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Updated: 13/10/2008

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.

1996 Lions AFL Centenary Cover

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.

Fitzroy Brisbane Lions 2002 Hall of Fame Cover

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.