Fitzroy Stars looking to bounce back into finals after difficult NFNL Division 3 debut
31 for 31: After a difficult NFNL Division 3 debut, Fitzroy Stars has loaded up on experienced talent as it looks to end a seven-year finals drought.
Northern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Fitzroy Stars have loaded up as they look to jump back into finals.
After relegation from NFNL Division 2 in 2022, the Stars continued to fall down the ladder last season, finishing seventh in Division 3 with just five wins.
However, a busy off-season has the club primed to challenge for a premiership in 2024.
Former Melbourne AFL and Collingwood VFL gun Neville Jetta has jumped on board from Bundoora, while Patrick Farrant arrives after a 100-goal season for Bridgetown in WA’s Lower South West league.
Kain Proctor returns to Sir Doug Nicholls Reserve from Bundoora, while Alex Williamson (Heidelberg West), Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson (Mernda) and Desmond Tipuamantumirri (Rumbalara) are also on board.
Farrant (Collingwood) and Tyson Pickett (Bullants) have earnt VFL contracts for 2024.
Stars coach Lionel Proctor said the club had identified a major need over summer.
“Obviously after our first year in divvy three, we knew what we needed to get and that was a lot of leadership and experience,” Proctor said.
“My son, Kain, comes back from Bundoora to help (Jai) Burnsy out, Patty Farrant has been playing senior footy since he was a little fella.
“We definitely needed to fill that leadership void and we’ve done that with Nev (Jetta) obviously and Alex Williamson too.”
Fitzroy hasn’t played finals 2017, ending the drought is top of the priority list.
“We don’t want to put a ceiling on it, but we’re aiming for finals,” Proctor said.
“We were able to match it with teams last year but getting the quality of fellas in we have this year will only add to that.
“Then guys we’ve had, with another year of senior football, are really standing up over the pre-season.
“Kyle Thomas is getting better and better each year and Keadin Ronnan played a few games last year but has had a massive pre-season so I’m looking forward to seeing what he can produce.
“Then we’ve got the twins, James and Connor Trajkovski, they’re really good, they just want to learn and been listening to a lot of what Nev says and had a really good pre-season.”
The Stars have played two practice matches, against Essendon District club Keilor Park and Army, and will wrap up preparations with a final hitout against VAFA Division 2 premier Parkside.
The club will travel to Kinglake for a blockbuster Round 1 clash with Kinglake, who will have Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan making a guest appearance.
Jetta is expected to be available, adding further star quality.
Proctor has been pleased with what’s he’s seen in the pre-season.
DIV 2: PROMISING START BOOSTS HOPE AT LOWER PLENTY
LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE
DIV 1: WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE TO USHER IN NEW GENERATION
“Our numbers have been really good, we’ve had around 80 attend since the start of pre-season,” he said.
“The battle is to keep the guys coming along but it’s a really good sign, the majority of the list has attended most sessions.
“We’re learning a new game plan and some new structures, we’ve played two praccies now, which has been really good.
“We played Army on the weekend and against Keilor Park were scrappy early but got going after half-time and run over the top of them, four goals down at three-quarter-time and got up by three goals.”
Laurimar lands local footy goalkicking great
Laurimar has joined the NFNL Division 3 arms race, securing one of the Northern league’s greatest goalkickers for its return to the competition in 2025.
Why Truslove traded Sydney Swans for Banyule
After two years at Sydney Swans, Damian Truslove is back in the Northern league after being appointed Banyule coach. He explains the move and what excites him about the Bears.