Last year the Brisbane Lions held their landmark Kings of the Pride reunion to celebrate the Club's merged Fitzroy, Bears and Lions heritage. To honour the event, the Lions wore a special 1996 Fitzroy style Guernsey that same afternoon against Hawthorn at the MCG in Round 19.
Seeing the Fitzroy strip again after 11 years triggered a major response from the Lions' Victorian members and supporters who wanted to see more of the Guernsey at away games to salute Fitzroy’s long history. Most vowed to renew their membership if this bold decision was taken.
Lions Chief Executive Michael Bowers then publically called for feedback which flooded into the Club over the following two months.
“We read about 400 responses from members and supporters in both Victoria and Queensland, from all over Australia and even from London which goes to show just how important and sensitive this topic was for many fans,” Mr Bowers said.
“One thing that became abundantly clear is that it’s impossible to make everybody happy in this situation. Design is such a personal thing and each person’s emotional connection to a footy club and its colours and Guernseys is also a very individual experience.
“Our view is that it is not appropriate to feature exact Bears or Fitzroy replicas as home or away Guernseys because we are the Brisbane Lions now. The Club has its own history and tradition as the Brisbane Lions in its own right including three Premierships and four Grand Finals which must always be honoured.
“Now this is an Away Guernsey only – it is not replacing our Home Guernsey and neither does it replace our current Clash Guernsey or Heritage Round Guernsey options. They all serve entirely different purposes.”
The AFL has approved for the Lions to wear this Away Guernsey against Geelong this Saturday afternoon at Skilled Stadium, against Carlton in Round 8 at Telstra Dome, against Essendon in Round 15 at Telstra Dome, and against Richmond in Round 17 at Telstra Dome.
“We are confident the vast majority of Lions members and supporters will give this jumper the thumbs up,” Mr Bowers said.
The jumper is available from all Lions Shops and Puma retailers and the Club is hoping that all non-renewed Victorian members get behind the jumper they campaigned so hard for and sign up to the Club for Season 2008 and beyond.
