Gerard FitzGerald is a former Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

er who played for Geelong

Geelong Football Club

The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...

 in the Victorian Football League

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

 (VFL) and has also had a successful career as a coach.

FitzGerald made just three appearances in the Geelong seniors, all in the 1977 VFL season

1977 VFL season

Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1977.-Grand final:North Melbourne drew with Collingwood 9.22 to 10.16 , in front of a crowd of 108244 people. A replay was held, and North Melbourne defeated Collingwood 21.25 to 19.10 in front of a crowd of 98366 people...

. In his second game he kicked three goals at Princes Park, against a strong Hawthorn team which amassed 191 points.

He took over from Alan Ezard

Alan Ezard

Alan Ezard is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL.Originally from Broadford, Victoria, Ezard made his debut with the Essendon Football Club in 1983 and made a name for himself as a very strong mark for a 173 cm man, playing mostly in the back pocket or as a rover...

 as coach of North Ballarat

North Ballarat Football Club

North Ballarat Football Club, nicknamed The Roosters, is an Australian rules football club based at Northern Oval in Ballarat. The club is locally known as the Roosters and plays in the Victorian Football League are current competition premiers and one of only four clubs based outside of Melbourne...

 in 1997 and remained with the club until the end of the 2002 season. In 2003 he was coach of Springvale

Casey Scorpions

The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...

 and the following year coached Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne Football Club

The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....

. He was in charge of North Ballarat's TAC Cup side in 2005 and 2006 before returning to their VFL club. FitzGerald steered North Ballarat to their inaugural VFL premiership in 2008. He guided the club to further premierships in 2009 and 2010.