Nathan Fitzgerald, a 27-year-old player for the Epping Football Netball Club, died on Monday night after sustaining catastrophic head injuries during a game on Saturday at Lalor Recreation Reserve. Fitzgerald, also a high school teacher at Mernda Central College, was described by the school as an "exceptional young man."

Following his death, the Epping Football Netball Club's reserves team, which Fitzgerald mainly played in, has decided to forgo their upcoming match. However, the club's under 19.5s and seniors teams will continue with their scheduled games, according to club president Luke De Vincentis. The club will hold a public commemorative service this Saturday at Epping Recreation Reserve to honor Fitzgerald.

Players across all 18 AFL clubs will wear black armbands during matches this weekend as a mark of respect. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon announced that the Melbourne Demons and Fitzgerald's beloved Richmond Tigers will observe a minute's silence before their match at the MCG on Sunday. The AFL is also encouraging community football leagues nationwide to wear black armbands.

WorkSafe is investigating the incident, which involved Fitzgerald receiving two head knocks in quick succession before his head collided with a cricket pitch surface made of a "shock-absorbing" pad over concrete. Fitzgerald's younger brother, Matthew, has called for a broader assessment of the safety of cricket pitch coverings on football ovals beyond Lalor Recreation Reserve.

More than half a dozen Victorian football clubs, including Epping, plan to run through banners at their matches this weekend to pay tribute to Fitzgerald. These banners were donated by Mark Lunn, who runs a banner printing business in South Australia.

De Vincentis noted, "[The council] haven't done anything wrong, they are following guidelines. But I think we should look into it — are we doing everything we can?"

Sources