|
Fitzroy Lions
1883-1996 |
 |
Fitzroy
Football Club was formed as an off shoot of the cricketers club and played in
the VFA in 1884. It was a strong club in the VFA finishing high up the ladder in
several years till it finally won the premiership in 1895.
In 1897 it was a foundation member of the VFL
playing its home games at the Brunswick Street Oval. Fitzroy won the flag in the
second year in 1898 and back to back in 1899. It won again in 1904, 1905 and
1913. |
 |
|
In 1916 the number of
teams was cut to four due to the war and Fitzroy finished last on the ladder
after the home and away series but won all three finals games to win the
premiership. It again won in 1922 and 1944 but has won no premierships post the
second world war. The club struggled financially
in this period and left Brunswick Street Oval in 1967 playing home games at
Princess Park, the Junction Oval, Victoria Park and the Western Oval.
In 1982
a cover was issued showing the Fitzroy logo. |
|
The AFL Centenary
Cover above shows the Fitzroy Peel and Stick Stamp with the Fitzroy Football
Club Permanent Pictorial Postmark (PMP 637) introduced on 23rd April 1996.
Another
cover shows the
sheetlet stamp with cachet of premierships, Brownlow Medal winners and
Kevin Murray.
The Lions chose
Haydn Bunton on the cover of their stamp Booklet and
Brad Boyd on
their Postcard and maximum card. |
 |
After years of financial problems
the club finally merged with the Brisbane Bears to become the Brisbane Lions on
the 1st November 1996. The merger was noted by Australia Post with the
withdrawal of the Fitzroy Postmark (PMP 637) on the 2nd January 1997.
Somewhat surprisingly in the June-July 2003 Stamp Bulletin No 270
Australia Post announced the withdrawal for the second time of the
Fitzroy
Postmark. First
Class Collectables released a set of |
|
Covers. They included
Wilfred Smallhorm,
Kevin Murray,
Hayden Bunton,
Dinny Ryan,
Bernie Quinlan
and
Alan Ruthven.
A similar set were
also released of the same players
Wilfred Smallhorm,
Kevin Murray,
Hayden Bunton,
Dinny Ryan,
Bernie Quinlan
and
Alan Ruthven.
On the 7th March 2000 the inaugural meeting of the
"Premiership Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity.
One Fitzroy player was included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20
P stamps of the millennium issue. He was
Glenn Denning The stamps were
also displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by Havilah Enterprises.
On the 28th March 2001 the second annual meeting of the "Premiership
Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity. One Fitzroy
player was included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20 P stamps of
the globe and map issue. He was
Allan Ruthven. The stamps were also
displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by Havilah Enterprises.
On the 3rd May 2001
the Fitzroy Football Club, in association with the Brisbane Lions, at a gala
dinner at the Crown Palladium announced there
Team of
the Century.
On the 27th March 2002 the third annual meeting of the "Premiership
Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity. One Fitzroy
players were included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20 P stamps
of the sand, sea and sky overlaid by the Southern Cross issue. He was
Maurie Hearn. The stamps were
also displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by First Class Collectables.
On the
19th May 2002
Roger Merrett
became the first Bear to be inducted into the
combined Hall of Fame at a luncheon at the Town Hall. Along with 15 new
inductees, taking the total inductees to 38. Haydn Bunton became the first
"Legend". A cover by First Class
Collectibles was released to commemorate the event. (see below) Other covers to
honour
Kevin Murray
,
Gary Wilson
and
Allan Ruthven were
also released. |
|
The Annual 2003 Premiership Players
Club P stamp Sheet of 20 players was released on the 26th March 2003. The
Fitzroy player featured were
Laurie Bickerton.
On the 22nd June 2006
John Murphy
and
Wilfred Smallhorn
were inducted into the
AFL Hall of Fame. |
In 2007 the Fitzroy Historical Society produced a
Souvenir Stamp Sheet with ten 50c Kangaroo and flag stamps with "Superboot" in the
selvedge. Fitzroy, a foundation member of the VFL, had amalgamated with the
Brisbane Bears to become the Brisbane Lions. Bernie Quinlan played 189 games
with Fitzroy and kicked 576 goals. He was already an established star when
he came to Fitzroy after 178 games for Footscray. He played three times for
Victoria while at Fitzroy. He shared the 1981 Brownlow Medal with Barry
Round. |
|
|
|
|