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This week marks the 18th anniversary of the cruel demise of the once proud Fitzroy Lions.
Records books will tell us Fitzroy merged with Brisbane and became the Brisbane Lions, but when you look at the devastating way Fitzroy were removed from the national competition you may think about this story differently.
Auld Lang Syne sounded through the Subiaco Oval speakers as the chosen 21 players to represent the eight-time premiership club walked off the ground for the final time. It was a fitting tribute for a proud club, but one that was played 3,421 kilometres away from the spiritual home of the Lions, the Brunswick Oval in Fitzroy.
Greats of the club were given a fond farewell the previous week against Richmond, where almost 50,000 football fans witnessed Fitzroy’s final Victorian appearance when they were soundly beaten by Richmond.
A large fan-based campaign to move Fitzroy’s final match to Victoria from Western Australia was rejected by the AFL. The game had no bearing on the finals for 1996 and was the final disappointing nail in the coffin of the club.
Fitzroy had won their previous meeting with Fremantle back in Round 8 in front of only 5081 fans, and this would be remembered as Fitzroy’s final win in the competition. Full forward Anthony Mellington booted six goals while Chris Johnson took the three Brownlow points for the Lions.
Season 1996 was one to forget for Fitzroy, recording four defeats of more than 100 points and finishing with 14 straight losses. Once the Brisbane merger was announced a small relief was felt by both supporters and clubs as the side had struggled to tread water for many of their final years.
A merger with North Melbourne was the preferred option, but fear of creating a ‘super club’ resulted in a 14-1 club president’s vote at AFL House. North Melbourne defeated Sydney in the 1996 grand final, so maybe their calls were somewhat justified. But let’s not forget Brisbane won three successive premierships from 2001 to 2003.
Many assurances were given to Fitzroy at the time of the merger for both players and fans, with many Fitzroy listed players moving to Brisbane as part of the deal. Fans that chose to support the new identity were rewarded with their first finals action in many years, while the previous suitor North Melbourne (7th) could only manage to finish one place above the Brisbane Lions (8th).
Fast forward 18 years, and despite the three premierships and players with a Fitzroy connection such as Jonathan Brown (father-son), 2014 has felt like the beginning of the end to the somewhat strained relationship. Brown retired during the season, and Victorian-based Lions supporters had to wait 13 games to see their team play.
This season has seen a disconnection from the Fitzroy name, and the continual logo disputes over the past few seasons are finally taking their toll. In the past two seasons Brisbane has played 11 games in Victoria, coincidentally the same amount of games the Brisbane Lions played in their first year (1997) as a new club.
Commercially Fitzroy couldn’t survive in the cut throat world of AFL in 1996, and were on life support in their final few seasons. It was a sad end to what many remembered, but one that was fought hard to the bitter end. If the AFL is serious about making 2015 about the fans they shouldn’t forget those who supported Fitzroy.
Gone is the Brisbane connection and it’s time to move forward in a vastly different direction. There has been a change in the wind in regard to the second tier competition in Victoria, with clubs moving back in time with a return to their grassroots. Victoria Park, Western (Whitten) Oval and Punt Road are now permanent fixtures on the VFL circuit and part of every football fan would love to see Brunswick Oval host high quality football again.
With the demise of Bendigo Gold as the 16th team, the timing is perfect for the AFL to give Fitzroy fans a gift from left field – a VFL team.
Bendigo coach Austin Jones attempted to instil a belief in players that playing in the VFL would ‘keep them in the system’ and to continue to chase their AFL dream instead of chasing the cash presented in either lower level metropolitan or country footy. Attempting this from a metropolitan base would be far more affective instead of the 1 hour and 45 minute country town of Bendigo.
It’s an idea for the football romantic. Sadly there is no place for the romantic in the AFL, but the VFL presents an opportunity for fans around the Brunswick Oval to hear the lion roar again.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.