The father of Nathan Fitzgerald, the Melbourne teacher who died after a head clash in a suburban football game, delivered a moving tribute at a public memorial service on Saturday, saying the loss is a reminder of how precious life is.
Memorial service at Epping football netball club
The Epping football netball club, where the 27-year-old high school teacher played, hosted the service at their home ground. Several hundred people gathered to pay their respects.
Nathan Fitzgerald suffered head injuries while playing in Lalor, in Melbourne’s north, on 4 July and died in hospital two days later.
“We haven’t been blind to the fact so many people have been impacted by the event and the tragic death of Nathan last week,” his father, Gary Fitzgerald, told the crowd. “In a football incident that … from what I understand, hasn’t happened before. And yet, it teaches us a lesson about life – how precious life is, because you just don’t know.”
Club retires jersey number 34
Nathan Fitzgerald’s No.34 jersey was retired for Epping’s seniors’ match. “Number 34 – forever Fitzy,” said the club’s chief executive, Luke De Vincentis, who hosted the memorial.
De Vincentis remembered Fitzgerald for his courtesy, respect and enduring smile. “That smile that lights up an entire room, those chompers that you can see from a mile away. He always had that smile on his face and I think forever etched in our memories is that great Fitzy smile, that’s going to help us move forward beyond this dark time.”
Teammates sit out weekend matches
Nathan’s reserve grade teammates opted to sit the weekend out but were welcomed to the field during the service. De Vincentis noted that two teams played in the game last week, unaware of the life-changing event they were about to encounter. “One thing that really stood out was how quickly our colours meant absolutely nothing, the teams that we played for meant absolutely nothing and the way everyone came together to support in that incredibly difficult moment was something to commemorate and highlight.”
Tributes across Victorian football clubs
Other Victorian football clubs are expected to run through banners at matches this round to pay tribute to Fitzgerald. Players at all 18 AFL clubs will wear black armbands, while Melbourne and Richmond will hold a minute’s silence before their game on Sunday.
Details of the incident and safety concerns
Fitzgerald suffered critical head injuries after knocking heads with a teammate while trying to make a tackle, players have recounted. His head then clashed with a boot or a knee before he landed headfirst on a covered cricket pitch in the centre of the field.
The tragic incident has raised safety concerns about playing on multi-use fields containing covered cricket pitches, with regulator WorkSafe investigating the incident.
Fundraising effort
An online fundraising effort to support his family had raised more than $145,000 from 2,200 donations as of Friday afternoon.
