“EVERYONE’S pretty excited, why wouldn’t you be?”
It’s a fair point. Especially when you consider that for Erone Fitzpatrick, the current situation she finds herself in was very much a world away this time 12 months ago.
Fitzpatrick enters this weekend preparing for a semi final against Hawthorn at IKON Park, having starred in her first final last week and with an All-Australian squad nomination to show for her outstanding form in 2025.
The Blues’ rise up the ranks has been one of the stories of the AFLW season to date, as has Fitzpatrick’s form, having previously missed the entirety of the 2024 campaign due to an ACL injury sustained in 2023’s final round.
The form that ‘Ronnie the Rocket’ has displayed this year has been an instant reminder of exactly what the Blues had been missing… and the Irishwoman admitted to having her own reservations leading into the season.
“When I was placed on the inactive list last year, it felt like the end of the world,” Fitzpatrick said.
“To be able to see how far I’ve come in a year, times are very different. I’m really proud of myself to be able to bounce back from the ACL.
“I can’t thank the Club enough for the support they provided me through a really difficult time, being away from family and being injured. The care and diligence they put into me was second-to-none: I really do feel part of this Club.”
There was a Round 1 return for the season opener against Collingwood - and, true to form, she hasn’t looked back from there.
Playing every game this season, Fitzpatrick’s 13 goals - including two in the elimination final - have been typified by an electrifying style of play, with that All-Australian squad nod indicative of her standing in the competition.
And the No.19 said it took her by surprise.
“I could not believe it! I was like ‘What the helly?’.
“I’m also so proud of the other two, Harriet and Dayna. It’s all a testament to the effort they’ve put in.
“My first game back had all the fans getting around me, you see posters - it’s just absolutely brilliant. To have fans in Australia shout ‘Ronnie’ is really cool: it’s very different to home because everybody would know you, but to be able to inspire young girls both here and at home that you can achieve your dreams is really cool.”
Those IKON Park stands will once again be filled on Saturday night, when despite it being a nominal ‘away’ game for Carlton, there’s sure to be a fair share of Navy Blue on Royal Parade.
That’s a massive source of motivation for Fitzpatrick and the Blues as they aim to keep the ball rolling against a Hawthorn side which might have prevailed the last time these sides met, but left an emerging Carlton outfit brimming with confidence.
“When we looked at our opportunities after that game, it was ‘If we’d just done this, if we’d just done that’ - from that, that sparked belief. Then we went to Brisbane, played Brisbane in Brisbane and beat them. We were like ‘We’re on here’ - the belief was definitely after Hawthorn, but we knew how far we could go after Brisbane.
“It’s crazy, ‘Bucky’ spoke about it in his press conference - our fans are what will make it a home game. It’ll be weird that it is our ‘away’ game, but our fans will make it feel like a home game.”
