The response has been overwhelming and the best submission - as judged by the Club - has been notified and will take home a magnificent prize.
The Lions will honour this famous day in Club history on Friday 18 March as part of the 2001 Premiership Anniversary and 2011 Season Launch event held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Click here for final bookings or further information surrounding the event.
The Club would like to thank all Lions supporters who took the time to share their stories from that most memorable day.
Below is a small selection of the online submissions received from Lions fans which will no doubt take you back on a trip down memory lane...
My Grand Final memories
The memory stays with me forever. I went to the 2001 Grand Final with my brother-in-law and sat amongst a lot of Essendon supporters. As the game approached half time, all we could hear were the Essendon supporters saying how good the Bombers looked and how Scott Lucas was a monty for the Norm Smith Medal. But when Alastair Lynch kicked that unbelievable goal just before the half time siren, the whole mood changed and the rest of the story is history. I pray I have those unforgettable feelings again. Many thanks for this opportunity to talk out loud.
- Gary Silver
Quite simply it was one of the greatest days of my life. The most enjoyable factor was the fact I was able to celebrate the day with my dad. He has supported the Lions from the old Fitzroy days and I remember him always believing that he would never live to see a Lions premiership. Well thanks to the Brisbane Lions, that was accomplished in fine style. The day itself was superb, from the weather right down to the fact when I woke up the next morning I was able to celebrate my 21st birthday. It was the best present I could have ever asked for! Favourite moment? Hard to go past Luke Power kicking his third goal on the run to the Southern Stand end in the last term. From then on, I could enjoy the moment and fully realise my boys in maroon, blue & gold were premiers!
- Adam McBean
In April 2001, my wife and I bought $90 return Virgin Blue flights to Melbourne. At a family fun afternoon after a Lions game at Coorparoo, we started talking to a very young man standing on his own while all the other big name players drew the attention about how we had booked our flights so now it was up to the team to make sure we saw them in the Grand Final. That young man was Browny. And I guess the rest is history. What a great day 29/09/01 was. And the after party at the crown was an amazing function.
- Brad Harvey
Who do they think they are? The Bears reincarnated as the Lions. How dare they think they can come down here and win OUR CUP... Our first premiership proved to the footy world that the Brisbane Lions had not only arrived on the footy landscape, but had rightfully taken what was theirs. It was the start of something big and it stirred in me something that I wanted to be a part of. I became a member and ever since, a member of the greatest club in the competition. The Premiership in 2001 was won for everyone who like me, believed.
- Christopher Donnelly
2001 was special because the Brisbane Lions felt like Fitzroy and Fitzroy felt like the Brisbane Lions - we were one and we had become one! I queued for GF tickets the week before and slept out all night on the concrete at the ‘G’ - this was something I had been envious of and finally I was doing it! I shared the win with my brother and family. 30 plus years of supporting the also rans and forever copping a ribbing from opposition supporters had finally paid off! One of the sweetest moments of my life.
- Anthony J Zannoni
I have been a very proud Fitzroy and Brisbane Lions supporter my entire life. I would go to the Brunswick Street Oval with my dad back in 1954 as a three year-old. I watched in awe as ‘Muzza’, ‘Butch’ Gale, Abrahams and co. slugged it out in the mud on wintery days. I am a Gold Lion member and fly to Brisbane from Melbourne to see at least 5-6 games per year. Having endured many years of disappointment and then seeing the 2001 GF premiership win, I broke down in tears straight after the match. My emotions ran very deep. It was possibly the biggest thrill of my life.
- Dennis Najim
The Lions' 2001 premiership triumph over Essendon was memorable to me because, after 44 years of attempting to achieve the ultimate goal in the VFL/AFL as Fitzroy, I was able to share the experience with my two sons Andrew and Ryan who were then 11 and 9 respectively. In our last year as Fitzroy, my sons were junior mascots against Melbourne at the Western Oval, which up until that last Saturday in September was the highlight of their lives. We were able to get three seats in the Ponsford Stand on the middle deck, just to the left of the goals on the Brunton Avenue side. It was a perfect location and we didn’t miss a thing. The three of us were the happiest boys in Melbourne watching the Lions demolish the Bombers. Towards the end of the last quarter when we knew it was ours, my son Andrew looked across at me and said "Are you crying, Dad?" I didn't even realise it, but I had tears running down my face. I was so happy after we had won the game. Lions supporters, being lions supporters, we didn't expect to win three in a row, so I said to my sons, “come on, we're going to the Tennis Centre for the celebrations - we may never see this again!” BOY WAS I WRONG!!! GO LIONS, YOU LITTLE BEAUTY!!
- Daryl Castles
I came to Melbourne for work in 1996 the year of the merger. Being a Bears supporter, I could not really understand the devastation that the Fitzroy faithful were feeling at the time. However, when the 2001 premiership was won, the passion from the old Fitzroy fans was spine tingling and I felt an immense pride that my original club could share the history of Fitzroy Football Club and its strong roots in the heartland of football. 2001 is when I finally felt that Fitzroy and Brisbane had truly merged. Sensational!
- Tony Craswell
I was born into a Lions family including Great Grandfather (Club President) and Dad (Lion Hunter President). Kevin Murray was the family hero growing up in the 60s and 70s. When we won any match back then, it was like Christmas for a week at least! When big Beau dished off that handball to Vossy to seal the match, it was worth my 36-hour road trip from Darwin to spend a perfect day on the terrace of the ‘G’ with my father and brother by my side. GO LIONS!!!!
- John Chandler
I was born in Fitzroy the year that Fitzroy won their last flag. At 20, I had to retire from playing VFA football for Brunswick due to injury. Since then I have been a member of our club (Fitzroy/Brisbane Lions). On 2001 Grand Final day I went to business luncheon at the game. I refused to have a beer, as I didn’t want to miss a second of the match. At the 25-minute mark of the last quarter I said "get me a beer". When the siren went, I thought of all the years that our Club had been down and all the good times me and all my mates had gone through. Then the tears poured down my face. It brought back memories of my best mate who died in 1999 and had been on the journey with me. The night of the Grand Final and the next day at Brunswick Street I will always treasure.
- Peter Devlin
My father Joe turned 80 in 2001. He was a ‘Royboy’ all his life. He told us how he used to sneak under the fence of the Brunswick Street Oval as a kid with his older brother Terry to watch Fitzroy back in the 30's. His hero was Hadyn Bunton. Dad and the whole family went back there in 2001 to celebrate and congratulate our new sporting heroes. Among many other happy feelings was a great sense of satisfaction to watch the look on my dad's face.
- Joanne Grigg
We were the ‘Who cares Bears?’, the ‘Bad news Bears’; we were the under-dogs, and the laughing stock of many. That long trek down to Carrara, the long wait to exit the car-park after the game (all too often a losing game), the sadness of the merger - all forgotten on that ‘One Day in September’. In 2001, when the revamped Brisbane Lions downed the favourites Essendon to win the premiership cup - oh, what a day that was! ‘Our’ boys did us proud and we loved every one of them.
- Jennifer Rathbone
The 2001 premiership was memorable to me because as a Bears Foundation member, I had attended every game and felt the pain of being an also ran team. As our fortunes changed, so too did my enthusiasm and I rode the journey as we neared that very moment. I was told that I had to have a triple bypass heart operation. I told the doctor to delay the operation and I attended the Grand Final. I was not well, but the game carried me over the line. It was a fantastic feeling and well worth delaying the operation albeit a stupid decision. It was memorable day in any case but it was made more special by my situation. I had the operation and all is now perfect.
- Geoffrey Gargett
My new wife and I drove from Mount Isa via Toowoomba (to pick up my Dad) to Melbourne for the GF - 3,300km and three days each way, but we could not miss the game. 14 points down at half time and I couldn't look her in the eye. What a waste! I didn't dare hope. But Vossy's salute and Lynchy's arms aloft, the win, the song, the party at Rod Laver Arena, the glory at Brunswick Street Oval, bragging rights (for three years as it turned out!) ... I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Thank you Lions!
- Dan Fraser
After a family history of supporting Fitzroy, the 2001 Premiership was a reason for celebration. My earliest memory was standing alongside my mother at the Junction Oval. My mother and I attended every Fitzroy match until the merger, and every Lions Victorian game thereafter. In 2001 my mother was diagnosed with breast and kidney cancer, and was unable to attend the 2001 GF. However, I was lucky enough to attend the game, and I remember being there on the phone for the whole game to my mother who was at home. We analysed every play, and it was a very special moment for me to hear her crying down the phone, during the last quarter when she realised we could not lose.
- Brian Burke
I was stuck on the Gold Coast for a work conference and watched the game with several industry mates. When Voss raised his finger in the final quarter, I knew we were home. As the siren went I ran to the balcony and screamed "GO THE LIONS" across Broadbeach. I'm sure i could also hear others doing the same. It was a magic day and I’ll never forget it. My wife and I went to a Retravision ball that night in our Lions gear and invaded the stage, draping Mental As Anything in Lions scarfs and hats. Don't remember much after that though...hic!
- Darren Hallesy
We arrived early to ensure entry into the Lions Social Club and settled in for a long day. I wasn't game to believe that we could actually win, however late in the last quarter we kicked a couple of goals to put the outcome beyond doubt and I found myself hugging and kissing total strangers! Later, when Channel 7 showed up to do a live cross, my mate decided he would lift me onto his shoulders so we could get our heads on telly. Unfortunately, as a result of a few too many drinks we ended up a crumpled mess on the floor!
- Paul Dutton
Memories of that ‘Queensland-like’ heat at the ‘G’ on that last Saturday in September 2001 gave hope that even the weather was on our side that day! My husband, Mark, was wearing (under another Lions shirt) a t-shirt that he found in a Melbourne shop just after we had arrived off the 24-hour bus trip. It boldly pronounced ‘Brisbane Lions Premiers 2001’. It was a sample and should never have made it on to the rack, before the result was known. Was it a jinx or a fabulous omen - our opinions differed - thank goodness he was right!
- Dianne Collins
We beat my big ugly annoying older brothers team, and now I have bragging rights for life! Go Lions!
- Ryan
Although I did not attend the 2001 Grand Final match, it will always be a special memory for me as it was the day a close friend of the family got married and I refused to go. I insisted that watching my team play in a Grand Final was more important. My whole family attended the wedding and reception but I stood firm and sat at home and watched my team win the Grand Final. My friend was not happy with me but eventually understood a few days later when they saw how ecstatic and overwhelmed I still was.
- Jeanette Stewart
