Greg Fitzgerald

Q: Did you play football? If so, who for?

A: I played primary and high school footy until I was about 15 and then concentrated on tennis and basketball until I finished school and university. Once I commenced teaching in the country I played footy again for a few years at Streaky Bay in the early 1980’s.

Q: What got you started as a sports administrator?

A: Don Smith, the League Secretary approached me about undertaking the Junior Secretary role and so sports administration commenced in 1991.

Q: Best part about being a sports administrator?

A: I’ve always taken the view that if you are part of a community you need to make a contribution. Volunteering is the basis and foundation of country sport which in itself is vitally important to communities.

Q: Hardest part about being a sports administrator?

A: You are never going to satisfy everyone when difficult decisions need to be made. Managing parochialism was an ongoing challenge, particularly when decisions had to be made in the best interests of the sport and the participants, as against a club(s).

Q: What years were you President of the Port Lincoln Football League?

A: From 1995 to 2006 which encompassed many changes, notably the internet and the growth of the AFL with the introduction of Port Power in 1997.

Q: In addition to being President of the Mortlock Shield for twelve (12) years), how many other Mortlock Shields have you been involved in, and in what capacities?

A: Three as a League Executive member prior to 1995 and since 2009, another fifteen as a team manager for Port Lincoln on three occasions, Lincoln City on one occasion and the remainder number with Lincoln Districts.

Q: Who was the best player(s) you have seen produced locally?

A: Difficult to separate Eddie Betts and Shaun Burgoyne while Graham Johncock and Harry Miller Jnr are also part of that answer.

Q: Which is the most memorable game(s) you have seen in the Port Lincoln competition?

A: Probably the 1992 Grand Final. Tasmans came from fourth to win the premiership, changed coach mid-season and kicked 10 goals in the first quarter to split the game open. Mallee Park came back hard but fell just short.

Q: Which is the most memorable game(s) you have seen in the Mortlock Shield Championships?

A: I forget the year but I think it was the early 2000’s when Troy Olsen back home after playing AFL for a few years with Port Power, played for Mid-West and from memory kicked fourteen goals in one game.

Q: What advice would you give to someone contemplating being involved in football administration?

A: If you are prepared to give of your time, always remember that you are part of a team that is working for the same purpose and towards the same end goal, i.e providing opportinties for participants and supporters to enjoy the game.

Q: What do you think the Port Lincoln Football League will look like in ten years?

A: That is a very good question. Post Covid was always an unknown in regards to participation and engagement at all levels and 21^st century working arrangements have and are continuing to change. The challenge is, and will continue to be embracing change which is inevitable. The nature of that change is not fully clear for the present but it must include pirority consideration for providing opportunities for young people to participate as players, or umpires, or volunteers, or as club officials, as well as a willingness for administrators to work with kindred sporting associations to ensure that whatever the future will be, that familiies and future generations are at the heart of decisions moving forward.

Q: Are you still involved in football? If yes, in what capacity?

A: Since retirement earlier this year, I do some voluntary work and a few months ago I filled a casual Board vacancy on the league so both of those things occupy a bit of my time and keep me active.

In 2019 Greg received the SANFL Merit Award for outstanding service to football in SA.