'Tragic loss': Melbourne football player farewelled

A grief-stricken Australian reserves football team has backed out of a scheduled match to instead spend the day mourning the tragic death of a beloved teammate.

Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, suffered head injuries while playing at Lalor Recreation Reserve, in Melbourne's north, on Saturday and died in hospital on Monday.

His teammates and management at Epping Football Netball Club have come together several times to pay their respects in the days since.

On Tuesday evening, the club decided the reserves team Fitzgerald belonged to would sit out a scheduled match on Saturday, while under 19.5's and senior teams would still play.

It will also hold a public commemorative service at Epping Recreation Reserve on Saturday to farewell the respected football player and high school teacher.

His number 32 jersey will also be retired.

Fitzgerald's death has been met with an outpouring of support from the Australian rules community, including the sport's professional league.

All 18 AFL clubs will wear black armbands on the field this weekend, with a minute's silence held by Fitzgerald's favourite side, the Richmond Tigers, at the MCG.

The league would also reach out to community leagues and clubs nationwide to encourage them to wear black armbands of their own, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said.

"Nathan's passing has deeply saddened everyone in the football community. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved him, and with the many people across local football who have been affected by this tragic loss," Dillon said on Tuesday.

Fitzgerald suffered critical head injuries on Saturday after knocking heads with a teammate while trying to make a tackle, players have recounted.

His head then clashed with a boot or a knee before he landed headfirst on a covered cricket pitch in the centre of the field.

Players and medical specialists from both teams provided first aid to the 27-year-old while awaiting emergency services.

His condition quickly deteriorated in hospital, and he was put into end-of-life care on Sunday with his life support turned off the following day.

Mernda Central College, where Fitzgerald taught science and maths, has paid tribute to the "exceptional young man".

"He was a deeply valued member of our school community and had a profound impact on the students, staff and families who have had the privilege of knowing him," it said.

The school has installed a "memory box" on campus, with students, families and staff invited to leave a message for "Mr Fitz" to be shared with his family.

A GoFundMe page launched to support his family had raised more than AU$122,000 (NZ$148,000) from nearly 2000 donations as of Wednesday morning.

Click here to read article