Clubs are encouraged to ask players to wear black armbands this weekend,
Local leagues are encouraging players to don black armbands this weekend following a tragic footballing incident in Melbourne’s north.
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Epping Football Club player Nathan Fitzgerald was rushed to hospital in critical condition at the weekend after suffering a head injury at Lalor Recreation Reserve during a Northern Football Netball League match.
Fitzgerald is believed to have suffered three head knocks during a tackle, clashing heads with a teammate before a boot or knee collided to his head, followed by hitting his head on a hard cricket pitch in the middle of the oval.
The suburban footballer was rushed to hospital in critical condition, but put on end of life care before his death was announced Monday night by the football club.
The fatality has reverberated across the nation and leagues in the Goulburn Murray region will follow the AFL’s suit in wearing black armbands to pay respect to the 27-year-old teacher.
All AFL clubs will wear black armbands this weekend, while Melbourne and Richmond’s game will hold a minute’s silence beforehand.
Murray Football League confirmed all clubs would be encouraged to wear the black tape on Saturday, while Goulburn Valley League stated the under-19 and senior interleague teams would be wearing armbands in respect for Fitzgerald.
Picola District Football League said it expected some clubs to tape black armbands on to honour former president Bruce Tuhan who died before the competition’s bye last weekend.
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