Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club

VALE DEAN ROUMELIOTIS

Forever #44.

It is with great sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we acknowledge the passing of our much-loved Dean ‘Deano’ Roumeliotis. Forever #44.

Our deepest condolences and love are with the Roumeliotis family, Dean’s friends, his beloved teammates, and everyone at Doutta Stars who had the privilege of knowing him.

Deano’s journey with our football club began back in 2015 as an Under 8. But, as anyone who knew Deano would understand, playing in his own age group was never quite enough. He just had to test himself against the bigger boys, regularly doubling up in the Under 10s.

That competitive spirit never left him.

Deano progressed all the way through our junior program before reaching the Under 18s in 2024. And again, playing at his own level wasn’t enough. At 16 years of age, he made his senior debut with our Reserves that same year.

He was also the starting ruckman in our Under 18 Grand Final side in 2024.

In 2025, the group stepped up into Premier Division and Deano continued to establish himself as the team’s ‘battering ram’ in the ruck. Across his 13 games, he was named among the best on four occasions. Unfortunately, injury ruled him out of the finals series, but his contribution throughout the season played a huge part in helping that group reach a Premier Division Grand Final. An incredible achievement for a program that had not even fielded an Under 18 team just four years earlier.

This year, alongside his Under 18 commitments, Deano again stepped up to play two games in the Reserves. It was simply who he was. Always wanting to challenge himself, compete against older and bigger bodies, and see how far he could push himself.

The news this week has been absolutely shattering. There simply aren’t words that can describe the loss of our beloved Deano and our #44.

We are going to miss that cheeky smirk. That little touch of arrogance. That toughness. The mark where he would go back with the flight. The big smack out of the ruck. The handshake he seemed to have for absolutely anyone wearing a piece of Douttas merchandise.

Most of all, we will miss the teammate who always had his mates’ backs and who played with enormous pride for the Star on his chest.

Deano loved a laugh. Beneath that toughness was an incredibly warm, quirky, caring and kind-hearted young man whose cheeky sense of humour had a way of making people feel comfortable and welcome.

That same warmth runs through the entire Roumeliotis family, who have given so much to our football club over many years. Their contribution to Doutta Stars, and particularly the impact that Paul and the family have had on so many young people who have grown into outstanding young men, is something for which our club will forever be grateful for.

Right now, we are lost for words and heartbroken by the loss of Dean.

But we will forever carry with us all of the things that made Dean, Deano.

The cheekiness.
The toughness.
The loyalty.
The competitiveness.
The kindness.
The love for his mates.
The love for his family.
And the love for his football club.

Dean’s legacy will forever be a part of the Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club. Such a kindhearted, beautiful young Man who got along with everyone at the club, from all ages and walks of life.

A service celebrating Dean’s life will be held on Tuesday 1 September at 10:00am at St Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church, 1 Gladstone Street, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039.

The Roumeliotis family are not seeking gifts. Instead, for those wishing to contribute, the family asks that donations be made to the Epilepsy Foundation. Dean lived with epilepsy, and in his memory the family hopes to contribute to greater research, support and awareness of the condition. Donations can be given via https://fundraising.epilepsyfoundation.org.au/s/2156/2192/s.

For those attending Glenroy tomorrow, a minute’s silence will be observed prior to our Under 18 game. We invite everyone who crossed paths with Dean to join us, arm in arm on the ground a small gesture to honour the enormous impact that Deano had on so many of us.

Our thoughts, our love and our arms are around the Roumeliotis family.

A teammate. A friend. A Douttas boy. Our #44.

FOREVER #44.

VALE DEAN ROUMELIOTIS

Get down to Nipper Jordan Oval tonight from 6pm and watch the boys go through their final training session before Sunday’s Elimination Final.

🍻 Happy Hour from 6pm to 8pm ($4.50 beers & wines)
🍽️ Lamb ragu on the menu ($20 per serve)
🏉 Bulldogs v Pies Live from 7:40pm

Stick around for selection and a preview of Sundays game! ⭐️

20 Years in the Making - Finals Bound! ⭐️

For the first time since 2006, the Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club will return to play Premier Division finals footy.

For those who have been around our club for a long time, you’ll understand just how much this moment means. There have been some incredibly tough and lean years along the way. Years where our Reserves went through seasons barely winning a game. Years where we couldn’t field an Under 18 side at all. Years where success wasn’t measured by wins and losses, but simply by keeping people together, getting teams onto the park and continuing to move the club forward.

But through all of it, people always stuck by and supported their beloved, mighty Doutta Stars.

Players kept pulling on the jumper. Coaches kept putting their hands up. Volunteers kept opening the doors. Sponsors, members, families, life members and supporters kept backing the club. Even when there wasn’t a lot of success to celebrate.

This Sunday is for all of you.

We head to Sewell Reserve, Glenroy with three teams playing Elimination Finals, all against Marby Park.

We couldn’t be prouder of how far this football club has come and we want to make this a genuine Douttas finals week. So join us on Friday evening at home base from 6pm and watch the boys complete their final session before Sunday.

Happy Hour from 6 to 8pm, Lamb Ragu on the menu and Bulldogs v Pies live from 7:40pm. Stay for selection and a preview of the games ahead from all three coaches.

Then on Sunday, we need the Douttas Army at Glenroy. To everyone who stuck by the club in the lean years, come and enjoy this one with us. Wear your navy and gold and support your Stars! We’ll be setting up on the away side of the ground and we want our supporters over there with us. ⭐️

ROUND 18 IS HERE! ⭐️

One last Saturday at Nipper Jordan Oval for the 2026 home-and-away season, and there’s plenty happening both on and off the field!

Our Prem B U18 boys kick it off at 10am hosting Keilor, with our Senior games hosting Greenvale.

We also have our Senior & Under 18 Parents Luncheon kicking off from 12:30pm in the clubrooms. All parents are welcome, with complimentary food and a first beverage, plus a word from the club and Senior Coach Barry Prendergast ahead of the Senior game.

And then stick around post game as we celebrate the end of another home-and-away season together. The bar will be open, live music will be playing, entry is FREE and everyone is welcome!

Get down to Nipper Jordan Oval for one last time in 2026 tomorrow and get behind your Stars.

⭐️

We have another fantastic group of players sponsor to recognise this week as we close towards the business end of the season.

A massive thank you to this week’s Player Sponsors:
Declan Willmore, sponsored by John Kalpakis
Meg Runting, sponsored by Fox Moving & Gardening
Charlotte Whiteway, sponsored by Swift Signs
Lachlan Comito, sponsored by VJ Comito & Co
Stephanie Mitchell, sponsored by Club Leeds
Sean Eyre-Walker, sponsored by Club Leeds
Mason Crevatin, sponsored by Deborah Clowes
Kieran Bugryn, sponsored by Complete Property Presentations
Ella Dransfield, sponsored by Anna Papaleo
Blake Monaghan, sponsored by Geoff Edgar

We’re incredibly grateful to every business, family and individual who has backed a player throughout our 80th year. Your support plays a huge part in helping our club continue to grow both on and off the field.

⭐️💙

2026 SENIOR PRESENTATION BALL! ⭐️

Join us as we come together to celebrate the 2026 season and recognise the achievements of our players, coaches, volunteers and club community.

Details:
Saturday October 03
5:30pm to 11:00pm
3 Course Meal & Beverages for $150pp / $110pp U18

Contact Todd to lock in your tables and join us for what promises to be a fantastic evening.

Tickets available via https://www.essendondsfc.com.au/events

ROUND 17 IS HERE ⭐️

A huge Saturday of football ahead for the Stars, with our men back at Nipper Jordan Oval and our women beginning their finals campaign!

A huge congratulations to our Women’s program on earning the opportunity to play finals football again in 2026 with both sides facing off in elimination finals tomorrow.

Get around the navy and gold wherever you can this Saturday!

⭐️

A huge congratulations to Gus on taking home 2nd place in the Under 12 Division 3 League Best & Fairest! 👏

A fantastic effort and well-deserved recognition for a great year. We’re incredibly proud of you, Gus!

And making it even more special, 3rd generation Peel, Carl, was there to see it and couldn’t have been more thrilled! 💙💛

🏅 Congratulations Henry Reddan! 🏅

After a tough year on the field, Henry has been recognised for his consistent effort, determination and commitment, taking home the Simon Madden Medal for the Under 14 Division 1 League Best & Fairest! 👏

A fantastic achievement and a wonderful reward for the way Henry has continued to put in week after week.

Congratulations Gus and Henry! 💙💛🏆

FUN FACT: Gus's granddad, Carl Peel and Henry's granddad, John Breen, played in a Douttas Reserves Grand Final together in 1968. 💙💛

This week, we’re proud to announce a great group of Coaches Sponsors for 2026!

Our coaches give an enormous amount of their time, energy and knowledge to our players and our football club.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a committed coaching group across all levels of the football club, and equally fortunate to have some fantastic businesses, families and individuals backing them in 2026.

A huge thank you to our Coaches Sponsors:
Kirk Thompson - Senior Men’s Coach Barry Prendergast
Elecflight - Senior Men’s Assistant Coaches Connor Thompson & Nick Kovac
Jason Filia - Mens Reserves Coach Damian Bellino
Symal - U18A Coach Spencer Thompson
Fireshield Fire Services - U18B Coach Peter Grech
Maree & Todd - Senior Women’s Coach Craig Rutley and Reserves Women’s Coach Candice Petersen
Blair McFarlane - Thirds Coach Nick Shea
Essendon Foot Clinic - Thirds Assistant Nick Bugryn

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2026! We greatly appreciate your support! 💙💛