Fitzroy Stars have appointed club legend Lionel Proctor as senior men’s football coach for the 2021 season.
Proctor is the club’s most decorated player throughout its 13-year association with the NFNL.
He twice claimed the Division 2 best and fairest, winning the award in the club’s inaugural season in the NFNL in 2008 and again in 2012, and was named in the Division 2 Team of the Year in seven consecutive seasons from 2008 to 2014.
A five-time club best and fairest winner, he captained the Stars between 2008 and 2015, which included leading the club to Division 2 grand final appearances in 2013 and 2014.
Fitzroy Stars confirmed the appointment of Proctor as coach in a statement released on Friday.
“The Fitzroy Stars Football & Netball Club are thrilled to announce that one of the brightest stars in our club’s history has been appointed as senior coach in 2021,” the statement read.
“Lionel ‘Jacko’ Proctor will take the lead of the club in the upcoming season making his transition from Star player to Star coach.
“The Proctor family have been a big part of our club and community for many years.
“Lionel Senior played for the Stars and ‘Jacko’ quickly followed in his dad’s footsteps by playing in the juniors with us.
“From junior, to captain and now to coach. We can’t wait for the next chapter of the ‘Jacko’ story at our club.”
Proctor assumes the senior men’s coaching role from former Essendon star Dean Rioli.
Rioli stepped aside in September due to work commitments without coaching the Stars in an official game after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
