Benchwarmer wrote: They were close to becoming the Brisbane Lions at least once before. IIRC there was talk about them going north back in the mid to late 70s and also around 1986 in the Melbourne press. I have a documentary on video somewhere where it was stated that they almost got into a fight with South over who was heading to Sydney towards the end of the Lions' Junction Oval days.
Not quite. The Lions investigated a move to Sydney in 1979 under the presidency of Frank Bibby. Fitzroy canvassed the possibility with the VFL and discussed it at board level before looking at possible grounds and social club venues. In fact Fitzroy made plans to establish a social club in North Sydney. In fact Fitzroy was probably better prepared than South Melbourne was in 1982. They had a sponsor organised, financial support from one of the banks in return for bank represeantation on the board, the name "Sydney Lions" registered and a fair bit of support from the VFL for the move which meant that a licence fee would not have to be paid, as happened wheh the Sydney Swans were privatised. .
The Fitzroy committee at that stage didnt have the power to make the move. The members, on the basis that Fitzroy had made the finals in 1979 and finished fourth, rejected the move.
Benchwarmer wrote: Headliners on Foxtel covered the expansion of the VFL in some good detail and in the episode titled the Birth of the Eagles there is the recollection of the day that the vote to go to 14 clubs occurred. Leon Weigard (FFC President) was in a side room before that meeting telling Ross the Boss and his offsiders that they were going to announce that they were folding in the media in the next day or so. Rosco said something along the lines of "there are 8 million reasons why you should say nothing, go in there and vote yes instead".
As its' share of the licence fee Fitzroy would have received about $600,000. In 1986 Tne Fitzroy board had actually voted 5-3 in favor of moving to Brisbane to become the Brisbane Lions. The pl;ayer list was supportive of the move and because the club had moved to company limited by guiuarantee (in other words they had shareholders), the decision had been taken out of the members' hands. The club was approached by Hecron with a proposal to buy the club and pay off all the clubs debts. As a result Fitzroy changed its mind about moving to Brisbane, only to have the commission refuse the Hecron deal. Weigard in fact said on the night of the vote in October 1986 he would vote for WA's entry into the competition if the League would guarantee bank loans for Fitzroy in the next couple of years. Which they did. The licence fee and the loans saved Fitzroy at that time.
Benchwarmer wrote: One other problem with identity is the nomadic nature of FFC in some people's eyes since 1996.
Most people don't even know that the Fitzroy Football Club still exists. I don't think there has been any suggestion of the FFC being nomadic since 1996. They're certainly much less nomadic that in the years from 1966-1996. Any linkage the FFC has made had been concentrated in a very small geographic area ranging from Coburg to Fitzroy.
Benchwarmer wrote: They linked up with Coburg as the Coburg-Fitzroy Lions for 1-2 seasons
At the Coburg City Oval. I used to watch Coburg-Fitzroy and was involved in helping Fitzroy establish their link with Coburg.
Benchwarmer wrote: soon after the takeover/merger/rape (whatever you want to call it), linked themselves with amateur club University (now Fitzroy) Reds
With their home ground just down the road from the Coburg Cuity Oval at the Brunswick St Oval, Fitzroy's home from 1883-1966.
Benchwarmer wrote: and around the new millennium raised their level of profile in Victoria with the Brisbane AFL club from minimal to significant - the old board being the only real vocal group until then.
No I don't agree with this at all. The Fitzroy Football Club board had more profile before 2001, a such as the alignment with Coburg in the VFL Since 2001 and events like the Fitzroy Team of the Century night, the amount of Fitzroy people that now support the Brisbane Lions has signficantly increased reducing the clout and influence of the Fitzroy board.
Benchwarmer wrote: The Reds still have good support though, but the only FFC currently playing footy are the Reds and the junior club in the Yarra Junior FL and that's the way it will be for some time yet.
Yes, I understand that. I watch the Reds on a regular basis and my children play (or have played) with the Juniors.
Benchwarmer wrote:One would have hated to have worked around the club in 1996. I had an acquaintance who volunteered his services as a trainer in the 80s and 90s and some of the stories he told about repossessions, etc. during their last season as Fitzroy were bizarre to say the least.
I was around the club too in 1996. I was a shareholder of Fitzroy at that time. I still am.
. Interesting that on a Collingwood home game, it seems it's more important for Eddie that Collingwood wear their 2007 home outfit and make St Kilda wear white on heritage round.
