When Shane Fitzsimmons swapped his number 23 Melbourne jumper with Hawthorn legend Don Scott after an AFL Melbourne-Hawthorn clash at the MCG in the 1970s he wasn’t expecting to see it again.
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Recently, when Scott decided it was time to relocate and dispose of some of the memorabilia he had collected in his celebrated 302 games and three premierships career with Hawthorn, he came across a Melbourne jumper which he had swapped with a Demon player in the 1970s.
A phone call from Scott to Melbourne Past Players president Rod Grinter established the number 23 jumper belonged to Shane (Fritter) Fitzsimmons, recruited from Kyabram.
Knowing another former Melbourne player Kelly O’Donnell was also a Kyabram boy, Grinter contacted O’Donnell about getting the jumper back to its original owner.
O’Donnell, now a recruiting consultant and past players liaison manager with the Melbourne Football Club, also had an association with the number 23 jumper, wearing it for 77 of his 80 games with the AFL Demons.
‘‘I wore number 36 in my first three games for Melbourne, but Shane had finished with Melbourne then so also being a Kyabram boy, they offered me Shane’s number.
‘‘After I finished my career with Melbourne the number 23 was then worn by Daryl Bourke, another Kyabram player, so Kyabram players wore that number for nearly 20 years,’’ O’Donnell reflected.
Always aware of where his journey in football started, O’Donnell was quick to accept Scott’s offer, promising he would get the jumper to Fitzsimmons.
In fact, Fitzsimmons said it was only the second Melbourne jumper he now had in his possession to associate him with the club.
‘‘I can member it now,’’ Fitzsimmons said, reflecting on exchanging his jumper with Scott all those years ago.
‘‘I was a bit surprised he picked me out to swap jumpers with as he was a very high profile player. But it was nice gesture and real honour for me. I’m glad to get it back,’’ Fitzsimmons said.
Fitzsimmons played 63 games with Melbourne between1972 and 1979 and then 96 games with West Perth in the WAFL.
In two stints with Kyabram before and after his time with Melbourne and West Perth, he chalked up a total of 103 senior games before finishing his career with KDL Merrigum where he played 42 games.
Home ground change?
Murchison-Toolamba Football Netball Club is courting the possibility of moving home from its spiritual home at Murchison to nearby Toolamba.
There is a push for the change and there seems a host of good arguments as to why it should happen.
Greater Shepparton Council has refused to dip in and provide funds to upgrade the ailing 40-year-old clubrooms at its current ground because the land is owned by Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action.
The council has a policy to provide funding for projects on land it owns.
And demographically Toolamba is a lot closer to larger populations — and potential recruiting grounds — of Mooroopna, Shepparton and Kialla.
Toolamba recreation reserve — known as the Gabriel Southon Reserve — would still need new clubrooms and facilities to accommodate a shift, but would also certainly get more local government support if it makes the shift.
New interleague coach
The Goulburn Valley League will have a Morrison Medallist and premiership coach in its bid to win back the Ash-Wilson trophy from the Ovens and Murray League this season.
Mark Lambourn takes the reins of the GVL interleague side from Kyabram’s Paul Newman.
Lambourn won the Morrison Medal playing for Shepparton Swans in 1996 and coached Shepparton to the GVL flag in 2000. He has also been a Murray league interleague coach.
Lambourn will have a former Echuca and GVL coach Simon Eishold and Dion Sheehan to support him.
Originally former Fremantle coach and former Member for Nicholls Damian Drum and current Mooroopna coach John Lamont were being touted to take the job.
The game is to be played on Saturday, May 20 at the Albury Sports Ground.
Making their mark
Former Kyabram and Merrigum players made their mark in Tongala’s win in the Murray Football League opening round on Saturday.
New Blues captain Kyle Fitzgerald and another former Kyabram player Mitchell Gugliotti were named best two players, while Merrigum recruits Jack Sinclair and Tom Cooper were also impressive on debut as were other Kyabram imports Mitchell Fitzgerald, James Ross and Blake McAuliffe in a big first up win over Echuca United.
Mundy in Carlton ‘Draft’
Former Seymour footballer and 376 games Fremantle legend David Mundy has nominated for the 2023 Carlton Draft.
The Carlton Draft provides country clubs with a good cause the chance to play an AFL retired for a on-off game.
In his inaugural season last year Kyabram league battler Longwood had Geelong premiership player and media personality Cameron Mooney strip for a game.
The draft is to be conducted later this month and is to be broadcast live on Fox Footy.
Lynch now a Lion
Seymour has added former Western Bulldogs player Brad Lynch to its list of ins for the GVL season which kicks off this weekend.
Lynch has nominated Seymour as his home club but will only be available when not requited by his VFL club, Essendon.
A connection with former Seymour, Western Bulldogs and now Melbourne player Josh Schache has led Lynch, a former Queenslander, to Seymour.
Historic penalty for Hearn
An historic tribunal case will keep Kyabram Football Club reserves co-coach Scott Hearn on the sidelines for the first month of the season.
Hearn faced the tribunal last week over an incident in 2012 when he was a runner for Lancaster and was reported for using abusive language towards an umpire.
He failed to appear at an original tribunal hearing and was suspended until he did — which took 12 years.
The tribunal last week also dished out a four-week suspension period to Euroa’s Nate Trotter over a striking charge he pleaded guilty to in a recent practice game against Myrtleford.
Good week for trainers
It was another good week for district harness racing trainers last week.
Kyabram’s Peter Hall produced trotter Shes Ruby Roo from a five months break for her maiden win at only her third start when she saluted at Kilmore.
Another Kyabram mentor Mick Blackmore produced four-year-old trotting mare Loving Gina for a strong win on debut at Bendigo.
Tongala’s trainer Mick Watt scored a well deserved maiden win Eye See Philtra at big odds at Cobram.
Merrigum’s Luke Bryant made it three wins from five starts with Franco Novelist when he saluted at Yarra Valley.
Sports reporter