The Victorian Lions Supporters Group welcomes the decision made by the AFL to allow the Fitzroy Reds to play on the MCG in the curtain raiser for the Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood Round 19 clash on Saturday August 19th.
The process of getting to the stage where a D grade Amateur side from the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) playing on the MCG has been a long one. At the end of September AFL Football Operations Manager explained that “we may be asking all our clubs to wear their original guernseys and strips as was done in the 1997 Centenary Year. If that was the case, you might see Brisbane wearing the Fitzroy jumper in that round,”
While the idea of Brisbane wearing Fitzroy jumpers in the seniors is, at the time of writing still on hold, the Fitzroy Reds, who do wear the old Fitzroy jumper approached Collingwood FC, the Brisbane Lions and AFL to seek permission to play a curtain raiser match before the Collingwood v Brisbane Lions match round 19, Saturday 9 August at the MCG. All entities have given their approval to that curtain-raiser taking place. The VAFA board last night (5th May) approved the match taking place at the MCG in that particular round.
The Reds play in a Fitzroy jumper and would be playing against West Brunswick who play in a Collingwood jumper. As Round 19 has been designated by the AFL as a foundation round asking all clubs to wear jumpers from a past era, the Reds match would give Collingwood and Lions fans an opportunity to see the return of a curtain raiser match as in the tradition of watching the Reserves.
The Victorian Lions Supporters Group was asked to throw their support behind the venture and after several discussions with the VLSG Executive, several letters from the VLSG were sent off to all three entities, as well as the VAFA board, supporting the idea and urging its implementation.
The VLSG made several important points in its’ letters of support. The Executive Commitee believed that it was a fantastic opportunity, especially for the Lions fans, to see the FFC jumper once again on the MCG, whether or not the Brisbane Lions themselves wear a Fitzroy jumper for that same match. It is also an opportunity to for the VAFA and the Fitzroy Reds to become known to thousands of football followers who might not otherwise know that the competition or the club even existed. Most importantly this is yet another example of the Brisbane Lions re-inforcing the links with the Fitzroy Football Club and the traditions and heritage for which the old club represents.
The VLSG now is anticipating a decision by the Brisbane Lions whether or not to wear the Fitzroy jumper in Round 19.
Victorian Lions Supporters Group 