Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society

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Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society

The Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions Historical Society was formed following the 1996 merger.

16/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Bears player Adam Garton turns 63 years of age.

Adam was recruited to the Brisbane Bears FC for the Bears 1987 inaugural year in the VFL, coming off Back- to back Premierships with the Glenelg FC in the SANFL in 1985 and 1986.

Adam played 3 VFL Senior games (for 1 goal) for the Brisbane Bears over the 1987 and 1988 VFL Seasons in his number 22 jumper.

Have a fantastic 63rd Birthday today Adam.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

16/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Josh Clayton turns 29 years of age.

Josh played 2 Senior games for our Brisbane Lions FC in the 2016 AFL Season in his number 19 jumper.

Josh’s father Scott was a Fitzroy FC player and former Best and Fairest winner.

Have a fantastic 29th Birthday today Josh.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

16/01/2025

Good evening Lions and Lionesses.

A triple good day for our Historical Society of the unearthing of another VFA player picture (thanks to Rob Harris of the Collingwood FC) for our soon to be erected VFA Player Photo Board at Marvel Stadium.

Frank Musgrove
1892-1894
48 Games
3 Goals

Only 134 player photos to source.

Welcome aboard Frank.

You are home now.

Brenden

🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

16/01/2025

Good Afternoon Lions and Lionesses.

A magical day for our VFA Player Pictorial Photo project of the 238 Fitzroy players that represented our side in the VFA Competition from 1884 to 1896 with the unearthing of another 2 player photographs.

Nick Bonnitcha who played 3 games (for 6 goals) for our Fitzroy FC in VFA Season 1890.

Henry Tacke - who played in an unknown number of games for our Fitzroy FC in VFA Season 1885.

Thanks to the research skills of Rob Harris from the Collingwood FC.

What a legend!

Only 135 player photographs to source now.

Welcome to the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society Museum at Marvel Stadium Nick and Henry.

You are home now.

Brenden

15/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Leigh Ryswyk turns 40 years of age.

Leigh played his only Senior game for our Brisbane Lions on Saturday the 4th of June 2005 in our 39 point defeat of the Fremantle FC at their Subiaco Oval in Round 11, capturing 4 disposals (3 of which were scoring assists) in his number 32 jumper.

Have a fantastic 40th Birthday today Leigh.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

15/01/2025

Good morning royboys and roygirls.

Sadly, we wish to advise the passing today of our Fitzroy FC Ex-player Colin “Stretch” McNeil at the age of 88.

“Stretch” was a salt of the earth bloke who would give you the shirt off his back.

Friendly, reliable and laid back.

The epitome of the “Family Club” moniker of our Fitzroy and Brisbane Lions Football Clubs.

Stretch and his best mate Kevin Murray had boat sheds at Campbells Cove at Werribee South for many years.

Condolences to the McNeil family and his many friends (and there were many!) and acquaintances.

A true Royboy to the end.

He has gone to the great Fitzroy place in the sky.

Vale Colin “Stretch” McNeil.

We will miss you mate.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

❤️😪🦁😪❤️🦁😪❤️🦁😪❤️🦁😪❤️

Below is a birthday post for Stretch that we produced on the 5th of August 2023 on his 87th Birthday

Good evening royboys and roygirls.

We at the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society wish ex Fitzroy Ruckman/Forward Colin “Stretch” McNeil a very happy 87th Birthday.

“Stretch” played 8 senior games for the Fitzroy FC (for 9 goals) between 1959-1960.

In “Stretch’s first game in 1959 for Fitzroy FC (Round 2 v South Melbourne at the Lake Oval on the 2nd of May) he kicked 3 goals in our loss to the swans by 16 points.

2 weeks later, against the Geelong FC (Round 4 on the 16th of May), he kicked 4 goals, which was his highest goal tally in his 8 games, in our loss to the cats by 10 points at Kardinia Park.

In his last game in the seniors, Round 10 against the North Melbourne Football Club, on the 2nd of July 1960, he kicked 2 goals against the kangaroos, in our 22 point win on our hallowed turf at the Brunswick Street Oval.

“Stretch” found it difficult to break into the strong Fitzroy side in this era, as our Fitzroy FC had accomplished ruckmen in Alan “Butch” Gale and Ron Harvey.

But, “Stretch” was good enough to break into the Fitzroy Senior Side and kick a few goals, resting in the forward pocket from his ruck duties.

He also played in the losing Fitzroy Reserves Grand Final side against Hawthorn at the MCG in 1959.

He wore the number 38 jumper for our Fitzroy FC.

After the 1960 VFL Season, Dan Murray (who is the father of Kevin) was appointed senior coach of the Subiaco Lions WAFL Club and took “Stretch” to play under him at Subiaco.

It was in Western Australia that “Stretch” met his future wife Therese and they are still happily married today.

“Stretch” is Kevin Murray’s best mate and their friendship has endured to this day.

“Stretch’s” brother Bill was my father’s best man at his wedding in 1964 and the MacNeil’s lived a few doors down from my father’s childhood house in Best Street North Fitzroy.

So the McNeils have been a part of my families life for a very long time.

Happy Birthday “Stretch” and have a great day and a few beers for me.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society

🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

14/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today we celebrate the birthday of former Hawthorn and Brisbane Bears player Ken Judge.

“The Judge” played 72 games (for 158 goals) for the Hawthorn FC from 1983-1986 in his number 1 jumper, being a Premiership player for the Hawks in his rookie year.

Ken transferred to the Brisbane Bears FC in our first year in the then VFL Competition in 1987, playing 17 games (for 18 goals) to the end of the 1988 VFL Season in his number 35 jumper.

Ken was Senior Coach at the Hawthorn FC from 1996 to 1999 and the West Coast Eagles FC from 2000 to 2001.

Ken passed away on his 58th Birthday in 2016, after fighting multiple myeloma since early 2010.

Thank you for representing our Brisbane Bears FC Ken and hope you continue to Rest In Peace.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

12/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Luke Weller turns 43 years of age.

Luke played 4 Senior games (for 1 goal) for our Brisbane Lions FC in the 2003 AFL Season in his number 31 jumper.

Luke was also a member of our Suncoast Lions Reserve Grade side QAFL Premiership win in 2001 as we defeated the Southport FC by 12 points.

Luke transferred to the Richmond FC for the 2004 AFL Season playing 7 Senior games (for 3 goals) in his number 30 jumper.

Have a fantastic 43rd Birthday today Luke.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

09/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Rhys Mathieson turns 28 years of age.

Rhys played 72 Senior games (for 29 goals) from the 2016 AFL Season to the end of the 2022 AFL Season in his number 36 Jumper for our Brisbane Lions.

Rhys’ nickname was “Beast Mode” or the “Barometer”, in reference to his hardness at the ball.

Have a fantastic 28th Birthday today Rhys.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

09/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Shane Morrison turns 44 years of age.

Shane played 5 games for our Brisbane Lions from 2002 to 2003 in his number 35 Jumper.

Shane was also a member our 2001 NEAFL Premiership side, as our Suncoast Lions defeated the Southport FC by 12 points.

Shane transferred to the Richmond FC for the 2004-2005 AFL Seasons, playing 8 games (for 3 goals) in his number 16 Jumper.

Shane’s father Peter played 1 Senior game for the Footscray FC in 1974 in his number 39 jumper and 90 games (for 96 goals) from the South Melbourne FC from 1976 to 1981 in his number 35 jumper.

Shane’s uncle Ian played 110 Senior games (for 101 goals) for the Footscray FC from 1973 to 1980 in his number 6 jumper and 3 games for the Essendon FC in the 1981 VFL Season in his number 12 jumper.

Have a fantastic 44th Birthday today Shane.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

08/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today current Brisbane Lions player Josh Dunkley turns 28 years of age.

Josh played 116 Senior games (for 65 goals) from 2016 to 2022 for the Western Bulldogs in his number 20 jumper (his first 2 years) and number 5 jumper (in his last 5 years) and was a Premiership Player, Best and Fairest and Rising Star Nominee in his Rookie year.

Josh transferred to the Brisbane Lions FC for the 2023 AFL Season and has played 51 games (for 8 goals) and was a 2023 Grand Final Runner-up player and 2024 AFL Grand Final Winner.

Josh’s father Andrew played 217 games for the Sydney Swans (for 11 goals) from 1992 to 2002, wearing the number 40 jumper in his first year and number 6 jumper in his next 10 years.

Have a fantastic 28th Birthday today Josh.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁

08/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Rhan Hooper turns 37 years of age.

Rhan played 48 Senior games (for 49 goals) from 2006 to 2009 in his number 33 Jumper for our Brisbane Lions and 6 games (for 7 goals) for the Hawthorn FC in 2010 in his number 20 Jumper.

Rhan took over the number 33 jumper from our Triple Premiership player Darryl “DJ” White.

Rhan’s best statistical year for our Brisbane Lions in his 4 year career was the 2008 AFL Season, where he played 20 games (for 19 goals)

Have a fantastic 37th Birthday today Rhan.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

07/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Michael Rischitelli turns 39 years of age.

Michael played 111 Senior games (for 47 goals) from 2004 to 2010 in his number 35 jumper and was a Merrett Murray Medallist in his last Season with our Brisbane Lions.

Michael transferred to the Gold Coast Suns FC for the 2011 AFL Season, playing 132 games for the Suns (44 goals) to the end of the 2019 AFL Season, also in his number 35 jumper.

Have a fantastic 39th Birthday today Michael.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

07/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Lions player Luke Power turns 45 years of age.

Luke played 282 Senior games (for 226 goals) for our Brisbane Lions from the 1998 to the 2011 AFL Season in his famous number 6 jumper and 20 Senior games for the GWS Giants FC (also named as a Co-Captain with Phil Davis and Callan Ward) in the 2012 AFL Season in his number 6 jumper.

Luke was a 3 time Brisbane Lions Premiership player from 2001 to 2003 and Co-Captain in 2007-2008.

Luke was also a Fitzroy supporter in his younger years.

Have a fantastic 45th Birthday today Luke.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

02/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today former Brisbane Bears player Shane Hodges turns 50 years of age.

Shane was recruited to the Brisbane Bears as their 21st pick in the 1993 AFL Draft and played 4 Senior games in the 1995 AFL Season in his number 24 jumper.

Have a fantastic 50th Birthday today Shane.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

01/01/2025

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today our former Brisbane Lions player Marty Pask turns 40 years of age.

Marty played 8 Senior games in the 2006 AFL VFL Season (for 4 goals) in his number 41 jumper for our Brisbane Lions.

Marty moved to the Western Bulldogs FC for the 2007 AFL Season, but did not register a Senior game.

Marty now works in the Sports Agent Management Business.

Have a fantastic 40th Birthday today Marty.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

30/12/2024

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today our current Brisbane Lions player Darcy Wilmot, who turns 21 years of age.

“Motty” made his Senior debut in our thrilling 2 point defeat of Richmond FC, in the 2nd Elimination Final at the Gabba in 2022 (Thanks Joe Daniher) and has played the following 55 consecutive games, culminating in our 10 goal defeat of the Sydney Swans in this years AFL Grand Final.

Darcy was one of 3 players in our combined history of 128 years to make his debut in a VFL / AFL Finals match, including:

Charles Chapman in our 1924 2nd Round Robin Finals match 20 point defeat of the Richmond FC at the Princes Park Oval, kicking 2 goals.

Charles ended up being our Fitzroy FC Captain 5 years later in 1929

And

Graham Osborne, who debuted for our Fitzroy FC in our 46 point loss to the Collingwood FC in the 1984 Elimination Finals match at the MCG.

Darcy wears the number 44 jumper for our Brisbane Lions, which was the same jumper number his late father Grant wore in 5 Senior games for the Collingwood FC in the 1980 VFL Season.

Have a fantastic 21st Birthday today Darcy.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

30/12/2024

Good Morning Lions and Lionesses.

Today our former Brisbane Lions player Reuben William turns 27 years of age.

Reuben played 3 Senior games in the 2016 AFL Season in his number 47 jumper for our Brisbane Lions.

Reuben is the only Brisbane or Fitzroy player in our 128 year combined history to come from the country of Sudan.

Have a fantastic 27th Birthday today Reuben.

Brenden Campbell and the Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society.

🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂🦁🎂

Address

740 Bourke Street
Melbourne, VIC
3008

Telephone

+6188505600

Website

https://www.lions.com.au/club/history/fitzroy-lions-history/historical-society

Alerts

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Videos

Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society

Channel 9 News Broadcast on Sunday the 22nd of September 2024 at our Fitzroy Brisbane Lions Historical Society Museum at Marvel Stadium at Docklands Melbourne

Video of our boys singing the Fitzroy FC theme song last Sunday at the Junction Oval. Enjoy Brenden Go Lions

A rare clip I located today of David Parkin in his role as our Fitzroy Coach at the time. Training at the old Lake Oval. Brenden

More of Kath trying to put off Hawthorn’s Michael “Gladys” Moncrieff’s shot for goal.

Good afternoon Royboys and Roygirls. If you were a Fitzroy FC supporter in the 1970’s and 1980’s, would the name Kath Fairhill or Fairhall ring a bell? Her underlying passion for the Roys shown through. She was fiercely protective of our players and her language, at times, was “Colourful” at best. She is seen here barracking for the Lions with Historical Society Life Patron Keith Hickling. One of the real characters of our Fitzroy FC. Brenden

Good Morning Royboys and Roygirls. Introducing one of our most well known supporters of our Fitzroy FC and regular attendee of our Historical Society Nights at the Manningham Club and the Fitzroy Bowling Club: Joyce Zimmer The amount of times Joyce was captured by the TV Cameras at Fitzroy FC games would too many to show. But she is captured here appreciating Alastair Lynch’s great mark (his 118th game) on Friday the 13th of August 1993, in our 15 point defeat of the Sydney Swans, in Round 20, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Lynchy’s 3rd last game for our Fitzroy FC. RIP Joyce A Fitzroy FC icon. Brenden

Good morning Royboys and Roygirls. Today we start our weekly story on previous Fitzroy FC Leading Goal-kickers. Robert “Bob” Briggs was recruited to our Maroons from the Williamstown FC, for the 1909 VFL Season, playing in only 8 of the Seasons 18 Home and Away games, kicking an impressive 17 goals, including 2 bags of 5 goals and 1 bag of 3 goals. Bob suited up for his last year at our Fitzroy FC, 1910, kicking an impressive 30 goals, playing in every 18 Home and Away game, to head our Goal-kicking charts in our 14th Season in the then VFL Competition. Please find enclosed footage of our Bob Briggs kicking one of his 3 goals for the afternoon on Saturday the 6th of August 1910, in Round 15, in our 12 point loss to the Premiers at Seasons end, Collingwood, at their Victoria Park Oval (Bob’s goal is towards the end of this video). Today we remember our Bob Briggs. ❤️🦁❤️🦁❤️🦁❤️🦁❤️🦁❤️🦁❤️🦁

Don't miss out!⏰Final chance to get your tickets or RSVP for the Historical Society Museum Dinner. Hear from former Captains: John Hayes (1966) John Murphy (1973 -77) Harvey Merrigan (1978) Richard Osborne (1991) With other special guests including Robert Walls, Leon Harris and Scott Clayton. 🎟️REGISTER NOW: https://events.blackthorn.io/5g5JAzg7/4a3A5gt5z5 or Call: 03 8850 5600 Bookings close Friday 21 July 5pm