Tributes flow for ‘deeply loved’ Melbourne teacher who died after a head clash during Australian football game

Mernda school community in mourning after Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, dies in hospital

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast

A Melbourne teacher who died after a horror head clash during an Australian football game has been remembered for the ways he touched the lives of his loved ones.

Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, was taken to the Royal Melbourne hospital after he fell to the ground and hit his head on a covered cricket pitch during an Australian rules football game in Lalor in Melbourne’s north on Saturday.

His condition quickly deteriorated and the next day, his life support was turned off, the Epping Football Netball Club confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.

“Surrounded by the love of his family, Nathan grew his wings on 6 July 2026,” his club wrote in an update to his GoFundMe page .

“His beautiful smile, caring nature, kindness, loyalty, and love for football touched so many lives, and his memory will forever remain in our hearts.

“Rest easy, Fitzy. You’ll forever be part of the EFNC family.”

The club has thrown its support behind the Fitzgerald family, as his parents, three siblings and fiancee begin to navigate their loss.

Its fundraiser has received more than $100,000 in donations, with members of the community sharing their grief.

In a statement , Mernda Central College, where “Mr Fitz” taught maths and science, said he represented the very best of education.

“He cared deeply about young people, built strong and meaningful relationships and made those around him feel seen, supported and valued,” the school wrote in a social media post.

“This is an incredibly difficult and distressing time for Nathan’s family, friends, teammates, colleagues, students and all who love him.

“Nathan was deeply loved, valued and respected by all of us at Mernda Central P-12 College, and our entire community is holding him and his family in our thoughts.”

Students, families and staff have been invited to leave messages and tributes to the teacher through a memory box placed at the college.

Support has been made available to those at the school, with the Victorian education department acknowledging the “extremely difficult time”.

“The Department of Education extends our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues on the death of Nathan Fitzgerald in such tragic circumstances,” a spokesperson said.

The 27-year-old had been playing for the Epping Football Netball Club when, during a tackle, he clashed heads with another player before receiving a second blow to the head “which could have been from a flailing boot or a knee”, the club’s president, Luke De Vincentis, told ABC radio on Monday.

The club has called for an investigation into playing football on cricket pitches converted into fields, noting there was a hard strip of surface in the middle of the ground where Fitzgerald fell and appeared to have hit his head again.

But the City of Whittlesea, which manages the reserve, said the ground had met the relevant safety standards.

Head knocks in football have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy shines a light on their consequences.