Happy-ending for shotgun wedding

By Chris Herde

Wednesday, September 26, 2001

BRISBANE, AAP - Some shotgun weddings do produce happy endings - just ask the thousands of former Fitzroy fans who will be at the MCG for the AFL grand final against Essendon on Saturday.

Just over five years ago the marriage of the cash-strapped foundation VFL club with the cashed-up Brisbane Bears felt much more like takeover than merger.

Eight Fitzroy players made the journey north to the Queensland capital and the Brisbane Bears became the Brisbane Lions, complete with a new jumper in the colours of old Fitzroy.

But they were far away from the Melbourne inner city suburb which gave birth to the Roys back in 1883 and visits to Melbourne by the new entity were few and far between.

For the special breed of Fitzroy fan who had stuck with the team in the bad times - and they far outweighed the good times - the 'end' of the club was like a stab in the heart.

A year after the merger, a survey of former Fitzroy fans found around 50 per cent had given up on the great Australian game.

But gradually increasing numbers of former Fitzroy fans have returned to support the Lions when they play in Melbourne, no doubt influenced by the improved performance of the team.

Brisbane defender Chris Johnson, the only remaining Fitzroy player who journeyed north for the 1997 season, has noticed the difference.

He said from the round 15 match against Collingwood at the MCG he had seen a surge of support from former Fitzroy fans.

'It didn't happen straight away because there are always going to be people for and always people against,' Johnson said.

'It's taken its time and they're starting to come over now.

'And if they don't come over now I don't know when they're coming over.'

The last of Fitzroy's eight premierships was way back in 1944, so it's hardly surprising that many fans are back on the bandwagon in time for a rare outing on the final Saturday in September.

Fitzroy Town Hall is flying the Lions flag and former 'Roys greats are giving their endorsement to the Brisbane Lions.

Brisbane players will acknowledge their Melbourne-based fans at Brunswick Street on Sunday morning before flying back to Queensland.

Over the five years since the merger Brisbane officials have been keen to embrace Fitzroy's heritage.

There are pictures of Fitzroy's former coaches and players along with those of the Brisbane Bears at the Gabba clubrooms.

The Lions best and fairest trophy is named after former Brisbane captain Roger Merret and Fitzroy great Kevin Murray.

There is the familiar golden lion on the Brisbane guernsey and the club has agreed to display the initials 'BB FFC' on the back next season.

But of all the initiatives, one which most endeared the Brisbane-based club to Fitzroy fans was its support of this year's highly successful Team of The Century dinner.

Fitzroy great Alastair Lynch, who joined the then Brisbane Bears in 1994, said his former club's history was still alive and kicking in Brisbane.

'The friendships that came out of that club have been very strong and ever-lasting,' Lynch said.

'I'm certainly very proud of the time I played with Fitzroy.'

It's a memory and honour that you never forget.'

Letter published in Inside Football 1999

Reports that the merger between the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears has failed have been grossly exaggerated. At least 7,000 Victorian based Brisbane Lions supporters attended the game against Melbourne, on Saturday 21st August at the MCG, which was a terrific effort. At times the roar from the Lions supporters easily dwarfed the Demons crowd support. It is fantastic to see that three years after the merger, many of the Fitzroy faithful are re-discovering AFL football and are beginning to throw their support behind the Brisbane Lions.

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Letter published in the Herald Sun - 3rd September 1999

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group would like to thank Terry Brown for his article "Pride grows as Lions flock to rejoin" (2/9). It has been fantastic to see so many Lions supporters at the games in Melbourne and for the media acknowledging that the Lions are not dead in Victoria, as has been previously reported on a number of occasions. With 7 games being played in Victoria next year and the first 3 rounds in Melbourne, we are hoping that this year's success, will encourage many to come in from the "wilderness".