Brother of footy player who died of head injuries suffered during game re-lives their ‘special’ last moments together – as it’s revealed 27-year-old just got engaged

The brother of Melbourne footballer Nathan Fitzgerald has opened up about the special last moments they shared together just hours before the horrific on-field accident that caused his death.

Fitzgerald, 27, died in hospital on Monday evening after suffering an injury while playing for Epping Football Netball Club at Lalor Recreation Reserve, in Melbourne’s north, on Saturday.

The high school teacher incurred a head clash and a knee or boot to the head before landing head-first on a covered cricket pitch after trying to make a tackle.

Now Nathan’s younger brother Matthew has recalled the last interaction they had as he paid a heartbreaking tribute to his sibling.

‘I take comfort in the fact I’ve got a lot of memories with Nathan,’ Matthew told News Corp.

‘The last moment I had with him was when we watched the World Cup together that morning [the Australia vs Egypt match, just before Nathan played].

Fitzgerald (pictured) was treated by paramedics after he suffered three blows to the head, including one when he landed on a covered concrete cricket pitch, raising concerns for other players

‘That was a special morning and the memory will stay with me forever.’

Matthew also said Nathan had been in rare form before the accident.

‘In the past few weeks he’s been getting best on ground, he’s come home saying, ‘I got best on, I got best on.’ He was on a bit of a roll and he was really proud,’ Matthew said.

He added that Nathan was a ‘cheeky troublemaker’ who ‘always made you smile’ and had a special passion for his work.

‘He loved his job so much, he loved teaching,’ Matthew said.

‘He used to always come home talking about what happened during the day and his interactions with his students.’

It has also been revealed that Nathan recently popped the question to his partner Hannah, who said yes and was with him and his immediate family in Royal Melbourne Hospital when he died. 

Matthew said the Fitzgerald family are religious and their faith is helping them deal with the shattering loss.

Nathan (left) is pictured with his father Gary, mother Barbara, brother Matthew and sisters Hannah and Vanessa

Teaching was a huge passion for Nathan (pictured), who recently got engaged 

Emergency services treated Mr Fitzgerald at the scene after medical specialists and players rushed to his aid on Saturday. 

The incident rocked the club, which came together on Sunday with about 120 people showing support for the injured player.

Local junior Jax Collins, who wore a jersey to the event in honour of Mr Fitzgerald, said it was terrible.

‘I felt pretty upset,’ he said.

‘No one really wants that to happen to someone when they’re playing footy.’

Following Mr Fitzgerald’s death, the club posted a tribute on social media: ‘Rest in Peace & Love, Fitzy.’

Mernda Central College, where Mr Fitzgerald taught, also paid tribute, calling him an ‘exceptional young man who brought warmth, energy, kindness and genuine care to every part of his life’.

‘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.’

A fundraising campaign for Mr Fitzgerald’s family raised more than $80,000.