The event was themed around the ‘Royboys’ from that period and all three special guests provided entertaining insights into their times spent at the Club.
Pert, who is now CEO of AFL powerhouse Collingwood, recalled the feeling among his team-mates when it seemed a foregone conclusion that Fitzroy would be relocating to Queensland in 1987.
“We were a very, very tight group. So many of our guys grew up together,” Pert remembered.
“Even when we had a potential crisis in front of us with talks about moving the Club to Brisbane in 1987, we all agreed that we would go.”
“When we got together that Sunday morning on the tennis courts opposite Wesley College, we honestly thought it was all happening. But we were all going to do it together.”
Former Best & Fairest Scott Clayton (now current Recruiting Manager for the Gold Coast SUNS) said Fitzroy came close to securing a premiership on a couple of occasions during his time with the Club.
“We played quite a few finals games and I thought that in 1983 we really had a real chance to win. We came very, very close and that season still comes up in my memories to this day,” Clayton said.
“We were down for a couple of years, and then bounced back big in 1986 when we got to another Preliminary Final.”
Osborne acknowledged the close bond that was bound between himself Pert and Paul Roos - who were all recruited from the Bulleen area.
“It was really special going through that ten year period at Fitzroy with Perty and Roosy. We all grew up in the same area, had our own boys club and only lived about 500 metres from each other,” Osborne recalled.
The former Fitzroy full-forward also mentioned his brief return to the field earlier this season as part of the NAB Cup Legends game.
“I played in that pre-season game out here (Etihad Stadium) for the Brisbane Lions and had the Lions jumper on, and as corny as it might sound, I felt great - even though I was a 46 year-old man.”
It proved a wonderful event to end to another year of successful Lion Loyalist luncheons in Melbourne.
The Club extends its thanks to Pert, Osborne and Clayton for taking time out of their schedule to share their thoughts, opinions and stories with our corporate members and supporters.
The Lions also acknowledge the ongoing support of all 2011 Lion Loyalist Members who helped create a great atmosphere at this year’s functions: So a huge thanks to our 2011 Lion Loyalist members: Patties Foods, BMD, John Milton, Tim O’Connor, Dr Allan Smith, GNS Group, Austpac Logistics, The Red Roys, Jason Barrie, Kilmore Property Transfers and Delbridge Agencies.
