query: when did the brisbane bears merged with fitzroy

pos: Brisbane Bears with in forming the North Fitzroy Kangaroos failed to win the support of the other AFL clubs, a deal for a merger was done between Fitzroy and the Bears. The new team was known as the Brisbane Lions, based at the Gabba, with Northey as the coach of the merged club. As such, the history of the Brisbane Bears as an individual entity ended after the 1996 season, with ten seasons of competition and the third-place finish in 1996 as its best performance. The Bears last match as a separate entity was a preliminary final on Saturday 21 September 1996

pos: Brisbane Bears with in forming the North Fitzroy Kangaroos failed to win the support of the other AFL clubs, a deal for a merger was done between Fitzroy and the Bears. The new team was known as the Brisbane Lions, based at the Gabba, with Northey as the coach of the merged club. As such, the history of the Brisbane Bears as an individual entity ended after the 1996 season, with ten seasons of competition and the third-place finish in 1996 as its best performance. The Bears last match as a separate entity was a preliminary final on Saturday 21 September 1996

pos: Robert McMahon Robert McMahon Robert McMahon (born 28 July 1977) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1996. He was recruited from the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup with the 6th selection in the 1994 AFL Draft. When Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears at the end of the 1996 AFL season, McMahon was not one of the eight players selected by Brisbane to join the new Brisbane Lions and he instead entered the 1996 AFL Draft, where he was selected by with the 51st selection. Despite playing well for the

pos: Jason Ramsey Jason Ramsey Jason Ramsey (born 24 January 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1996. He was recruited from the Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) with the 4th selection in the 1995 Pre-season Draft. When Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears at the end of the 1996 AFL season, Ramsey was not one of the eight players selected by Brisbane to join the new Brisbane Lions and he instead entered the 1996 AFL Drafts, where he was selected by with the

pos: Scott Bamford one win throughout the whole year, and finished on a percentage of 49.47 (see 1996 AFL season), and he played in Fitzroy's very last AFL game, an 86-point loss. At the end of the year, the Brisbane Bears merged with Fitzroy and Scott was one of the few players who went from Fitzroy to the newly formed Queensland club, which included notable players such as Chris. Johnson and John Barker. He made his debut for Brisbane in round 2 of the 1997 AFL season, but did not have the same effect, only playing 11 games for the season, gathering 99

pos: Robert McMahon Hawthorn reserves side, he was never selected to play another AFL game. Robert McMahon Robert McMahon (born 28 July 1977) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1996. He was recruited from the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup with the 6th selection in the 1994 AFL Draft. When Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears at the end of the 1996 AFL season, McMahon was not one of the eight players selected by Brisbane to join the new Brisbane Lions and he instead entered the 1996 AFL Draft, where he

pos: Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club and revenue with Fitzroy eventually moving to play home games at Victoria Park in 1985, five years after the shift to Sydney was first mooted. While the Fitzroy Lions eventually merged with the Brisbane Bears in 1996, ten years earlier there were proposals to relocate Fitzroy to Brisbane. During the 1986 season, Fitzroy was more than one million dollars in debt and few thought the club would survive to the following year; during the season, two private consortiums made bids to take control of the club and relocate it to Brisbane, a third consortium proposed to move the club to

pos: John Barker (Australian footballer) the club. During the 1994 AFL season Barker's talent was noticed and as a result he picked up an AFL Rising Star award nomination. When Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears at the end of 1996, and Brisbane changed their name to become Brisbane Lions. Barker was just one of seven Fitzroy players to join the newly formed team. In Barker's only year at the Brisbane Lions, the 1997 season, he managed just 8 games and only 1 goal. At the end of the season Barker and teammate Nathan Chapman were traded to Hawthorn in exchange for Brad Scott. After

pos: History of the Brisbane Lions too powerful. Instead, Fitzroy was placed into administration, and its administrator accepted an offer to merge with Brisbane. The merged team would be based in Brisbane, and Bears coach John Northey would become coach of the merged club. However, it adopted a logo and guernsey based largely on those of Fitzroy. The Brisbane Lions were officially launched on 1 November 1996, joining the national competition in 1997. In their first year as a combined club the Lions made the finals, finishing in eighth position after being defeated by the St Kilda Football Club in a qualifying final. The following year,

pos:
Australian Football League as a strictly amateur club, it became unable to remain competitive in a time when player payments were becoming common; the club still competes to this day in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). Two other clubs, the Fitzroy Football Club (Fitzroy Lions) and the Brisbane Bears, merged in 1996 to form the Brisbane Lions. However, after coming out of financial administration in 1998, Fitzroy resumed its playing operations in 2009 and currently competes in the VAFA.

 Below are the venues used during the 2018 AFL season. Throughout the history of the VFL/AFL, there have been a total of

pos: Tristan Lynch Aged 22, Lynch made his belated AFL debut in 1996 with the Bears and appeared in all three finals that they played that year, including the preliminary final where he had 16 disposals. Despite finally breaking into the AFL, Lynch was forced to change clubs again when the Bears merged with Fitzroy. He was a regular fixture in the Brisbane Lions team in 1997 but added further games in 1998. Along with Scott Bamford, Lynch was traded by Brisbane to Geelong after the 1998 season, in return for Martin McKinnon. He was at Geelong for two seasons before being delisted.

pos: Dion Scott finals in 1996, including Brisbane's one point Qualifying Final win over Essendon, in which he contributed three goals. The Bears merged with Fitzroy in 1997 to form the Brisbane Lions and Scott was a foundation player, kicking two goals in their opening round loss to Adelaide. He later played with the Redland Australian Football Club. Dion Scott Dion Scott (born 1 April 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Sydney Swans, Brisbane Bears and Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1990s. A Tasmanian, Scott was brought up in Ulverstone but played his

pos: John Northey 1996 season the Bears merged with the Fitzroy Lions resulting on the formation of the Brisbane Lions. He was appointed as the inaugural coach of the Brisbane Lions for the 1997 season, leading the team into the finals. After disappointing results, he was sacked after Round 11 of the 1998 season, after a 71-point loss to Fremantle; the Lions eventually finishing last. He was replaced by Roger Merrett for the rest of the 1998 season. He coached 315 VFL/AFL games including stints at Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions, Melbourne Demons, Richmond Tigers and Brisbane Bears. He sits second on the record

pos: Fitzroy Football Club the administrator of Fitzroy who had been appointed to temporarily replace the Fitzroy board agreed to merge the club with the equally strapped Brisbane Bears, with the agreement of the AFL commission and a majority vote of the AFL's constituent clubs. The new club was to be based in Brisbane as the Brisbane Lions, playing at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba. The arrangement ensured that all creditors were repaid, at least eight Fitzroy players were to be selected by the Brisbane Lions before the 1996 National Draft and three Fitzroy representatives were to be on

pos: Kevin Murray (Australian footballer) elite football record until 1979, when it was broken by Barry Cable. He also played 24 matches for Victoria and six for Western Australia in interstate football. From 1975 until 1976, Murray served as captain-coach of the Sandringham Football Club in the Victorian Football Association. At the end of the 1996 season, Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions. Murray was a great supporter of the new entity, and the Lions' club championship award, the Merrett–Murray Medal, is part-named in Murray's honour. Murray has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and was elevated

pos: North Melbourne Football Club the Grand Final, winning the club's fourth VFL/AFL premiership; former Sydney midfielder Shannon Grant taking out the Norm Smith Medal. The club was eliminated in the preliminary finals in 2000 against Melbourne. In 1996, the club was in advanced talks with the Fitzroy Football Club to create the North Fitzroy Kangaroos Football Club, which was in a terminal financial condition, to a merger between the two clubs; however, Fitzroy ultimately merged with the Brisbane Bears instead. Seeking new markets and greater financial security in an increasingly corporatized AFL environment, the title "North Melbourne" was officially dropped from the logo in

pos: Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club in the AFL in its original state. Timeline of the merger negotiations between Fitzroy and North Melbourne Fitzroy Football Club was completely gutted by the administrator at the end of 1996, leaving a club that temporarily only had a board of directors and shareholders. The AFL, the Brisbane Bears and the Administrator had done a deal where Brisbane took on Fitzroy's assigned debt to Nauru as a registered charge and in return the Bears were authorised by the AFL to assume Fitzroy's branding in the AFL. For two years, the Brisbane Bears held the registered charge over Fitzroy Football Club's

pos: Alastair Lynch an ageing Roger Merrett with some success. Successive seasons saw him interchanged between the two opposite ends of the ground. When Fitzroy merged with the Bears after the 1996 season to form the Brisbane Lions, Lynch was made a semi-permanent forward but was unable to perform at his peak for the next two seasons due to minor recurrence of his illness. Lynch was appointed as club co-captain with Michael Voss in 1997, a position that he held until 2000, when Voss assumed the full captaincy. Still struggling with intermittent lapses of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1998, Lynch discovered that the

pos: Australian rules football in Queensland the introduction of the Bears, finally went into receivership. A new governing body, the Queensland Australian Football Council, was formed in 1997, alongside a new premiership competition, Queensland State Football League (QSFL). The Brisbane Lions began in 1996, when the AFL approved a merger between the Brisbane Bears and the formerly Melbourne based Fitzroy Football Club and on-field success increased substantially with the injection of Fitzroy players, further boosting the popularity of the code. In a breakthrough for Australian Football in late 1990s, GPS schools in South East Queensland began playing Australian Rules for the first time since the turn

pos: Brisbane Lions drafting and trading history with active players for 2019. Brisbane Lions drafting and trading history The Brisbane Lions' drafting and trading history has lasted almost as long as the club's existence, with the club first drafting in 1996 and first trading in 1997. The club was founded in 1996 following a merger between the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears. This page does not include any drafts or trades performed by those two clubs. It includes drafts and trades from both the Australian Football League and the AFL Women's. After the merger between the Bears and Fitzroy, the Brisbane Lions received a number

pos: Brisbane Lions drafting and trading history Brisbane Lions drafting and trading history The Brisbane Lions' drafting and trading history has lasted almost as long as the club's existence, with the club first drafting in 1996 and first trading in 1997. The club was founded in 1996 following a merger between the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears. This page does not include any drafts or trades performed by those two clubs. It includes drafts and trades from both the Australian Football League and the AFL Women's. After the merger between the Bears and Fitzroy, the Brisbane Lions received a number of players from each club.

pos: Brad Cassidy Brad Cassidy Brad Cassidy (born 25 July 1976) is an Australian rules footballer. Brad was drafted in 1994 as a pre draft selection and was delisted at the end of the 1995 season after playing no games. Brad was drafted in the 1995 national draft at selection 49 and was delisted at the end of the 1996 season when Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears, after playing 14 games. Brad was drafted in 1996 national draft at selection 65 and was delisted at the end of the season after only playing the final 2 games of the year. Brad moved

pos: Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club suffered by Footscray, but the merger collapsed when Footscray supporters secured sufficient money and sponsors to save their club from extinction. The North Fitzroy Kangaroos Football Club was to have been a team made up from the merger of the North Melbourne Football Club and the Fitzroy Football Club. The merger would have taken place in 1996 and the club would have debuted in 1997, but the merger didn't eventuate as Fitzroy was placed in administration during the 1996 season and the administrator accepted a merger offer from the Brisbane Bears, forming the Brisbane Lions. North Melbourne continues to play

pos: History of Australian rules football the 1989 season. In 1991, it gained its first South Australian team, Adelaide. West Coast's local derby rival Fremantle was admitted in 1995. The Fitzroy Lions merged with Brisbane Bears after 1996 due to financial difficulties to form the Brisbane Lions and the proud old SANFL club, Port Adelaide joined in 1997 as Port Adelaide Power, immediately becoming fierce local rivals to Adelaide. In 2011 The Gold Coast Suns were admitted into the league followed by the Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS) in 2012. The AFL, currently with 18 member clubs, is the sport's elite competition and the most powerful

pos: Showdown (AFL) various state rivals, however it was prevented from entering the competition before 1996 as stipulated in the Adelaide Crows license agreement. In 1995 after an SANFL game at Football Park the Adelaide Crows began carrying out a training session which was interrupted by a large hoard of Port Adelaide supporters chanting "We're coming to get you". Adelaide Crows coach Robert Shaw was the only Adelaide Crows official to confront the hoard. In 1996 Port Adelaide was left to wait again as a vacancy was required in the league. When the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy Lions merged at the end of

pos: Nick Carter (footballer) in the midfield". Carter had an impressive first AFL season, debuting in round 6 and remaining in the senior team for the rest of the season, playing 17 matches. He was nominated for the 1996 AFL Rising Star award in round 8. Despite a good season personally, Fitzroy struggled both on the field, winning only one match for the whole season, and financially. Due to crippling financial problems, Fitzroy was forced to merge with the Brisbane Bears at the end of the 1996 season, to form the Brisbane Lions. Only eight Fitzroy players became Brisbane Lions players, with the majority

pos: Fitzroy, Victoria Brunswick Street, on Smith Street, parts of Gertrude Street and in some of the back streets, in former milk bars and warehouse sites. Formed in 1883, the Fitzroy Football Club, an Australian rules football club, went on to play in the VFL/AFL. The club had some early success before relocating its home games several times and finally running into financial difficulties in the 1980s, forcing it to cede its AFL operations to Brisbane Bears at the end of 1996, upon which Brisbane changed their name to form the Brisbane Lions. Fitzroy came out of administration after the Brisbane merger in

pos: History of the Brisbane Lions History of the Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions are an Australian rules football club, founded in 1996 with the merger of and the . In 1996, the ten-year-old Brisbane Bears had enjoyed their best season to date, losing a preliminary final to the eventual premiers, North Melbourne. However, the club was on extremely shaky financial ground and did not have many opportunities to generate revenue. In contrast, the Fitzroy Lions, a foundation club of the VFL/AFL, had been among the bottom teams of the league for the better part of the last four decades. They had finished in last place

pos: Fitzroy Football Club Division). The club ran into financial difficulties in the 1980s after decades of poor on-field performance and was forced to merge its AFL playing operations with the Brisbane Bears at the end of the 1996 season to form the Brisbane Lions. Despite this, the club survived in its own right and The Fitzroy Football Club Ltd came out of administration after the merger of its AFL playing operations in late 1998. For a brief time it experimented in partnerships with other semi professional and amateur clubs before incorporating the Fitzroy Reds (formerly University Reds) to play in the Victorian Amateur

pos: Martin Pike (Australian footballer) 1992 AFL Draft. Pike made his AFL debut in 1993, playing eight games at centre half-back and a further 16 matches in 1994, including three finals. Despite his strong on-field performance, Melbourne traded Pike to Fitzroy Football Club at the end of 1994 due to his off-field problems with alcohol. After playing 14 games for Fitzroy in 1995, Pike played all 22 games in 1996, winning Fitzroy's best-and-fairest award, beating later Port Adelaide captain Matthew Primus for the honour. However, ongoing financial difficulties led to the then Brisbane Bears merging with Fitzroy and changing their name to become the Brisbane

pos: Chris Stacey Brisbane. Back home in Victoria, Stacey played some good football with Dennington and was the leading goal-kicker in the Warrnambool District Football League for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Chris Stacey Chris Stacey (born 21 February 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Originally from Koroit, Stacey was called up only once by Fitzroy, for a game against the Sydney Swans at the SCG. Stacey joined Brisbane for their maiden season in 1987 but had to wait until midway through the year to break into the

pos: Norwood–Port Adelaide rivalry with 74% of the 6000 respondents saying 'yes'. However a licence did not guarantee entry and although a target year of 1996 was set, this was reliant upon an existing AFL club folding or merging with another. In 1996, the cash-strapped Fitzroy announced it would merge with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions. A spot had finally opened and it was announced that in 1997, one year later than expected, Port Adelaide would enter the AFL. What was Port Adelaide's first win over Norwood in its 10th attempt would also be the point of much contestation. Norwood and

pos: Year of the Dogs as an aside they escape a merger with Fitzroy (although Fitzroy were the club that did suffer that fate, being merged with Brisbane). After Wallace's performance as caretaker, he is signed on for the 1997 season. "Year of the Dogs" grossed $199,191 at the box office in Australia. Year of the Dogs Year of the Dogs is a 1997 documentary detailing the 1996 season of the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs). Filmed during the turbulent 1996 season where they finished second-last (15th) in the Australian Football League, the documentary follows the club and two dedicated fans, Pat and Jenny

pos: AFL (video game series) where one to six players can play multiple games in a season finishing with a grand final. It was developed by Beam Software, and was published by Mattel. It was released for Windows PC only on 9 June 1996. You could play as one of the 16 clubs of the 1996 AFL season. It was also the last video game in the series to feature the Fitzroy Lions and the Brisbane Bears as playable teams before they were merged. The game was also the first game to be developed by Blue Tongue Entertainment and was published by Cadability. It was

pos: Port Adelaide Football Club that Port Adelaide had won the tender for the second South Australian AFL licence. However a licence did not guarantee entry and although a target year of 1996 was set, this was reliant upon an existing AFL club folding or merging with another. In 1996, the cash-strapped Fitzroy announced it would merge with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions. A spot had finally opened and it was announced that in 1997, one year later than expected, Port Adelaide would enter the AFL. Once an entry date had been confirmed, the Port Adelaide Football Club set about forming a

pos: History of the Port Adelaide Football Club licence. However a licence did not guarantee entry and although a target year of 1996 was set, this was reliant upon an existing AFL club folding or merging with another. In 1996, the cash-strapped Fitzroy announced it would merge with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions. A spot had finally opened and it was announced that in 1997, one year later than expected, Port Adelaide would enter the AFL. Once an entry date had been confirmed, the Port Adelaide Football Club set about forming a side fit for competition in the AFL. It was announced that existing Port

pos: Derek Wirth 2003 to 2005. Derek Wirth Derek Wirth (born 29 November 1978) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). A Springwood junior, Wirth was a key position player, originally drafted to the Brisbane Bears. He was recruited from Mount Gravatt, as one of three zone selections in the 1995 AFL Draft. He didn't play a league game for Brisbane in 1996 and at the end of the year was signed by the Lions, who were formed from a merger between the Bears and Fitzroy. He spent two years with the

pos: Derek Wirth Derek Wirth Derek Wirth (born 29 November 1978) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). A Springwood junior, Wirth was a key position player, originally drafted to the Brisbane Bears. He was recruited from Mount Gravatt, as one of three zone selections in the 1995 AFL Draft. He didn't play a league game for Brisbane in 1996 and at the end of the year was signed by the Lions, who were formed from a merger between the Bears and Fitzroy. He spent two years with the Lions and in

pos: 1996 AFL draft Bears and the Fitzroy Football Club, Brisbane was able to recruit up to eight players from Fitzroy into the newly created Brisbane Lions. 1996 AFL draft The 1996 AFL draft was held at the conclusion of the 1996 Australian Football League (AFL) season. The inaugural rookie draft was held with the 1997 pre-season draft. The AFL draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League. Clubs receive picks based on the position in which they finish on the ladder during the season,

pos: Banner (Australian rules football) that's the final say." A year later, after the Brisbane Bears and West Coast had been admitted, the Saints ran through another banner that read "VFL not NFL". As talks of a merger between Footscray and Fitzroy emerged in 1989, Ron Barassi suggested that Footscray was suffering because the suburb had changed due to drugs and a growing Asian population. In response to this, the cheer squad banner retorted: "Barassi we love our Western Oval + our ethnic + Asian community. Leave us alone." In Round 16, 1996, the Fitzroy cheer squad protested the club's immenient takeover by Brisbane (after

pos: Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions The Brisbane Lions is a professional Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The club was formed in late 1996 from the merger of the Fitzroy Lions and the Brisbane Bears. The Lions are one of the most successful AFL clubs of the 21st century, having appeared in four consecutive AFL Grand Finals from 2001 to 2004 and winning three premierships (2001, 2002, 2003). The club is based at the Gabba. The team is captained by Dayne Zorko and coached by Chris Fagan. The Brisbane

pos: Mick Nunan fellow Sturt footballer and conscript, Malcolm Greenslade, played in the senior side. The next week they both played in the seniors. Both then returned to the SANFL. Nunan was at the helm for Fitzroy's last-ever AFL win, in Round 8 against at Whitten Oval on 16 May 1996. It was an emotional day for many Fitzroy fans, and he described it as "a relief and reward for those players who had worked very hard to improve their skill levels". After Fitzroy lost to Essendon in Round 13 and just 48 hours after Fitzroy merged with Brisbane, Nunan announced his resignation

pos: Australian Football League an AFL licence but could not enter until a Victorian team had folded or merged. At the end of 1996 Fitzroy played its last match and merged with Brisbane to form the Brisbane Lions. This allowed Port Adelaide to enter the AFL for the 1997 season as the sixth and only pre-existing non Victorian club. Through the 1990s there was a significant trend of Melbourne-based teams abandoning the use of their small (20,000–30,000 capacity) suburban venues for home matches in favour of the larger MCG and Waverley Park. The 1990s saw the last matches played at Windy Hill (Essendon), Moorabbin

pos: Fitzroy Football Club superteam with on-field and off-field strength out of all proportion to the rest of the league. Not only had North Melbourne just won the 1996 premiership, but the merged team had proposed to take a 50-player senior list into the 1997 season. This is compared with the Brisbane Lions bid, which proposed a 44-player senior list for 1997, and did not have the potential off-field strength of an all-Victorian merge. Then North Melbourne CEO Greg Miller has accused the AFL of contriving the two bids in this manner to manufacture a result which would fulfil its strategic direction to strengthen

neg: Scott McIvor Scott McIvor Scott McIvor (born 9 August 1966 in Queensland) is a former Australian rules footballer who played mainly with the Brisbane Bears but also had stints with Fitzroy and when both clubs merged, the Brisbane Lions. Prior to starting his VFL career, McIvor captained his home state Queensland in the Teal Cup. At the age of 17, he was recruited by Fitzroy and finished second in their 1986 best and fairest before winning it in 1987. The following season, he returned home to Queensland and joined the Brisbane Bears who were playing just their second season in the AFL.

neg: Scott McIvor McIvor remained with the club for ten seasons until they merged with Fitzroy for the 1997 season. He finished with 138 games for the Bears; only Roger Merrett and Marcus Ashcroft managed more. He spent just the one season with the newly formed Lions before an injury forced him to retire. After Fitzroy and Brisbane combined their respective histories in 2001, the club unveiled a new 200 game honor board at the Gabba which included Fitzroy, Brisbane, and Brisbane Lion players. The board was hung in the players' rooms with a replica for the members' area. The board itself was

neg: Scott McIvor named the 'Curcio-McIvor' board, in honor of past players Frank Curcio and Scott McIvor. In 2003, he was named as a wingman in the Queensland Team of the Century. Scott McIvor Scott McIvor (born 9 August 1966 in Queensland) is a former Australian rules footballer who played mainly with the Brisbane Bears but also had stints with Fitzroy and when both clubs merged, the Brisbane Lions. Prior to starting his VFL career, McIvor captained his home state Queensland in the Teal Cup. At the age of 17, he was recruited by Fitzroy and finished second in their 1986 best and

neg: Brisbane Bears see<br> "The greatest team of all Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Football Club, nicknamed the Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995. The Bears merged with the Fitzroy Football Club after the completion of the following season to form the Brisbane Lions. In 1986, the VFL Commission announced plans to set up privately owned clubs based in Perth and Brisbane, motivated by the need

neg: Brisbane Bears Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Football Club, nicknamed the Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995. The Bears merged with the Fitzroy Football Club after the completion of the following season to form the Brisbane Lions. In 1986, the VFL Commission announced plans to set up privately owned clubs based in Perth and Brisbane, motivated by the need to sell multimillion-dollar licences to save

neg: Brent Green Brent Green Brent Green (29 March 1976 – 30 November 2009) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). Green was recruited to the Brisbane Bears from Southport in 1991, and made his senior debut in 1995 playing for them over two seasons, kicking no goals. In 1997, the Bears merged with the Fitzroy Lions to form the Brisbane Lions and Green was a member of the inaugural Lions squad, although he transferred to the Sydney Swans for the 1998 season after playing two games for

neg: Rivalries in the Australian Football League VFL/AFL history, with 28 points (South Melbourne vs Melbourne, 28 points, 1898–1900) the nearest challenger. Angst between supporters of Collingwood and Brisbane had been caused by plenty of history between the two clubs, despite the Brisbane Lions having a relatively short existence as a merged club. Pre-merger Fitzroy was a neighbouring suburb to Collingwood, with the boundary being based on Smith Street, along with the fact that Fitzroy and Collingwood topped the VFL/AFL premiership tally during the early existence of what was then the VFL competition. The Brisbane Bears also had a bit of beef with the Magpies as the

neg: Laurie Serafini premature retirement and when his old club merged with the Bears he became a director at the Brisbane Lions. Laurie Serafini Lorenzo 'Laurie' Serafini (born 1 November 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is the younger brother of Renato Serafini, who also played for Fitzroy. Serafini started out as a full forward but in his second season was moved into defence and soon cemented the fullback spot. He later played some football as a half back flanker and was Fitzroy's top vote getter in

neg: Brisbane Lions the Lions is Collingwood, both of these clubs have been involved in scrappy and brutal encounters. In the early 2000s they played in many monumental games including Grand Finals. Having built up plenty of history in the relatively short existence as a merged club. Pre-merger Fitzroy was a neighbouring suburb to Collingwood, with the boundary being based on Smith Street, along with the fact that Fitzroy and Collingwood topped the VFL/AFL premiership tally during the early decades of the VFL competition. The Brisbane Bears also had a bit of history with the Magpies as Nathan Buckley famously deflected to Collingwood

neg: Brunswick Street Oval Victorian Amateur Football Association in 1991. In 1997, the Fitzroy Football Club merged with the Brisbane Bears, and the remaining Victorian members of the club began to be based at the Brunswick Street Oval, eventually merging with the University Reds to form the Fitzroy Reds Football Club, which is now based at the oval. The main grandstand is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. During the 1975 and 1976 Victorian State League seasons, the venue was used by the soccer club Heidelberg United (then known as "Fitzroy United Alexander"), as well as one fixture in the National Soccer League. In

neg: Brisbane Lions residing in Victoria (many of which were ex-Fitzroy supporters), along with the on-field history between the two clubs, many Lions supporters consider a Brisbane Lions v Collingwood match-up to be their derby, despite the clubs being over 1700 km apart and the fact that there are many clubs in the competition that are geographically closer to each other. The second biggest rival of the Lions is Port Adelaide, with the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy merging to become the Brisbane Lions in order to allow Port Adelaide to enter the AFL competition. This created some dissatisfaction between old Bears and Fitzroy

neg: Norm Johnstone 228 games, all with Fitzroy. His 228 games ranks 5th on Fitzroy's all-time playing list. Johnstone was a supporter of the 1997 merger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears and has continued to support the Brisbane Lions since the merger. He is the grandfather of former Brisbane Lions/Melbourne Demons footballer, Travis Johnstone. Playing career: Player honors: Norm Johnstone Norman "Norm" Johnstone (16 January 1927 – 7 June 2013) was an Australian rules footballer who played his entire 228 game career with the Fitzroy in the (then) VFL. He was a ruckman, but was capable of kicking goals when pushed into

neg: Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club operations were merged with the ten-year-old Brisbane Football Club to become what is now the Brisbane Lions Football Club. There were as many as seven merger proposals, and two separate discussions of permanent relocation as a stand alone entity. Despite the AFL license being taken over by Brisbane, Fitzroy Football Club Ltd remained in Melbourne. A plan for Fitzroy to relocate to Sydney had its beginnings in Easter 1979, when Fitzroy president Frank Bibby and Graeme Plum (Fitzroy committeeman 1979-1983) were invited by Kevin Humphries, president of the NSW Rugby League, to the Sydney Cricket Ground, for the 'Rugby League

neg: Chris Stacey Chris Stacey Chris Stacey (born 21 February 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Originally from Koroit, Stacey was called up only once by Fitzroy, for a game against the Sydney Swans at the SCG. Stacey joined Brisbane for their maiden season in 1987 but had to wait until midway through the year to break into the seniors. When he eventually made his Bears debut, once more against the Swans, he starred with 16 disposals and four goals. He however played only two more games for

neg: History of Queensland Police corruption was ordered by Deputy Premier Bill Gunn. On 1 December 1987 Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was forced to resign as Premier of Queensland. His resignation is accepted by Governor Walter Campbell. In 1987, the Brisbane Bears Australian rules football team joined the VFL as the second team outside Victoria. It was merged with Fitzroy to become the Brisbane Lions in 1997. 1987 saw Brisbane host games of the first ever Rugby World Cup. Expo '88 held in Brisbane in 1988 to celebrate the Bicentenary of the First fleet founding the colony of Australia. The event was very successful and

neg: Merrett–Murray Medal Merrett–Murray Medal The Merrett–Murray Medal has been awarded annually since 1997, to the player adjudged the Brisbane Lions club champion over the immediately preceding Australian Football League (AFL) season. It is named after Roger Merrett and Kevin Murray. Merrett was a champion at the Brisbane Bears, while Murray was a legend at the Fitzroy Lions, the two clubs which merged to form the Brisbane Lions. The voting system, as of the 2017 AFL season, consists of the senior coach and assistant coaches scoring players based on their overall performance, influence on the game, team contribution and compliance with team values.

neg: Darryl Cox (footballer) Darryl Cox (footballer) Darryl Cox (born 26 January 1961) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy, Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1980s. Cox, a defender, was never able to command regular selection and did not play more than eight games (mainly due to injury) in any one season. He started out at Fitzroy, playing 16 games in four years and missing the entire 1981 season. At Melbourne, his second club, he played 13 games in three seasons. His finished his career in Brisbane, where he was a member of

neg: Darryl Cox (footballer) the Bears initial VFL squad and played his only game in round two against Geelong. His daughter, Montana Cox is an Australian fashion model. Darryl Cox (footballer) Darryl Cox (born 26 January 1961) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy, Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1980s. Cox, a defender, was never able to command regular selection and did not play more than eight games (mainly due to injury) in any one season. He started out at Fitzroy, playing 16 games in four years and missing the entire 1981 season.

neg: Fitzroy Football Club seeking an order that the Brisbane Lions be restrained from using as its logo, the new logo or any other logo other than 'the Fitzroy lion logo'. On 15 July 2010, the two clubs reached a settlement, agreeing that the Fitzroy logo symbolically represents the historic merger between the Bears and Fitzroy and the first 13 years of the Brisbane Lions competing in the AFL, and that Brisbane would use both the old and new logos alongside each other in an official capacity ("e.g." on letterheads, marketing, etc.), with the old logo to be phased out altogether after 2024 (or

neg: Merrett–Murray Medal The most votes a player can receive in a single game is twelve. Merrett–Murray Medal The Merrett–Murray Medal has been awarded annually since 1997, to the player adjudged the Brisbane Lions club champion over the immediately preceding Australian Football League (AFL) season. It is named after Roger Merrett and Kevin Murray. Merrett was a champion at the Brisbane Bears, while Murray was a legend at the Fitzroy Lions, the two clubs which merged to form the Brisbane Lions. The voting system, as of the 2017 AFL season, consists of the senior coach and assistant coaches scoring players based on their

neg: Michael Voss accomplished players in the competition, and at the end of the season he shared the Brownlow Medal, the game's highest individual honour, with James Hird. In 1997 after the Bears merged with Fitzroy to form the Brisbane Lions and the retirement of long-term Bears' captain Roger Merrett, Voss's leadership abilities were recognised in his promotion to co-captain with teammate Alastair Lynch at the age of just 21. His early form was patchy as he grew into the role, but by 1999 he was being lauded as one of the best captains in the AFL. In 1998 Voss suffered his first

neg: Fitzroy Football Club the game in Queensland. Additionally, then North Melbourne vice-president Peter de Rauch believes that his club's decision not to include Fitzroy president Dyson Hore-Lacy on the board of the merged club was a catalyst for the temporary unravelling of negotiations between the clubs, allowing the appointment of the administrator and keeping the Brisbane Bears involved in the merger negotiations. During this time, coach Mick Nunan resigned and was replaced by Alan McConnell for his second stint in just twelve months. During the last eight weeks of the season Fitzroy's on field performances continued to deteriorate to the point where the

neg: Arthur Wilson (administrator) 1980s. From 1980 to 1985 he was the club's secretary, and he had his last official stint at the club from 1986 to 1990, as the Football Manager. In 1997, after the merger between Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears to create the Brisbane Lions, Wilson founded the Fitzroy–Brisbane Lions Historical Society with George Coates, creator of Fitzroy's logo. He was the president of the Society from 1997 to 2010, and is currently the chairman. He helped found a Fitzroy museum at Docklands Stadium. Wilson was one of eight inducted into the Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame in 2016. He is

neg: Brisbane Bears the finals, with two wins at the Gabba and a loss in the Preliminary Final to eventual premiers North Melbourne. Michael Voss also became the only Brisbane Bears player to win the Brownlow Medal, sharing the honour with Essendon's James Hird. However, the club was still struggling off-field. One of the Bears' biggest problems was its lack of support (both on and off the field) in Melbourne, the location of most of its away matches. In mid-1996, the struggling Fitzroy Football Club collapsed due to financial pressures and was seeking to merge its assets with another club. When a merger

neg: Brad Edwards (Australian footballer) Brad Edwards (Australian footballer) Brad Edwards (born 22 February 1968) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL). Originally from Perth, Edwards was picked up by Fitzroy with their second selection in the 1988 VFL Draft. He played six games in 1989 but had a limited impact and at the end of the season made his way to Brisbane through the pre-season draft. Edwards was only with the Bears for a season but was able to play 10 senior games. He was later drafted by the West Coast

neg: Alastair Lynch Tony Lockett were highlights, and Lockett has commented on Lynch being one of his toughest opponents. In 1993, Fitzroy coach Robert Shaw moved Lynch to full forward, where he led the club's goal kicking with 68 goals and won the best and fairest award. Lynch also played fullback in the 1990 Tasmanian State of Origin team, the first Tasmanian team to defeat Victoria in 30 years. In 1994, Lynch transferred to the Brisbane Bears. At the time, the Brisbane Bears, like the Fitzroy Football Club, were experiencing lean times, but improving somewhat under the coaching of premiership coach Robert Walls.

neg: Alastair Lynch a new look Brisbane Bears after the club's move from the Gold Coast. With the merger of his former club Fitzroy and Brisbane, Lynch rejoined with former teammates and became club captain. A long battle with chronic fatigue syndrome threatened his career; however, after many years in absence Lynch's return to form at a relatively late age in his career was hailed by the football community, and he became part of Brisbane Lions' celebrated premiership winning formula. Lynch is a Tasmanian football legend, a favourite son at both Fitzroy and Brisbane clubs and holds the record for the most combined

neg: Fitzroy Football Club the new club's 11-member board. None of the three Fitzroy representatives, Laurie Serafini, David Lucas and Ken Levy, chosen by the Brisbane Bears to serve on the Brisbane Lions board were Fitzroy directors at that time. Those involved have different opinions on why the merger with North Melbourne was rejected, despite negotiations being so far advanced and indeed concluded on the morning of the 4 July. The other AFL club presidents rejected the North Melbourne-Fitzroy merger by a vote of 14–1. It was commonly thought, and claimed by then Richmond president Leon Daphne, that an all-Victorian merge would create a

neg: History of the Australian Football League Fitzroy-North Melbourne Kangaroos, but after the other clubs voted against it, the club merged with Brisbane to become the Brisbane Lions. Fitzroy played its last match at the end of 1996.With the Brisbane-Fitzroy merger, Port Adelaide was awarded an AFL licence, and joined the league in 1997. The AFL rejected bids from Queensland club Southport Sharks and the Tasmanian government to enter teams. Some of the rule changes of the decade included the introduction of a third field umpire in 1994, a blood rule in 1994, and the introduction of a third (1994) and fourth (1998) interchange player. The International

neg: Nigel Lappin ! 2.1 Teal Cup Brisbane Bears/Lions Nigel Lappin Nigel Lappin (born 21 June 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. Lappin is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Geelong Football Club. Lappin was born in the locally based regional hospital at Corowa, New South Wales and grew up in Chiltern, Victoria. He was drafted to play for the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League in 1993, playing his first AFL game the following year. In 1997 he was a member of the inaugural Brisbane Lions team following the Bears merger with Fitzroy. A long, accurate kick,

neg: Matt Rendell to the finals that was deflated by an injury to top forward Richard Osborne. He retired at the end of 1991 after 164 games and 101 goals with Fitzroy. However he soon reversed that decision and moved to the Brisbane Bears, who persuaded him to continue playing. He did so in his final year in 1992, playing 13 games and booting 7 goals for the Bears before retiring for good. Rendell was an assistant coach and match-day tactician with the St Kilda Football Club alongside Grant Thomas, until he was sacked at the end of 2006 with the appointment of

neg: Australian Football League reserves affiliations and a stand-alone VFL senior team, the affiliated team could play of at most twelve AFL-listed players, with the other ten to be VFL-listed players; and, where the AFL club had more than twelve reserve players available, the extras would play in the VFL reserves. The rule was abolished in 2011. For all clubs in this list, the club fielded a reserves team in the VFL/AFL reserves up to 1991, and then in the VSFL from 1992 until 1999; additionally, the Fitzroy Football Club fielded a reserves team in these competitions until the club merged with the Brisbane Bears at

neg: Brad Edwards (Australian footballer) Eagles but he would end up making Brisbane his home and became a premiership player for Morningside. He continues to be involved in Queensland football as a coach. Brad Edwards (Australian footballer) Brad Edwards (born 22 February 1968) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL). Originally from Perth, Edwards was picked up by Fitzroy with their second selection in the 1988 VFL Draft. He played six games in 1989 but had a limited impact and at the end of the season made his way to Brisbane through

neg: Brisbane Lions Elvis Presley. The club's team song, "The Pride of Brisbane Town", is based on the Fitzroy club song, and is sung to the music of "La Marseillaise", the French national anthem: <poem>We are the pride of Brisbane town, we wear maroon, blue and gold, we will always fight for victory, like Fitzroy and Bears of old, all for one, and one for all, we will answer to the call, go Lions, Brisbane Lions, we'll kick the winning score, you'll hear our mighty roar!</poem> The Brisbane Lions have three main rivals, Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast. The biggest rival for

neg: Chris Johnson (footballer, born 1976) Chris Johnson (footballer, born 1976) Christopher Lloyd Johnson (born 30 May 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. His career highlights as an Australian Football League (AFL) player include three premierships with Brisbane, All-Australian selection, captain of the Australian International Rules team and inclusion in the Indigenous Team of the Century. Johnson was one of eight players to transfer to Brisbane when Fitzroy's AFL operations were taken over by the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions and became the last Fitzroy Lion to play in the AFL. After retiring from playing professionally, Johnson started coaching and played and

neg: Michael Voss Michael Voss Michael Voss (born 7 July 1975) is a former coach and player for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is currently serving as the midfield coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club. During his AFL playing career, in which he played entirely for the Brisbane Bears and then the Brisbane Lions (a merger of the Brisbane Bears with a Melbourne-based club, the Fitzroy Football Club also known as the Lions), Voss was recognised as one of the greats of league and club and is listed by journalist Mike Sheahan as one of the top

neg: Michael McLean (footballer) the 1991 pre-season draft as the first overall pick for the Brisbane Bears. He resurrected his career, winning the 1991 and 1993 best and fairest award at the Bears. He went on to play 87 games and kick 17 goals with the Bears, before playing the first game in 1997 with the newly merged Brisbane Lions before constant calf injury struck him down, forcing his retirement. McLean returned to Darwin to coach his former club Nightcliff, he did so for five years with limited success before resigning at the end of 2004 to coach the Redland Football Club in the

neg: Bernie Harris signed by Brisbane for their inaugural VFL season and had the distinction of kicking the club's first ever goal. Harris kicked six goals in a game against St Kilda that year. He left Brisbane halfway through the 1990 season and saw out the year at St Kilda after they picked him up in the Mid-Season Draft. Bernie Harris Bernard 'Bernie' Harris (born 25 August 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears and St Kilda in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL). Harris joined his elder brother Leon at Fitzroy in 1984, having previously played

neg: Stephen Paxman Stephen Paxman Stephen Paxman (born 4 December 1970) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He began his career with the Fitzroy Football Club in 1991, he went on to play 102 games for the club before the merger with the Brisbane Bears. Not wanting to join the newly formed Brisbane Lions, he ended up being picked up in the 1997 pre-season draft the newly joined team in the AFL, the Port Adelaide Power. He became quite a solid defender and

neg: Mark Zanotti when he finished third in their best and fairest. He finished his career at Fitzroy from 1993 until 1995, adding 57 games. In addition to playing for three VFL/AFL clubs he also represented Western Australia five times in interstate football. After finishing his career in Australia he moved to the UK where he was one of the founders of the London Gryphons who became the Putney Magpies. Mark Zanotti Mark Zanotti (born 11 August 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the West Coast Eagles, Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

neg: Rick Norman the Brisbane Bears, who were making their first ever appearance in the VFL. He played just one game for the Bears, a round four fixture against Fitzroy at Carrara. He also played football for Morningside in Queensland. Rick Norman Rick Norman (born 25 July 1963) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears in the Victorian Football League (VFL). A former Noble Park player, Norman made his league debut against Collingwood in the opening round of the 1985 VFL season. It was a historic occasion as it was the very first time "Friday

neg: Fred Hughson After leaving Fitzroy he went on to play and coach South Warrnambool. Playing career: Player honors: Fred Hughson Fred Hughson (22 May 1914 – 23 October 1987) was an Australian rules footballer who played for, captained, and later coached Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was the last person to lead Fitzroy to the premiership before their merger with the Brisbane Bears, doing so in 1944 as both captain and coach. He coached Fitzroy for 96 games between 1943 until his retirement in 1947, only two players coached the side more and his 103 games as captain was

neg: Matthew Brisbane board as naturalist. Brisbane was reunited with one of the officer who had saved his life when he was wrecked in the "Prince of Saxe-Coburg". Brisbane visited the "Beagle" presenting his papers to Captain Fitzroy showing that he was acting as Vernet's private agent and was there to look after the remains of Vernet's private property. Brisbane and Fitzroy had a natural affinity and discussed a broad range of subjects; Fitzroy notes his diary his gratitude for a great deal of information about the Falklands. However, on leaving Fitzroy expressed his concern for the settlement with its lack of regular

neg: Fitzroy Football Club in the North West division. Both teams were hoping to make finals in 2016. In 2018, Fitzroy won both the VAFA Premier C and the VAFA Premier C reserves competitions. Fitzroy FC Ltd improved its relationship with the Brisbane Lions in the ten years from 1999–2009. In that time Brisbane acknowledged the two parent clubs for the merger with the letters BBFFC printed below the back of the neck of the club's guernseys from 2002. The Fitzroy Reds played the curtain-raiser at the MCG when the Brisbane Lions met the Collingwood Magpies in the AFL Heritage Round of 2003. Brisbane

neg: Nigel Lappin Nigel Lappin Nigel Lappin (born 21 June 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. Lappin is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Geelong Football Club. Lappin was born in the locally based regional hospital at Corowa, New South Wales and grew up in Chiltern, Victoria. He was drafted to play for the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League in 1993, playing his first AFL game the following year. In 1997 he was a member of the inaugural Brisbane Lions team following the Bears merger with Fitzroy. A long, accurate kick, capable of running as a play

neg: Carrara Stadium licence to enter the Victorian Football League for the 1987 VFL season. Bears President Paul Cronin announced on 23 December 1986 that the club would use Carrara Oval as their home ground. The financial backer of the Bears, Christopher Skase, spent $1 million redeveloping Carrara Oval over a 10-week period at the beginning of 1987 which included upgraded player facilities, seating for 6000 spectators and new electronic scoreboard. The Fitzroy Lions defeated the Brisbane Bears in the first VFL game played at Carrara Oval before a crowd of 17,795 on 19 April 1987. (The Brisbane Lions website records this crowd

neg: David Bain (Australian footballer) David Bain (Australian footballer) David Bain (born 2 May 1966) is a retired Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy in the Australian Football League (AFL). Bain started his career in the WAFL with East Perth Football Club playing 72 games with them from 1985 to 1988 and kicking 41 goals. He was their best and fairest winner in 1988 and also won that year's Sandover Medal. In 1989 he left Western Australia and joined the Brisbane Bears. Bain was the joint winner of Brisbane's best and fairest in 1990 with Martin Leslie. He also finished

neg: Leon Harris (footballer) Leon Harris (footballer) Leon Harris (born 9 November 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the VFL during the 1980s. Harris played as a rover and finished runner up in Fitzroy's 1987 best and fairest awards. He was the first player in the history of the league to kick 100 goals with the number 38 guernsey. Harris represented Victoria at the 1988 Bicentennial Carnival and after retiring as a player served as a Fitzroy assistant coach. Leon's brother Bernie Harris played with Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears and St Kilda in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL).

neg: Fred Hughson Fred Hughson Fred Hughson (22 May 1914 – 23 October 1987) was an Australian rules footballer who played for, captained, and later coached Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was the last person to lead Fitzroy to the premiership before their merger with the Brisbane Bears, doing so in 1944 as both captain and coach. He coached Fitzroy for 96 games between 1943 until his retirement in 1947, only two players coached the side more and his 103 games as captain was bettered by only three. Hughson played as a fullback and was named in that position in

neg: 1996 AFL season in Adelaide's win over St Kilda. Note: Fitzroy's victory was the last win they had as a club. Note: Last game of Fitzroy before merger with Brisbane Bears to become Brisbane Lions. Note: The SCG match was the Swans’ first finals win since the 1945 Second-Semi-Final, when they were known as South Melbourne. This is the longest period for any club in VFL/AFL history without winning even one final, although St. Kilda won only one final between 1914 and 1964 inclusive. Note: West Coast Eagles played its “home” final at the MCG despite being ranked above Essendon due to the

neg: Bernie Harris Bernie Harris Bernard 'Bernie' Harris (born 25 August 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears and St Kilda in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL). Harris joined his elder brother Leon at Fitzroy in 1984, having previously played in Mortlake. A rover, he kicked more than 20 goals in a season on four occasions during his league career. He received three Brownlow Medal votes for his four goals and 26 disposals in a win over Sydney at the SCG in 1985 and participated in the 1986 finals series with Fitzroy. In 1987 he was

neg: Fitzroy Football Club also now wears a version of Fitzroy's AFL guernsey with red instead of maroon in most matches played in Victoria, consistent with Fitzroy's most recent colours. Relationships between Fitzroy and Brisbane were strained in late 2009, when Brisbane announced that it was adopting a new logo for season 2010 and beyond, which Fitzroy Football Club believed contravened Section 7.2 c) of the merger agreement. The new logo, a lion's head facing forward, replaced the former Fitzroy logo of a passant lion with a football. On 22 December 2009, Fitzroy lodged a Statement of Claim with the Supreme Court of Victoria,

neg: Mark Buckley did not play a senior VFL game in 1986 and the following year moved to a third club, Brisbane, who were making their league debut. He had 17 disposals and two goals in his first game for the Bears, against Fitzroy, but made just three further appearances. In 1988 Buckley transferred to South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Norwood but could only play eight games in two seasons, kicking six goals, before his retirement at the end of the 1989 season. Mark Buckley Mark Buckley (born 25 August 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton,

neg: History of Australian rules football on the Gold Coast crowd of 17,795. The Fitzroy Lions would win the encounter by fifteen points. In 1989 the Brisbane Bears and the Albert Shire Council signed off on a 30-year lease for the ground with an option for a further 10 years. Later that year on 15 July the Bears hosted the first ever night match at Carrara against the Geelong Cats in front of a then record crowd of 18,198. Insufficient public transport to and from the stadium, as well as the poor on field performance of the Bears, resulted in low crowds at the Bears games and prompted the local

neg: John Parker (Australian footballer) John Parker (Australian footballer) John Parker (born 17 May 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League (AFL). Parker, from Frankston, was chosen by the Bears with the first pick of the 1992 Mid-Season Draft. He didn't play a senior game that year and instead made his debut during the 1993 season, against Carlton at Princes Park. The following week he played again, this time a home fixture against North Melbourne and he had 11 disposals. His only other appearance for the Bears came in a 104-point loss to Fitzroy.