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.
Lorraine Edmondson
Guest
I am just finishing reading Ross Oakley's book and can still not forgive the AFL for killing my team. I supported Fitzroy for all of my life and was devastated when I could not watch their final match. Freemantle was happy to play the match in Melbourne but Oakley said NO. I could not support Brisbane and have lost all interest in AFL football. I put the death of my wonderful Fitzroy right up there with the death of my Dad. Up yours Oakley!!!!!
The Darkman
Guest
I agree there is no room for sentiment in football. It's just become too big a business to be run through meat trays, chicken raffles and lemonade stands. F-I-T-Z-R-O-Y can point fingers at the AFL but really they couldn't get their own local council to upgrade facilities at Brunswick Street back in the 1960's. They became a wandering club without any real home and have paid the penalty for it. I remember the comments filtering through from 'fans' who showed up at the last few games stating it was the first game they attended in years. Also the AFL wanted to expand and search for new audiences. Port Adelaide offered the perfect opportunity similar to Fremantle. Now each state has it's own local derby which will increase audiences rapidly. There's even talk of third WA team and a fresh team in Tasmania. The competition just can't afford a club averaging less than 10,000 people at their games with little appeal outside it's local area.
Leisure Suit Larry
Guest
What can be done to please everyone is getting rid of the paddle pop lion on the front of the current Brisbane-Fitzroy jersey and replace that with a monogram in the same font as the old Fitzroy kits. I would have a navy blue BFFC monogram, with navy blue yoke at the top. The rest is maroon. Navy blue shorts, with hooped navy blue and maroon socks. Job done!
Axle an the guru
Guest
The AFL were never going to let Sydney fold back in the early 90s they were always going to get propped up. If that experiment went belly up,it would have been the end of everything AFL wise. With the VFL back then it was a case of this must work at all costs.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Always interested to hear the opinions of both clubs followers. It's something I reflect on as a Swans supporter that started following them when they first moved to Sydney. I often wondered how the Souths fans felt about it; how they felt come 96; how they felt post 96 and leading into the Roos era; and how they feel now after 05/12. The Bears had been around for only 9 seasons prior to the merge and as you point out the Lions had been around since 1883. The trade offs in terms of history are huge. But I wonder if that makes it any easier as a Bears supporter? In hindsight, probably not, as they now have those 3 consecutive flags in their new history. I recall the early 90's as a swans supporter; when it looked like they could either fold or merge; and the thought of them becoming a different team was devastating. I suppose it is possible to become very passionate and fond of your club regardless of their success or history.
Simoc
Guest
Nonsense. I prefer the Brisbane Bears and their original set up. Fitzroy were hopeless and needed to be demoted like the Melbourne AFL team last season. It was done to pacify those Fitzroy losers. The team during Brisbanes premier years was the direct opposite of the team Fitzroy used to put out on a weekly basis. There was no comparison.
TomC
Roar Guru
I just couldn't disagree more strongly with your point about the Bears losing their colours, song and mascot. They gained far, far more than they lost. it's not even comparable. I just cannot abide people who say that Fitzroy fans need to remember that Bears fans lost something. It's nonsense. It's like equating a paper cut on a winning lottery ticket to a mortal car accident.
Rob
Guest
I'm a sentimentalist but also a realist. Fitzroy had no place in a professional football league. No supporters no money and no hope of getting either. Whilst as a neutral supporter I think the fans got a much better deal out of Brisbane than North (you would have lost the lions mascot, song and colours) it was the will of their few supporters to join north and that's what should have happened. I've spoken to a few old lions supporters and they seem to forget that the bears fans effectively lost their team too just as they were starting to make some in roads. They lost their colours, song and mascot. What irks me the most about old Fitzroy supporters is that they seem to forget that the jumper the Brisbane Lions now wear is closer to the original Fitzroy jumper than the one Fitzroy wore for the last 30 years of its existence. They wore maroon not red - the red came about with the advent of colour television (as did melbournes royal blue and essendons red shorts - both of which have been scrapped). They made a big mistake by changing the lion on the jumper - all concerned from ex bears to ex lions to current lions and neutral supporters hated it and they will be going back next year. As for the number of games played in Melbourne and when they are well Brisbane is at the mercy of the AFL scheduling - very little the loins can do about that. I think it would be fantastic to see the reds promoted to VFL but what should have happened way back in 1996 was that rather than merge Fitzroy should have had the option to leave the AFL and join the VFL . I'm willing to bet most of their very few members would have taken that option over both others on the table at the time. One last point - had the AFL in 1996 done what most people seemed to want them to do and reverse rounds 21 and 22 so Fitzroy could have their last game in Melbourne that would have meant that the Demons would have potentially had to play their last ever game in Perth. Remember they were all but merged with Hawthorn at that point - I for one thought my club was gone too. Thankfully it hasn't but I now wonder if we had and I had the opportunity to support a team that won 3 flags from 4 grand finals whether I would havtaken it. I reckon I would have.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
It'd be great if the Lions were to give a bit more to the Fitzroy sentiment. I think they do a bit already, but it almost be great if they had a whole year in a jumper more styled on the old Fitzroy one.
TomC
Roar Guru
I think standing firmly on the ground, shoving aside opponents, was more big John Ironmonger's style. Played one of the most memorable individual games I've ever seen against the Kangaroos at Princes Park one day. He kicked four, dominated in the ruck, and Fitzroy got up by a point. What a day.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Thats right they went in with Coburg didnt they Mister?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Of those former Fitzroy fans who now follow the Brisbane Lions, I really don't think too many would be lost because there was a team in the VFL called Fitzroy.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Fitzroy in the VFL? It's a lovely idea, and I'd be all for it, but the AFL will never let it happen. It would result in many Victorian fans deserting the Brisbane team, and the AFL would see it as a "weakening of the franchise's brand", or something.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Leave them were they are,in the history books. If the AFL cared anything about Fitzroy at all they would never have let Brisbane change the Lion logo and the gurnseys. Besides the VFL dont need another broke club running around with 200 spectators watching it.
Tristan
Guest
If (and it's a monumental if, and not going to happen IMO) Fitzroy were to field a side in the VFL, it would be wholly separate from Brisbane, and effectively be a promotion of the Reds who play in the Ammos, who are the same Fitzroy Football Club who formerly played in the AFL.
Franko
Guest
The fact that the AFL are talking about having a mid-season draft shows their utter contempt for anything other than the AFL. Why would the AFL wouldn't want to encourage Fitzroy fans to go to the VFL when they technically have a side in the AFL? The other issue is that Brisbane already have a team in the NEAFL, operating one in the VFL concurrently would open a whole range of equality concerns.
Johnno
Guest
Miss the days watching Ironmonger, in full-flight take a mark.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
I'd love seeing Fitzroy make a return to the VFL. Why stop there though? Let's de-register Essendon for being a pack of arrogant drug cheats and replace them with the Tassie-Fitzroy Lions, Brissie can go back to being the Bears. Tassie wins, Fitzroy wins, and everyone who hates Essendon (pretty much everyone who doesn't support Essendon) also wins. Gilligan, make it happen son.