Who are we?

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group (VLSG) is a group of Fitzroy fans who now support the Brisbane Lions in the AFL and the Fitzroy Football Club in the VAFA. The Group acts a voice for Fitzroy fans in regards to the Brisbane Lions.

We have been fortunate on a number of occasions to have had our representations published in the major daily newspapers, and have received various feedback on these issues from the board of the Brisbane Lions as well as the AFL, Channel 7 and various journalists in the media.

While the VLSG has had some satisfaction on a couple of concerns, certain occurrences such as the issue of the Brisbane Lions records, as related to the Brisbane Bears and Fitzroy still continue to rankle with Victorian supporters. The VLSG is committed to preserving as much of Fitzroy’s identity in the Brisbane Lions as possible, as well as arguing for a fair go for those Victorian supporters of the Brisbane Lions, particularly from the media and the AFL. The number of Lions games in Victoria, the provision of a Fitzroy Football Club director on the Brisbane Lions board and most importantly the return of the “Fitzroy Lion” to the logo and official guernsey of the Brisbane Lions are also of concern.

The VLSG will continue to lobby the appropriate authorities on these matters, until our concerns are addressed. We believe there is strength in numbers. We hope that you will join us!

We urge all VLSG members and indeed all Brisbane Lions Victorian supporters to E-mail the VLSG where they see examples of inconsistencies by the media in relation to the Brisbane Lions.

2020 Fixture

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group has condemned today’s released AFL 2020 fixture with the Brisbane Lions scheduled to play four games only in Melbourne, a direct contravention of the 1996 merger agreement, where Fitzroy fans were promised in writing that  “The Merged Club will play one half of the total number of home and away games per season at the Gabba and as many Melbourne based away premiership games as possible will be played at Optus Oval or the Melbourne Cricket Ground (but not less than 6).”

Due to circumstances that were not envisaged in 1996, Optus Oval (Princes Park) and Waverley Stadium are now no longer used as an AFL venues. However as this venue has been replaced by the Docklands Stadium (currently named Marvel Stadium), there should be no real reason why the AFL cannot continue to guarantee a minimum six games in Melbourne. While the VLSG does not necessarily support the staging of one of these six games at Geelong, we recognise that Fitzroy did play away games at this venue in the days of the VFL.

However we oppose any mooted transfer of one of these six games to Tasmania as part of any separate North Melbourne or Hawthorn deal with the government of Tasmania to play games in Hobart and/or Launceston.

What is particular galling is that Greater Western Sydney, a club with no historical connection plays seven games in Melbourne in 2020, with away games at the MCG three times, and Marvel Stadium four times.

VLSG calls for six Lions games in Melbourne for 2016

The VLSG has called on the AFL to schedule a minimum six games in Melbourne as part of the 1996 merger agreement.

Clause 7.2 h)  of the 1996 merger agreement between the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Football Club (supported by an AFL document outlining AFL support for the merger) all clearly state that… “The Merged Club will play one half of the total number of home and away games per season at the Gabba and as many Melbourne based away premiership games as possible will be played at Optus Oval or the Melbourne Cricket Ground (but not less than 6) with any other away premiership games at any of Waverley, Optus Oval or the Melbourne Cricket Ground at which Melbourne based members of the Merged Club will have home ground status (in respect of which Brisbane Bears will make a contribution to gate receipts of an amount determined by AFL); ”

Due to circumstances that were not envisaged in 1996, Optus Oval (Princes Park) and Waverley Stadium is now no longer used as an AFL venue. However as this venue has been replaced by the Docklands Stadium (currently named Etihad Stadium), there should be no real reason why the AFL cannot continue to guarantee a minimum six games in Victoria.

While the VLSG does not necessarily support the staging of one of these six games at Kardinia Park (Skilled Stadium), we recognise that Fitzroy did play away games at this venue in the days of the VFL. However we oppose any mooted transfer of one of these six games to Tasmania as part of any separate North Melbourne or Hawthorn deal with the government of Tasmania to play games in Hobart and/or Launceston.

 

 

VLSG welcomes the return of the traditional lion

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group (VLSG) has welcomed the return of the Fitzroy Lion to the Brisbane Lions jumper for the 2015 season.

The VLSG is very appreciative of the “Lions Roar” advocacy group’s efforts in seeking the return of the Fitzroy Lion, after its removal in 2009.

Despite the return of the “Fitzroy Lion” to the jumper the VLSG points out that the Brisbane Lions still contravene both the spirit and the letter of the 1996 merger agreement. Clause 7.2c of the merger agreement states quite clearly that “The logo of the merged club will be the Fitzroy lion logo in perpetuity“;

The court settlement with the Fitzroy Football Club in 2010, stipulates that the Brisbane Lions have to use the Fitzroy Lion on all club stationary, all club publications and all membership and corporate sales marketing material for 14 years (until 2024) and for seven years (i.e. until the end of 2017), the masthead at the top of the page of the official Brisbane Lions’ website also has to feature the Fitzroy lion logo. However this clearly contravenes Clause 7.2c of the agreement.

We call upon the current Brisbane Lions administration to rectify the breaking of the merger agreement in 2009,  and to undertake the re-design of their official logo to include the “Fitzroy Lion” as pictured below.

Only then, can the Brisbane Lions truly say that they doing their utmost to observe the spirit and letter of the merger agreement that they, the Football Club and the AFL agreed to in 1996.

Laurie Richards Interview

Laurie Richards was a highflying forward and on-baller, who joined Fitzroy from Perth in 1971 & went on to play 80 games and kick 69 goals for the Lions, before returning to the West at the end of 1974. We caught up with Laurie recently at his Perth home and asked him about his days with Fitzroy.

1. What is your favourite memory from a Fitzroy game?

Favourite memories from games I played would include the days where I played an important part in a good team performance that resulted in a win. We certainly enjoyed that winning feeling, but did not experience it often enough. I particularly enjoyed playing well in front of the big crowds and on the hallowed surfaces of the VFL. While I speak to you, the memories begin to flood back. My first game [at full forward] on the dashing David Dench. Games in the centre on Bill Barrot, Bob Skilton and Jezza. Imagine playing CHF on Ron Andrews on a cold Melbourne day or the thrill of standing Bruce Doull, David McKay, Robbie McGhie, John Williams and many others. Playing as a ruckrover /HFF, I believe I produced my best efforts because I lacked the height and weight to be a consistent top line key forward. In the midfield position at the MCG against Richmond, I managed to get 17 marks one day. Enough self-congratulation. I think I got embarrassingly dragged the next week against Hawthorn at Waverley, when I couldn’t handle the treacherous surface or break free from the close attention of the opposition.

2. What are some of the funniest memories you have from your Fitzroy days?

Vote in our jumper poll

VLSG supports The Lions Roar campaign

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group (VLSG) has today thrown its support behind Queensland based supporter group ‘The Lion’s Roar‘ in seeking a Brisbane Lions member vote on whether to change the current Brisbane Lions jumper derisively known by many supporters as the “paddlepop lion”.

The Victorian Lions Supporter Group condemned in 2010 the decision by the Brisbane Lion board to break the merger agreement between the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club (trading as the Brisbane Lions) in relation to the re-design of the Brisbane logo.

As such the VLSG fully supported the subsequent efforts of the board of the Fitzroy Football Club to seek a ruling on the validity of Clause 7.2 c) of the merger agreement dealing with the use of the “Fitzroy Lion” in the Victorian Supreme Court. Despite a settlement being reached on the logo, we remain appalled at the current bastardisation of the both the Lions logo and the Lions jumper which we believe contravenes both the terms and spirit of the merger agreement between Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions. In the wake of the wearing of the three-peat commemorative jumper by the Lions against Essendon and Collingwood and the subsequent positive reaction from both Lions and opposition supporters, we firmly believe that it is time to give the Brisbane Lions members a vote on the current jumper – a vote which was denied to them in 2010.

We call on the Brisbane Lions board to conduct a member vote on the future of the current jumper by the time of the Lions Annual General Meeting scheduled for December 2013. We also call upon the Lions to offer up as one of the alternatives in that vote, the premiership jumper worn between 1997 and 2009.

The VLSG supports Fitzroy in logo dispute.

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group has condemned the move of the Brisbane Lions to re-design their logo and their jumper without the inclusion of the “Fitzroy Lion” as stipulated in the merger deed of July 1996.

Thirteen years after the AFL forced the ailing Victorian club to merge with the Queensland team, Fitzroy Football Club will early next week will lodge an affidavit seeking a ban on Brisbane’s use of its recently launched “Paddlepop” Lion.

Bradshaw’s ‘record’.

The Victorian Lions Supporters Group is extremely disappointed that once again the media incorrectly reported Brisbane Lions records in relation to Daniel Bradshaw’s magnificent individual effort of 9 goals in the match against Melbourne.

Lions are part Victorian

President of the Victorian Lions Supporters Group (VLSG) Sharon Torney said today that she hoped the media in Victoria would not be dragged into the hype of an “interstate” grand final.

“When the Bears and Fitzroy merged at the end of the 1996 season to form the Brisbane Lions, the rich Victorian heritage of Fitzroy became part of the Brisbane Lions. Along with that heritage also came the members and supporters. This was evident by the thousands of supporters who turned out Saturday night,” said Torney.