We have a great relationship and had a lot of great battles on the AFL field, then we got to play at Palmerston together, so I’m looking forward to sharing the field with him again,” he said.
“He’s got five kids, he’s got the Eddie Betts Foundation that he’s running, so there might be a few games but I can’t put an exact number on it.
“Whenever we get him down, whether it be training or games it will be great for our club and great for the Northern footy league.”
The Stars will kick off the year at relegated Laurimar before returning to Sir Doug Nicholls Oval in Round 2 against preliminary finalist Mernda, then Old Eltham Collegians and the bye in the opening month.
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