Fitzroy Stars snare first win of NFL Division 2 season against Panton Hill

A scintillating offensive blitz ensured Fitzroy Stars secured its first win of the NFL Division 2 season and kept their relegation survival hopes alive.

James Dau in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Fitzroy Stars are on the board in NFL Division 2.

After starting the season 0-8, the Stars claimed their first win of 2021 with a dazzling 34-point win over Panton Hill at Cracknell Reserve.

The 19.9 (123) to 12.17 (89) win was the first time the Thornbury-based club has posted more than 100 points this year and its highest score since Round 18, 2017.

The much-needed win is the first under coach and club legend Lionel Proctor and keeps the Stars’ survival hopes alive.

Proctor said it was just reward for his players.

James Dau in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Nathan McNeill

“Absolutely, really proud, it was great to get the four points but what I cared about most was the guys getting some reward,” he said.

“We pumped it up during the week how important it was for the footy club.

“We can’t afford to get too far behind in terms of relegation, so it’s important we attack the second half of the season and get some wins on the board, obviously, we don’t want to be dropping down to Divvy 3.

“We get the monkey off the back and Panton Hill are always hard to beat out there but we found a way.”

“It was also a pretty emotional week and a half, we had the passing of one of our life members, Pat Austin.”

The result is a 113-point turnaround from Panton Hill’s 79-point victory at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval in Round 5.

The 123 points more than doubles the Stars’ average score this season of 49.5 and is a massive offensive outburst after posting just 12 points against Eltham last week.

Kyle Thomas was the star up forward with five goals, while Rivva Karpany booted four in his return from suspension and leading goalkicking Riley Livingstone finished with three majors.

Proctor said some positional tweaks helped balance the side.

“We made a few changes positional wise, put Lovett-Murray in the backline and Kyle Thomas up forward got amongst the goals,” he said.

“With Josh Saveka able to play this week we were able to move Kyle forward, he’s a big body and a smart footballer to help Riley Livingstone out, and he was awesome.

“He took a couple of big contested marks and finished off really well in front of goal, he’s a great young fella.

“Rivva’s another one, he’s plays a bit onball but when we put him forward he’s so strong and quick with a beautiful left foot on him, he’s a really dangerous forward.”

Proctor also praised debutant Mitch Evans for his role in nullifying Panton Hill’s Tim Duckworth and being a late, late call-up.

Fitzroy Stars coach Lionel Proctor during his playing days. Picture: Josie Hayden

“He’s just a young fella, every training session he’s there doing the hard work and toiling away in the reserves,” Proctor said.

“We gave him an opportunity and actually put him on (Tim) Duckworth, Panton Hill’s quarterback, we gave him a job and he’s done really well – taken him out of the game after half-time.”

Nick Parks, Duckworth, Jake Maher (three goals) and Alex Hughan were Panton Hill’s best on the day.

Fitzroy Stars will look to make it back-to-back wins when they travel to AK Lines Reserve to face Watsonia.

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A second straight win could see the Stars jump out of the relegation zone with Epping to face St Mary’s.

“We spoke about it after the game, resetting, focusing on the second half of the season,” Proctor said.

“We’ve got to keep that momentum going now, we come up against Watsonia this week, so there’s a big opportunity there.”

Panton Hill faces the mammoth challenge of stopping the undefeated Banyule if it is to bounce back into the winners’ circle.