Updated ,first published
Standing outside the Epping clubrooms, Matthew Fitzgerald’s breath could be seen in the cold Melbourne air.
It had been less than 24 hours since his brother, Nathan, had died in the hospital, and about three days since the field accident that put Nathan there.
The 27-year-old was playing for Epping Football Club’s reserves against Lalor on Saturday when he hit his head three times in a row – fatal injuries.
Onlookers saw Nathan hit his head on an indoor cricket pitch. His death has been referred to the Coroner’s Court for investigation and may lead to a review of stadium safety.
Matthew said he would support the review.
“We all know that a cricket pitch and a football pitch don’t mix,” he said.
Matthew was working when the accident happened, not knowing that after watching the Socceroos at 4am together that morning would be the last time he would see his brother conscious.
“That was the last thing we did together – me, Nathan and my dad. That’s a special, special moment. That’s a moment I’ll never forget,” he said.
Matthew said Nathan – the second oldest of four, including himself and two sisters – lived for his family.
“Friday morning he called me, I was at work,” Matthew recalled. “In that conversation, he said, ‘How do you do, how do you get up at 5:00 a.m. every day?’
“He always impressed people and always said ‘I’m proud of you’ … We can all learn something (from) how Nathan was. Always cherish your moments with your loved ones. Love your family. That’s what Nathan did.”
Wearing his brother’s jumper from last season, with number 34 on his back – now retired – Matthew’s eyes filled with tears as he hugged club president Luke De Vincentis.
“There is no manual that tells you how to deal with a situation like this,” De Vincentis pointed out, speaking to the media afterwards.
“I always wanted to be the president of this club, this club that I have been a part of since I was eight years old, and I never thought that I would have to face something like this.
“People deal with emotions in completely different ways. Some players are open about how much (they) struggle … Others put on a brave face … But overall the shock and how rare this situation is has slowed it down. Now with the news of his passing, it’s starting to sink in even more.”
Epping Netball Club is still figuring out how to move forward. The players, coaches and medical staff will meet on Tuesday night to decide whether to continue this weekend’s home games against Heidelberg West and South Morang. Epping’s home ground has a concrete covered cricket pitch similar to Lalor’s where witnesses saw Nathan hit his head.
The Northern Netball League said it would be able to make the weekend changes work and was awaiting a club decision from tonight’s meeting to confirm the plans.
De Vincentis said the vote will have to be unanimous as they don’t want to force anyone to play if they don’t feel well.
He said a memorial for Nathan Fitzgerald will be held Saturday morning either way, and that trauma counselors have been made available to those who need help.
Club secretary Gary Rakhlin, whose son played with Fitzgerald, described him as “tough and tenacious” but fair on the field, while off the field he was “gentle and polite”.
“He was one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” she said. “What can I say? It’s not fair.”
A few kilometers north at Mernda University, many students were arriving to pay their respects to their teacher – better known as Fitzy, Mr Fitz or King Fitz. At the front gate was a bunch of flowers, beside candles, a teddy bear, an eagle, a football and a mailbox.
Cards placed in many bouquets read “thank you for everything” and “school will be so hard without you”.
One student wrote: “Nathan Fitzgerald had a smile that would brighten a room and always put others first.
Everywhere were the letters LLNF – “Long live Nathan Fitzgerald”, year 12 student Dimitri Karatzas explained.
“He was a great guy,” Karatzas, who was coached by Fitzgerald a few years ago, said. “He was more than just a teacher. A lot of kids saw him as a friend they could talk to … A lot of students are upset that he won’t see them graduate.”
Year 8 student Macey Moderana, who was in one of Fitzgerald’s classes, recalled a time when she struggled with panic attacks at school.
He said he had listened to his opinion and then discussed a solution with him.
“He said he would come at the end of the day and check if I was okay, and he really did … And every time he passed me in the hall, he was checking to see how I was doing,” Moderana said.
A fundraiser started by the soccer club for the Fitzgerald family raised more than $100,000 in less than 24 hours. Matthew said the family has been overwhelmed by the support, which, along with their strong faith, has been helping them get through each day.
Following the death of Nathan Fitzgerald, discussions have continued about the safety of the ground and the covering of cricket pitches in the domestic arena.
“I don’t think the leagues … are going to close shop now and not play games until something is fixed, so it will remain a risk until … AFL Victoria, Cricket Victoria, the local councils come together and work out a solution that is better than what we have now,” De Vincentis said.
“You know, the current solution is within the guidelines, so there’s no slacking here. Everyone is doing the right thing, but the guidelines have to change, and I think after what happened over the weekend, that’s as popular as ever. And unfortunately, it generally takes a disaster to enact change.”
The club president said he would like to see the AFL step up and take more responsibility for the safety of players outside the premier league.
“Let’s just say, they wouldn’t send Nick Daicos out there,” he said.
In support of the prospect of a safety review of cricket pitch covers, Matthew Fitzgerald said: “We all know that cricket pitches and football pitches don’t mix.
“I think we’re just taking that opportunity to evaluate, because whatever (meets) the head, we want to minimize … (and) do everything we can for the health and safety of the players.”
The AFL and Cricket Australia have joint guidelines for synthetic surfaces on community pitches.
Cricket Australia said it would consider any issues arising from Fitzgerald’s death after the facts about the incident became known.
“We share the grief of everyone in the sporting community at this tragic event and send our condolences to Nathan’s family, friends and teammates,” a CA spokesman said.
“We will consider any issues surrounding the environment when all relevant information is available.”
The Victorian Football Authority says premier league matches must be played on cricket pitches but the guidelines are much stricter for community football.
“It is preferable for football grounds not to have a cricket pitch, and where possible strategically placed so that the wicket is not on top of the pitch,” Football Victoria’s guidelines say.
“This will avoid the potential risk of injury associated with wickets on the surface, and will also remove the need for a firm ground cover to make it safe to play on.”
The AFL has not announced any review of the facility’s standards and did not respond to specific questions about player safety raised by this headline, saying its immediate priority was to support those affected by Fitzgerald’s death.
However, a senior AFL source, who is not ready to be quoted because the facts of the incident have not been established, indicated the current safety standards for pitch covers will be reviewed. They said there was no suggestion that the Lalor Reserve pitch was not up to standards.
Players from all 18 AFL clubs will wear black armbands during this weekend’s matches, and there will be a minute’s silence before Melbourne take on the Tigers at the MCG. The AFL will also encourage community football leagues and clubs across the country to honor Fitzgerald by wearing black armbands during domestic matches this weekend.
Matthew said Nathan was “yellow and black” and thanked Richmond Football Club for contacting the family directly to offer their condolences.
In a statement, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said his thoughts were with Fitzgerald’s family and everyone affected by his death.
“Nathan’s passing has deeply saddened everyone in the football community,” he said.
“In times like these, football is more than the game itself. It’s about coming together to help each other.”
Tributes across the AFL and community football this weekend are expected to be among the biggest organized tributes to a grassroots footballer in recent years, reflecting the impact of Fitzgerald’s death at every level of the game. Other numbers are also expected to pay taxes.
WorkSafe Victoria said it had been notified and inspectors were investigating to determine what further action might be required.
At a Melbourne City council meeting on Tuesday night, Lord Mayor Nick Reece asked how many of the city’s ovals were covered in concrete pavement. Acting Executive Director Rick Kwasek said he is aware of nine stadiums that had multiple uses, and they are being reviewed.
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CORRECTION
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Lord Mayor Nick Reece was asked and answered a question about covered plots at a council meeting. He, in fact, asked the question of the council officers.
Bridget McArthur is a sports reporter at The Age, focusing on the intersection of sport and politics/business/economy/society.Connect through X or email address.
Sam McClure is an award-winning AFL journalist and broadcaster.Connect through X or email address.
Daniel Brettig is the chief cricket correspondent of The Age and the author of several books on cricket.Connect through X.
