Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club who play in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The club was formed in late 1996 from the merger of the Fitzroy Lions and the Brisbane Bears. The Lions are one of the most successful AFL clubs of the 21st century, having appeared in four consecutive AFL Grand Finals from 2001 to 2004 and winning three premierships.
The club plays home matches in the AFL at the Gabba and is captained by Dayne Zorko and coached by Chris Fagan. The Lions were a foundation team in the AFL Women's competition in 2017 and have featured in two grand finals in that time, finishing runners-up on both occasions.
The Brisbane Bears were the first south-east Queensland based team formed in the region. They played at their home ground at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast from 1987 to 1992 before relocating to the Gabba in 1993. The club continues to play its home games at the Gabba.
History
The Brisbane Lions were officially launched on 1 November 1996, joining the national competition in 1997.Beginnings: 1997–2000
In their first year as a combined club the Lions made the finals, finishing in eighth position after being defeated by the St Kilda Football Club in a qualifying final. The following year, however, they finished in last position, despite boasting a talented playing list.Triple premiership success: 2001–2003
As the Brisbane Lions, the club won its first AFL premiership in the 2001 AFL Grand Final, defeating Essendon 15.18 to 12.10. Lions utility player Shaun Hart won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final.In 2002, the Lions won back-to-back premierships when they defeated Collingwood 9.12 to 10.15 in the 2002 AFL Grand Final in cold and wet conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Early in the contest the Lions lost both ruckman Beau McDonald and utility player Martin Pike to injury and had to complete the match with a limited bench.
In 2003, the Lions would win their 3rd premiership in a row, and second in a row against the Collingwood Magpies. With a number of players under an injury cloud – and having lost to Collingwood in a qualifying final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground three weeks previously – the Lions went into the game as underdogs. However, they sealed their place in history as an AFL dynasty by thrashing the Magpies in cool but sunny conditions. At one stage in the final quarter the Lions led by almost 80 points before relaxing when the match was well and truly won, allowing Collingwood to score the last four goals. The final score of 20.14 to 12.12 saw the club become only the fourth in VFL/AFL history to win three consecutive premierships and the first since the creation of the AFL. Simon Black claimed the Norm Smith Medal with a dominant 39 possession match, the most possessions ever gathered by a player in a grand final.
The 2004 season saw Brisbane remain in the top portion of the ladder for most of the season. Reaching the finals in second position, Brisbane controversially had to travel to Melbourne to play against Geelong in the preliminary final, due to a contract between the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Australian Football League that required one preliminary final to be played each year at the MCG. Port Adelaide had finished on top of the ladder and hosted the other preliminary final in Adelaide. Despite this setback, Brisbane beat Geelong and reached the AFL Grand Final for the fourth consecutive year. Their opponents, Port Adelaide, playing in their first ever grand final, were too good on the day and recorded a 40-point win.
Rebuild 2005–2008
The Lions began the 2006 season optimistically, but injuries again plagued the club, whose players recorded an AFL record total of 200 matches lost to injury for the season.The Brisbane Lions finished runner up in the 2007 NAB Cup and then went on to create history by being the first team in the history of the AFL to have five co-captains. That year, the Lions failed to make the finals for a third successive year in 2007.
The Lions began the 2008 NAB Cup shakily, losing to Essendon by 27 points. The team struggled for the season and missed out on the finals with a 10–12 record, losing 3 games despite having at least 5 more scoring shots in each of those games. Coach Leigh Matthews resigned at the end of the season after 10 seasons and 3 premierships with the club.
Michael Voss: 2009–2013
The Lions made a good start in the 2009 NAB Cup under new senior coach Michael Voss by registering a 9-point win over St Kilda. However this was followed by a series of losses in the pre-season to Essendon, Melbourne and Richmond. Their season ended with a 51-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.The 2009/2010 off-season was dominated by the arrival of Brendan Fevola from Carlton, and the hype was focused on Fevola and Jonathan Brown in the sense that the Lions could capitalise on their strong 2009 season. Indeed, the Lions won their first four matches of the 2010 season to be top of the ladder after four rounds, but they would only win three more games after that to crash to a lowly finish by season's end. One of those wins however, was against eventual premiers.
The Lions' 2010/2011 off-season was disrupted by the sacking of Fevola after just one season at the Lions, following repeated off-field indiscretions which included getting drunk in the Brisbane streets during New Year's Eve celebrations. On the field, the Lions won only four games for the year, but only one against any Victorian team, and that was, in Round 9. Despite their worst season since 1998, coach Michael Voss was granted a contract extension after the board recommended that Voss was the best man to take the club forward into the future. Leading into season 2012, only two players from the triple-premiership winning team of 2001–2003 remained: Simon Black and Jonathan Brown.
The 2013 season started well for Brisbane, defeating Carlton in the final of the NAB Cup, with Daniel Rich winning the Michael Tuck Medal for best on ground and Aaron Cornelius showing some good form. However, things began to decline from then, with losses to the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide. However, in the 5th QClash match against Gold Coast, the Lions won by two points, with Jonathan Brown winning the Marcus Ashcroft Medal. Injuries were beginning to take a toll, with young players Claye Beams and Jared Polec suffering severe injuries. In Round 13, Brisbane defeated second-placed Geelong, coming from 52 points down late in the third quarter to win by 5 points due to an Ash McGrath goal after the siren in his 200th match.
On 13 August 2013, coach Michael Voss was told that his contract would not be renewed.
Playing under Justin Leppitsch: 2014–2016
On 25 August 2013, former premiership player of the Lions, Justin Leppitsch, was confirmed to be the senior coach of the Lions for the next 3 seasons starting in 2014On 18 October 2013, Brisbane Lions legend Simon Black announced his retirement.
During round 13, 2014 Lions captain Jonathan Brown was the victim of a facial injury in a clash between the Lions and the Greater Western Sydney Giants. He collided with Tomas Bugg's knee and was taken off the ground. He suffered a concussion, which caused his retirement from football. Along with the retirement of Ashley McGrath in August 2014, no active players remain from any of the club's triple-premiership winning sides.
On 29 August 2016, Leppitsch was sacked as coach of the Lions.
Chris Fagan era: 2017–present
On 4 October 2016, Hawthorn football manager Chris Fagan was announced as Brisbane's senior coach from the 2017 season onwards. The Lions claimed the 2017 wooden spoon and won just ten games in Fagan's first two seasons as coach, but would improve immeasurably in his third year. Due to the positivity in which Fagan coaches his team, the Lions had a magnificent 2019 season, making the finals for the first time in ten years and finishing second on the AFL ladder with 16 wins, behind minor premiers Geelong on percentage. However, Brisbane were bundled out of the finals in straight sets at the Gabba, losing to eventual premiers Richmond by 47 points in the second qualifying final and then to eventual runners-up Greater Western Sydney by three points in the second semi-final due to a late Brett Daniels goal. The Lions would become the first team since Geelong in 1997 to finish second on the ladder and not progress to a preliminary final.Corporate
Membership base and sponsorship
Crowds and memberships for the Brisbane Lions grew dramatically during the four seasons in which they made the AFL Grand Final. Since then, with the team being less successful, attendances have declined, but have remained stable over the past three seasons. In 2009 the Lions found it so difficult to sell corporate boxes that they resorted to doing so on a game-by-game basis. 2017 memberships were the lowest the club has had since 2012.Statistics highlighted in bold denote the best known season for Brisbane in that category
Statistics highlighted in italic denote the worst known season for Brisbane in that category
Non-playing/coaching staff
| Name | Position |
| Greg Swann | Chief Executive Officer |
| Andrew Wellington | Chairman |
| Sarah Kelly | Deputy chairman |
| Cyril Jinks | Directors |
| Leigh Matthews | Directors |
| Peter McGregor | Directors |
| Mick Power | Directors |
| Directors | |
| Ross Thornton | Directors |
| David Noble | General Manager of Football |
| Dom Ambrogio | List Manager |
| Andrew Crowell | Personal Excellence and Wellbeing Manager |
| Damien Austin | High Performance Manager |
| Stephen Conole | Senior Recruiting Manager |
| Leon Harris | Recruitment Consultant |
Club identity
Emblem
In 1997 the club unveiled its new merger emblem it would consist of the iconic golden Fitzroy Lion on a badge of Maroon and Blue. The club used this from 1997 to the end of 2001 after their first premiership. In 2002 the club would unveil a new emblem in the shape of a football with the words "Brisbane Lions" in the middle with the golden Lion placed inside the O of Lion. The club continued the use of this emblem until the 2010 season when they changed the entire emblem dropping the golden Lion and replaced it with a cartoon style Lions head. The club also removed the golden Lion from the team guernseys and introduced the new emblem on the body of the original Lion. The change was met with much backlash as many supporters dubbed the new emblem the "Paddle Pop Lion" after the popular ice cream of the same name. In 2014 after overwhelming response from the supporters the club dropped the new emblem from their guernseys and reintroduced the classic golden Lion which they wore from 1997 until 2010, though the club has kept the current emblem for all club related advertising and marketing.Guernseys
The three types of guernseys prominently worn are:- Home guernsey : Maroon and blue based guernsey with original Fitzroy lion, coloured gold and maroon. Ned's is the sponsor on the front and Oaks Hotels & Resorts is the sponsor on the back. The Lions also wore this jumper from 1997 to 2009 before switching to a more 'modern' lion.
- Away guernsey : Red and blue based guernsey with original Fitzroy lion, coloured gold and red. Ned's is the sponsor on the front and Oaks Hotels & Resorts is the sponsor on the back. The Lions also wore this jumper from 2008 to 2009 before switching to a more 'modern' lion.
- Clash guernsey : Reminiscent of the Bears’ final guernsey, this guernsey features maroon, yellow and white with original Fitzroy lion, coloured maroon and gold. Ned's is the sponsor on the front and Oaks Hotels & Resorts is the sponsor on the back.
Mascot
The Lion's Mascot Manor representative and club mascot is Bernie "Gabba" Vegas, a caricature of a lion dressed in Brisbane Lions jumper, sunglasses, wide lapels, and flares, designed to resemble Elvis Presley.
Song
The club's team song, "The Pride of Brisbane Town", is based on the Fitzroy club song, and is sung to the music of "La Marseillaise", the French national anthem:We are the pride of Brisbane town,
we wear maroon, blue and gold,
we will always fight for victory,
like Fitzroy and Bears of old,
all for one, and one for all,
we will answer to the call,
go Lions, Brisbane Lions,
we'll kick the winning score,
you'll hear our mighty roar!
Training base
The club has trained out of the Gabba during the football season for every year of its existence. The club's administrative facilities are located in the stadium. Due to the cricket season in the summer, the club has been required to train out of alternate locations, such as Coorparoo and Burpengary. In 2021 the club will move into The Reserve, Springfield, a 10,000-capacity high-class facility in Ipswich that will ensure the club can base itself in the single location and play reserve-grade and AFLW matches at the one location.Rivalries
Collingwood
Angst between supporters of Collingwood and Brisbane had been caused by plenty of history between the two clubs, despite the Brisbane Lions having a relatively short existence as a merged club. Pre-merger Fitzroy was a neighbouring suburb to Collingwood, with the boundary being based on Smith Street, along with the fact that Fitzroy and Collingwood topped the VFL/AFL premiership tally during the early existence of what was then the VFL competition. There was also animosity between the Brisbane Bears and the Magpies after the Bears' number one draft pick Nathan Buckley famously defected to Collingwood after one season on the Bears list, citing that he wanted to win premierships and play finals footy, and that Brisbane had no future. The Bears also lost their final regular season match in their final season to the Magpies, costing the Bears the minor premiership that season. However the rivalry between the Lions and the Magpies was properly ignited post-merger, it began in late 1999 when Collingwood played their last ever VFL/AFL game at their spiritual home ground, Victoria Park with the Lions emerging 42 point victors that day and consigning the Magpies to their second wooden spoon in their VFL/AFL history that day. The rivalry between the two clubs went to the next level as the clubs played off in two consecutive Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003, with the Lions emerging victors on both occasions. These grand final results further fueled the hatred that Collingwood supporters have towards the Brisbane Lions to this day, despite the Lions having a poor decade on the field after their golden era.Gold Coast
The Brisbane Lions have a rivalry with fellow Queensland AFL team the Gold Coast Suns. The two teams contest the QClash twice each season. The first QClash was held in 2011, with Gold Coast winning by 8 points; the game established the highest pay TV audience ever for an AFL game, with a total of 354,745 viewers watching the game.The medal for the player adjudged best on ground is known as the Marcus Ashcroft Medal. It is named after former footballer Marcus Ashcroft, who played junior football on the Gold Coast for Southport and 318 VFL/AFL games for the Brisbane Bears/Lions between 1989 and 2003. He later joined Gold Coast's coaching staff and was the first Queenslander to play 300 VFL/AFL games. Lion Dayne Beams has won the medal three times, the most by any player.
The trophy awarded to the winner of the game is currently known as the "QClash Trophy". The trophy is a "traditional style" looking silver cup with a wooden base and a plaque. The plaque's inscription reads from left to right, "Brisbane Lions AFC", "QCLASH", "Gold Coast Suns FC".
Port Adelaide
This rivalry dates back to 1997 the inaugural season of Port Adelaide and the newly merged Brisbane Lions. In the early days the two clubs couldn’t be separated and had many close encounters with a draw in their very first meeting. In the 2000s the rivalry reached its most tense when the two clubs would be the most dominant with the two meeting in a series of finals from 2001 to 2004 in which the Power ended the Lions chances of a fourth consecutive premiership. In recent years the rivalry has died down and seen very little interest but in 2019 the flame was relit when Port would “terrorise” one of Brisbane’s top players Lachie Neale.Honours
Individual
Club facts
Coaches
Men's
- John Northey: 1997–1998
- Roger Merrett: 1998
- Leigh Matthews: 1999–2008
- John Blakey: 2005
- Michael Voss: 2009–2013
- Mark Harvey: 2013
- Justin Leppitsch: 2014–2016
- Chris Fagan: 2017–present
Women's
- Craig Starcevich: 2017–present
- Daniel Merrett: 2020
Captains
Men's
- Michael Voss
- Alastair Lynch
- Chris Johnson
- Nigel Lappin
- Simon Black
- Luke Power
- Jonathan Brown
- Jed Adcock
- Tom Rockliff
- Dayne Beams
- Dayne Zorko
Women's
- Emma Zielke 2017–2018, 2020-
- Leah Kaslar 2019
Biggest home crowds
AFL finishing positions (1997–present)
Legend: Premiers, Wooden spoon| Finishing Position | Year | Tally |
| Premiers | 2001, 2002, 2003 | 3 |
| Runner-up | 2004 | 1 |
| 3rd | nil | 0 |
| 4th | 1999 | 1 |
| 5th | 2000, 2019 | 2 |
| 6th | 2009 | 1 |
| 7th | nil | 0 |
| 8th | 1997 | 1 |
| 9th | nil | 0 |
| 10th | 2007, 2008 | 2 |
| 11th | 2005 | 1 |
| 12th | 2013 | 1 |
| 13th | 2006, 2010, 2012 | 3 |
| 14th | nil | 0 |
| 15th | 2011, 2014, 2018 | 3 |
| 16th | 1998 | 1 |
| 17th | 2015, 2016 | 2 |
| 18th | 2017 | 1 |
Players
Current squad
Reserves team
The Brisbane Lions have entered a reserves team in the North East Australian Football League competition since 2011. The club had previously entered a reserves team in the local Queensland Australian Football League in 1998, known as the Lion Cubs but became the Suncoast Lions Football Club in 2004 and were based on the Sunshine Coast. They would win their first premiership in 2001 when they defeated the Southport Sharks in the QAFL Grand Final. A stand-alone Brisbane Lions reserves team was created in 2011 and began playing in the Northern Conference of the North East Australian Football League. In 2012, the Lions won the Northern Conference and overall NEAFL premierships, a feat which was repeated in 2013. The Lions reserves play home games at the South Pine Sports Complex in Brendale, a facility opened in 2016.Premierships
Season summaries
Statistics highlighted in bold denote the best known season for Brisbane in that categoryStatistics highlighted in italic denote the worst known season for Brisbane in that category
AFL Women's team
In May 2016, the club launched a bid to enter a team in the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017.The Brisbane Lions were granted a license on 15 June 2016, becoming one of eight teams to compete in the league's first season. Former AFL Queensland employee Breeanna Brock was appointed to the position of Women's CEO the following day.
Tayla Harris and Sabrina Frederick-Traub were the club's first signings, unveiled along with the league's other 14 marquee players on 27 July 2016. A further 23 senior players and two rookie players were added to the club's inaugural list in the league's drafting and signing period. Emma Zielke will captain the team for their inaugural season.
Former Collingwood and Brisbane Bears player and AFL Queensland coach Craig Starcevich was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in June 2016. The rest of the coaching team was announced on 8 November 2016 as David Lake as the midfield coach, Daniel Merrett as the backline coach and Brent Staker as the forward coach.
Existing club sponsor Hyundai, along with Epic Pharmacy, will sponsor the team in 2017.
The team plays its home games at the South Pine Sports Complex in Brendale.
Current squad
Non-playing/coaching staff
| Name | Position |
| Breeanna Brock | chief executive officer |
| Jess Blechnyden | Football Analyst |
| Lana McLoughan | Sports Psychologist |
| Michael Swann | Wellbeing Mentor |
| Matt Green | High Performance Manager |
| Tiernan Gamble | Strength and Condition Coordinator |
| Miranda O'Hara | Head of Medical |
| Tara Long | Physio |
| Jeremy Schoenmaker | Head Trainer |
| Kieran Miles | Doctor |