Although there were no premierships, Fitzroy spawned some of the club’s greatest ever players including eventual Team of our Century captain Kevin Murray between 1957 and 1966.

Murray played until 1974 but has been categorised within this decade as it was when he first established himself as one of the VFL greats.

Murray and gun full forward Owen Abrahams became the club’s first ever ‘All Australians’ in 1958, the year after Fitzroy officially adopted the Lion as its mascot.

The Lion replaced former monikers the Maroons and Gorillas as it more accurately reflected ‘the never say die spirit of the club’.

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 Fitzroy player you believe should be the King of the Pride for the period between 1957 and 1966 by emailing their names 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 Bev Warren of Coochin Creek in Queensland who nominated her best Fitzroy players of the 1927 – 1956 period.

We have listed some of Fitzroy’s most notable players from this era to assist your decision-making:

Kevin Murray (c) (bf) (b) – 333 games, 51 goals (1955 – 64, 1967 - 74)*
Owen Abrahams (c) (g) – 132 games, 230 goals (1954 – 62)
Alan Gale – 213 games, 19 goals (1948 – 1961)
Graham Campbell (bf) – 151 games, 154 goals (1956 – 64)
Gary Lazarus (g) – 132 games, 206 goals (1963 – 70)
Ron Harvey (bf) – 127 games, 49 goals (1954 – 63)
Kevin Wright (g) – 140 games, 159 goals (1952 – 61)
Tony Ongarello (g) – 131 games, 247 goals (1952 – 60)

(c) = club captain
(bf) = club best and fairest
(g) = leading goalkicker
(b) = Brownlow medallist
(p) = premiership player
* Team of our Century captain

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!!!