Fitzroy Stars, Neville Jetta rain on Kinglake’s Dane Swan and Shane Harvey show

Kinglake hadn’t lost a game at Memorial Oval since 2022 – and had Dane Swan making an appearance, but Fitzroy Stars quickly announced itself as a team to watch.

Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson gets a kick for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Field of Views Photography

Everything appeared to be against Fitzroy Stars.

Kinglake was undefeated at home in 12 matches, had goalkicking legend Shane Harvey making his debut, Dane Swan making a guest appearance and a big home crowd behind them.

However, the Stars flipped the script at Memorial Oval and took home a stirring 28-point victory.

Making the second longest road trip in the NFNL, Fitzroy was the team that started strongest and finished full of run, winning 10.13 (73) to 6.9 (45).

Boom recruits Patrick Farrant and Neville Jetta made eye-catching debuts, while Jordan Proctor kept Harvey quiet.

Kinglake's Shane Harvey can't escape the tackle. Picture: Field of Views Photography.

Stars coach Lionel Proctor said making a strong start had been a focus for the club.

“Our development team as well, getting a win, getting two wins in Round 1 is a really good start,” Proctor said.

“Historically we haven’t been good starters so it was a focus for us in pre-season to get the year off to a good note.

“It was a good all-round team performance, apart from Nev and Patty standing out, everyone across the board played their role.

“We need everyone playing their role and complementing each other and I think it will take us a long way this season.”

Fitzroy burst out of the blocks with a four-goal opening term to take a 21-point lead.

Kinglake responded in the second term, keeping the visitors scoreless, but could only manage 1.4 to reduce the margin to 11 points at half-time.

The Stars then took control of the game, running away with a six-goal-to-four second half.

Proctor was particularly pleased with his midfield’s performance, winning contested ball and clearances on the smaller ground.

“I don’t think Kinglake have lost up there (in a while) and we knew it was going to be tough, they’re a combative side,” he said.

“We spoke to our guys about trusting the pre-season we’ve had, trusting our structures and our fitness and playing on our terms.

“We saw how much pressure Jai Burns was under last season, doing it on his own, so brought in Kain (Proctor), Tyson Pickett comes up around the ball and Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson was really good around the contest.

“Having some bigger bodies in there, we really pride ourselves on that contest work and then use our running and skills on the outside.

“We adjusted to the conditions well, we knew it was going to be a bit wet and a battle early but once we broke the game open a little bit we were able to run away with it.”

Having booted 100 goals last season in Western Australia, Farrant stole the show in attack with five majors – the only man to kick multiple goals on the day.

Meanwhile, in defence, Jetta was nigh unbeatable as he took a string of intercept marks.

Proctor kept Harvey to one goal, while Connor Trajkoski had the unenviable job of looking after Swan.

“Obviously with Nev, at stages they just couldn’t get past him because he reads the play so well and sets up the ground with his communication and experience,” Proctor said.

“Down the other end, to have Patty as a big target, to have that focal point – which we haven’t had for a few years – and it brings our smalls into the play as well if Patty doesn’t mark it.”

“We had a couple of match-ups, we sent young Connor Trajkovski to Swanny.

“It’s just really good experience for the young fella – he trained at the (Northern) Bullants over summer – and to play on someone like Swan, he just told him to back himself in and just enjoy it against one of the all-time greats.

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“Jordan went to Shane to try and limit his influence, we knew Kinglake would try and use him as much as they can, and I thought Jordan was able to use his run to keep Shane in check.”

Kinglake didn’t name its best players.

The club hadn’t lost at Memorial Oval since Round 8, 2022 to Warburton-Millgrove when it was still in the Outer East competition.

Fitzroy will look to continue its winning start to the season when it hosts Lalor at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval, while Kinglake will have to wait as it has the bye.