The Brisbane Lions were formed on 4 July, 1996, when the AFL approved a merger between the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions. The club was officially launched on 1 November 1996 and joined the national competition in 1997.
It was the first union of two clubs in VFL/AFL history - the perfect combination of an emerging force, full of youthful enthusiasm and energy, with a proud foundation club, overloaded with history and tradition.
There was the Brisbane Bears, a vibrant newcomer to the national scene. Young and ambitious, they were just starting to find their feet in the 'big time' after a troubled 10-year infancy split between the Gold Coast and Brisbane but without the long-term backing to mount a serious challenge.
And there was Fitzroy, a traditional club of more than 100 years' standing. They had fought the odds more often than most and won yet now, as financial pressures threatened to engulf them once and for all, they accepted a merger in preference to the extinction offered by a takeover elsewhere.
Individually the Bears and the Lions might both have struggled. But together they would grow to become a formidable force within the toughest sporting competition in Australia; a legitimate two-city team, with vibrant supporter bases in Brisbane and Melbourne that would rejoice in unison when the king of the jungle roared longest and loudest at the MCG on that one day in September.
The Brisbane Lions would soon be recognised as one of the most dominant teams in VFL/AFL history after a three-peat of consecutive premierships from 2001-2003. The Lions spawned countless All-Australians as well as two Brownlow Medallists.
Regardless of who is named as this era’s King of the Pride, all of the multiple premiership winning players will hold a special place in both club and AFL history.
The Brisbane Lions Football Club in conjunction with the Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society and the Fitzroy-Brisbane Past Players and Officials Association will host one of the largest reunions of VFL/AFL players ever at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Saturday 11 August 2007 from 7pm.
The Kings of the Pride reunion function will acknowledge all current and past players of this great club.
Every person who has played a senior match with Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears or the Brisbane Lions has been invited to attend this historic dinner.
Now members and supporters are invited to take a trip down memory lane with some of their all-time favourite players and catch up with some of the current Lions stars.
The event will identify the ten best players from each of the club's main eras as voted by the players themselves. These ten players will be decided from the following categories:
1897 - 1926 (Fitzroy) *two players
1927 - 1956 (Fitzroy) *two players
1957 - 1966 (Fitzroy)
1967 - 1976 (Fitzroy)
1977 - 1986 (Fitzroy)
1987 - 1996 (Fitzroy)
1987 - 1996 (Brisbane Bears)
1997 - 2006 (Brisbane Lions)
Each week the Brisbane Lions are offering club members and supporters an opportunity to win a copy of Jim Main's soon-to-be released Fitzroy book.
To enter this week's draw, simply nominate which Brisbane Lions player you believe should be the King of the Pride for the period between 1997 and 2006 by emailing their name and your contact details to melbourne@lions.com.au. One entrant will be selected each week as the lucky Fitzroy book winner and they will go into the draw to win a free double pass to the Kings of the Pride reunion event which includes fine foods, beverages and a great night's entertainment.
Last week’s winner was Liam Smith who nominated his best Fitzroy player of the 1987 – 1996 period.
We have listed some of the Lions’ most notable players from the 1987 – 1996 era to assist your decision-making:
Michael Voss (c) (aa) (bf) (b) – 289 games, 245 goals (1992 – 06)
Alastair Lynch (c) (aa) (bf) (g) – 306 games, 633 goals (1988 – 04)
Jason Akermanis (aa) (bf) (b) (g) – 248 games, 307 goals (1995 – 06)
Simon Black (c) (aa) (bf) (b) – 206 games, 130 goals (1998 –)
Jonathan Brown (c) – 132 games, 231 goals (2000 –)
Justin Leppitsch (aa) (bf) (g) – 132 games, 71 goals (1993 – 06)
Nigel Lappin (c) (aa) (bf) – 268 games, 174 goals (1994 –)
Chris Johnson (c) (aa) (g) – 260 games, 169 goals (1994 –)
Luke Power (c) (aa) – 188 games, 183 goals (1998 –)
(c) = club captain
(aa) = all australian
(bf) = club best and fairest
(b) = brownlow medal
(g) = leading goalkicker
(p) = premiership player
Tickets for the Kings of the Pride reunion are on sale now:
Supporters ticket: $170pp
Supporters table of 10 people: $1,700
Gold ticket - seated at a front table with two current players: $230pp
Gold table of 8 people - plus two current players: $1,840
Please contact the Victorian office on (03) 8850 5600 to book or for more information. Good luck and Go Lions!!!
