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Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions logo 2010.svg
Names
Full name Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club Limited, trading as Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club
2024 season
After finals AFL: Premiers
AFLW:
Home-and-away season AFL: 5th
AFLW: 3rd
Leading goalkicker AFL: Joe Daniher (61)
AFLW:
Best and fairest AFL: Lachie Neale
AFLW:
Club details
Founded 1 November 1996

From the incorporated AFL operations of:

Fitzroy Football Club (formed 1883)

Brisbane Bears (formed 1987)
Colours      Maroon      Blue      Gold
Competition AFL: Senior men
AFLW: Senior women
VFL: Reserves men
Chairman Andrew Wellington
CEO Greg Swann
Coach AFL: Chris Fagan
AFLW: Craig Starcevich
VFL: Ben Hudson
Captain(s) AFL: Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale
AFLW: Breanna Koenen
Premierships AFL (4)
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2024
AFLW (2)
  • 2021
  • 2023
Reserves (5)
  • 2001
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2017
  • 2019
Ground(s) AFL: The Gabba (1997–present)
AFLW: Springfield Central Stadium (8,000)
VFL: Springfield Central Stadium
Training ground(s) Springfield Central Stadium (2022–present)
Uniforms
Home
Away
Clash
Other information
Official website lions.com.au
Current season

The Brisbane Lions are a professional Australian rules football club from Brisbane, Queensland. They play in the Australian Football League (AFL), which is the top competition for the sport. The Lions are the current AFL champions, having won the 2024 Grand Final by a big margin.

The club was formed in 1996. This happened when the Brisbane Bears, a team started in 1987, joined forces with the Fitzroy team. Fitzroy was one of the original clubs from Melbourne, Victoria, started way back in 1883. The Lions' team colours – maroon, blue, and gold – come from both the Fitzroy and Bears teams.

The Brisbane Lions play their home games at the Gabba in Brisbane. Their main office and training area are at Springfield Central Stadium. The Lions were one of the most successful AFL clubs in the early 2000s. They played in four Grand Finals in a row from 2001 to 2004. During this time, they won three championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003. They also came second in 2023 and won their fourth championship in 2024.

The Lions were also one of the first teams in the AFL Women's competition, which started in 2017. They have played in five AFLW Grand Finals, winning championships in 2021 and 2023. They also have a men's reserve team that plays in the Victorian Football League.

Club History: How the Lions Were Formed

Fitzroy Football Club's Story

The Fitzroy Football Club started in Melbourne on September 26, 1883. They joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1884. Their colours were maroon and blue.

Fitzroy 1898 premiers
Fitzroy's 1898 championship-winning team.

Fitzroy quickly became a very successful team. They often finished in the top four and attracted large crowds to their home ground, the Brunswick Street Oval. They won the VFA championship in 1895.

In 1897, Fitzroy was one of eight clubs that left the VFA to form the Victorian Football League (VFL). They continued to be strong in the VFL's early years. They won eight championships in total. Seven of these (1898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, and 1922) were when they were called the Maroons. They won one more (1944) when they were known as the Gorillas. Many famous players, like Haydn Bunton Sr., won the Brownlow Medal while playing for Fitzroy.

Haydn Bunton Snr leap
Haydn Bunton Sr. won three Brownlow Medals playing for Fitzroy.

The club changed its nickname to the Lions in 1957. But after they had to leave their home ground in 1965, the team started to struggle. They had many losing seasons and financial problems. In the 1960s and 1970s, they often finished near the bottom of the ladder. In 1964, they didn't win a single game, which is very rare in VFL/AFL history.

Even though they improved in the 1980s, making the finals four times, their money problems continued. The VFL wanted Fitzroy to move or merge with another club, possibly in Brisbane. Fitzroy didn't want to move, and by 1996, they were in serious financial trouble.

Brisbane Bears (1987–1996)

Carrara stadium
Carrara Stadium was the first home ground for the Brisbane Bears.

The Brisbane Bears started in 1987. They first played their home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast. In their early years, the Bears weren't very good and struggled to attract fans. People sometimes called them "The Carrara Koalas" or "The Bad News Bears."

The club faced big money problems. In 1991, the owner even thought about closing the club down. The Bears finished last in 1990 and 1991.

To survive, the Bears started playing some games at the Gabba in Brisbane in 1991. By 1993, all their home games were played there. When they moved to Brisbane, more people joined as members and attended games.

The Bears only made the finals in 1995 and 1996. Their best result was reaching a preliminary final in 1996. Despite having talented young players like Michael Voss, Justin Leppitsch, and Jason Akermanis, the club was still in financial trouble. Since 1990, the Bears had been looking into merging with Fitzroy.

Brisbane Lions Are Born (1996)

Fitzroy had almost merged with the North Melbourne Football Club. But other club presidents voted against it, fearing an all-Victorian team would be too strong. Instead, Fitzroy was put under special management, and it was decided that their AFL operations would merge with the Brisbane Bears.

The new club was named the Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club, but it traded as the Brisbane Lions. They continued to play at the Gabba. The new club used Fitzroy's identity, including their logo, team song, and jersey design. Three people from Fitzroy joined the new club's board.

Eight players from Fitzroy were allowed to join the Brisbane Lions directly. These included Brad Boyd and Chris Johnson.

Fitzroy played its last VFL/AFL game on September 1, 1996. The Bears played their last game on September 21, 1996. The Brisbane Lions officially started on November 1, 1996, and joined the national competition in 1997.

Brisbane Lions History

Performance Chart AFL BRL
Chart of yearly ladder positions for Brisbane Lions in AFL.

Early Years: 1997–2000

In 1997, the Lions just made it into the finals, finishing eighth. They were the first team in VFL/AFL history to reach the finals in their very first season. However, they lost their first finals game.

Despite having good players, the merger and injuries caused problems. The Lions finished last in 1998. Because of this, their coach, John Northey, was replaced. The club then hired Leigh Matthews, a legendary player and coach who had led Collingwood to a championship in 1990.

Matthews helped the Lions connect with their Fitzroy past. He made sure Fitzroy's history was shown at the Gabba. Within a year, the Lions went from last place to fourth. In 1999, they won their first finals games as the merged club. They reached the preliminary final but lost to the Kangaroos. The Lions also made the finals in 2000.

During this time, the club brought in key players who would help them win many championships. These included Luke Power, Jonathan Brown, and Simon Black. They also got experienced players like Brad Scott and Martin Pike.

Triple Championship Success: 2001–2004

MichaelVoss
Michael Voss was captain when Brisbane won three championships in a row.

The Lions started 2001 by reaching the final of the pre-season competition. They lost that game. After a mixed start to their 2001 season, the Lions played against the reigning champions, Essendon. Brisbane won, and their coach, Leigh Matthews, famously used a quote from the movie Predator to motivate his team: "if it bleeds, we can kill it." After that, the Lions won 16 games in a row, finishing the year strong and earning a spot in the 2001 AFL Grand Final against Essendon.

2001 AFL Grand Final G B Total
Brisbane Lions 15 18 108
Essendon 12 10 82
Venue: MCG Crowd: 91,482

Even though they were considered underdogs, Brisbane started the Grand Final well. Essendon fought back and took the lead in the second quarter. The Lions' inaccurate kicking almost cost them the game. However, Brisbane came back strongly in the third quarter, kicking six goals to one. They turned a 14-point deficit into a 16-point lead. The Lions' speed and Essendon's tired players helped Brisbane take control. The Lions won their first championship easily, with a final score of 15.18 (108) to 12.10 (82). Lions player Shaun Hart won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player in the Grand Final.

2002 AFL Grand Final G B Total
Brisbane Lions 10 15 75
Collingwood 9 12 66
Venue: MCG Crowd: 91,817

In 2002, the Lions won a club record 17 games. They were usually in the top two teams. In the finals, they easily won their home games, reaching their second Grand Final in a row. They played against Collingwood. Brisbane won 10.15 (75) to 9.12 (66) in cold and wet weather. The Lions had to play most of the game with fewer players on the bench due to injuries.

In 2003, the Lions made history by winning three championships in a row. This was the first time a team had done this since the AFL was formed. Many Lions players had injuries, and they had lost to Collingwood a few weeks before. But they played brilliantly in the Grand Final, beating Collingwood easily. The final score was 20.14 (134) to 12.12 (84). Simon Black won the Norm Smith Medal for his amazing performance, getting 39 possessions, which was a record for a Grand Final.

2003 AFL Grand Final G B Total
Brisbane Lions 20 14 134
Collingwood 12 12 84
Venue: MCG Crowd: 79,451
Fitzroy Cricket Ground Grandstand
Brunswick Street Oval is considered the spiritual home of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions.

After winning each championship, the club took the premiership cups to Brunswick Street Oval in Fitzroy. This was the old home of the Fitzroy Football Club. This helped connect with Fitzroy supporters in Melbourne who now supported the Brisbane Lions.

2004 AFL Grand Final G B Total
Port Adelaide 17 11 113
Brisbane Lions 10 13 73
Venue: MCG Crowd: 77,671

In 2004, Brisbane stayed at the top of the ladder. They reached the finals in second place. They had to travel to Melbourne to play Geelong in the preliminary final, even though they finished higher. This was due to a contract with the MCG. Despite this, Brisbane beat Geelong and reached their fourth Grand Final in a row. They played against Port Adelaide, who were in their first Grand Final. Port Adelaide won by 40 points. This was the first Grand Final where both teams were from outside Victoria.

Rebuilding and Michael Voss: 2005–2013

Traininghard
Players training in 2007.

The Lions had a tough start to the 2005 season but improved later in the year. However, they lost their last three games and missed the finals. Their season ended with a huge 139-point loss to St Kilda, which was the club's biggest defeat ever. Many people thought this game, not the 2004 Grand Final loss, marked the end of their championship era.

Injuries hurt the team in 2006, and they missed the finals again. In 2007, they reached the pre-season Grand Final but lost. They still missed the main finals for the third year in a row. In 2008, the team continued to struggle. After 10 seasons and three championships, Coach Leigh Matthews resigned. Former player and captain Michael Voss was appointed as the new coach for 2009.

In 2009, the Lions started slowly but then won many games to finish sixth on the ladder. They beat Carlton in their first finals game, coming back from 30 points down. But they lost to the Western Bulldogs in the next game.

In 2010, the club brought in star player Brendan Fevola. The Lions won their first four games and were top of the ladder. But they only won three more games after that, finishing 13th. Fevola was sacked after just one season, which caused problems for the team. In 2011, the Lions won only four games and finished 15th. This was their worst season since 1998.

By 2012, only two players from the triple-championship team were still playing: Simon Black and Jonathan Brown.

The 2013 season started well for Brisbane. They won the pre-season NAB Cup. However, they lost their first two regular season games. Injuries also affected the team. In Round 13, Brisbane had an amazing comeback against Geelong. They were 52 points down in the third quarter but won by 5 points with a goal after the siren by Ash McGrath. This game became known as the "Miracle on Grass."

On August 13, 2013, coach Michael Voss was told his contract would not be extended. On October 18, 2013, Lions legend Simon Black announced his retirement.

Under Justin Leppitsch: 2014–2016

On August 25, 2013, former Lions player Justin Leppitsch became the new senior coach.

In 2014, Lions captain Jonathan Brown suffered a serious facial injury and retired from football. With his retirement and Ash McGrath's retirement, there were no players left from the triple-championship era.

On August 29, 2016, Leppitsch was sacked as coach after several disappointing seasons.

Building Under Chris Fagan: 2017–2022

On October 4, 2016, Chris Fagan was announced as Brisbane's new senior coach.

The Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. However, they showed signs of improvement with many close losses.

In 2019, the Lions had a much better season. They made the finals for the first time since 2009 and finished second on the ladder. But they lost both their finals games at the Gabba. They lost to Richmond and then to Greater Western Sydney by just three points.

Brisbane continued their strong form in 2020, again finishing second. They won 14 games in a shorter season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They beat Richmond in their qualifying final, reaching a preliminary final. But they lost to Geelong, missing out on playing for a championship in their home stadium.

After a mixed start to 2021, the Lions won seven games in a row and were in the top four for most of the year. In the final round, a late score helped them move into fourth place, securing a spot in the top four for the third year in a row under Chris Fagan. However, they lost both their finals games again, to Melbourne and then to the Western Bulldogs by just one point.

Brisbane made the finals again in 2022, finishing sixth. They hosted Richmond in an Elimination Final and won a very close game by two points. They then upset the reigning champions, Melbourne, in the Semi-Final, winning 92–79. This sent them to their second Preliminary Final under Fagan, where they played Geelong again. Unfortunately, their great finals run ended with a 71-point loss to Geelong.

Back-to-Back Grand Finals and 2024 Champions: 2023–Present

Brisbane added new star players like Josh Dunkley and Jack Gunston for the 2023 AFL season. Chris Fagan also signed a new contract. Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews became the new co-captains.

Brisbane finished the 2023 season in second place. They beat Port Adelaide by 48 points in their first final, moving straight to a home preliminary final. They then beat Carlton by 16 points to reach the AFL Grand Final for the first time since 2004. This meant they would play Collingwood, exactly 20 years after their 2003 Grand Final match.

The Lions narrowly lost the 2023 Grand Final to Collingwood in a very close game, 13.8 (86) to 12.18 (90).

2023 AFL Grand Final G B Total
Collingwood 12 18 90
Brisbane Lions 13 8 86
Venue: MCG Crowd: 100,024

The Lions had a tough start to the 2024 AFL season, winning only 2 of their first 7 games and having many key players injured. However, they made an amazing comeback, winning nine games in a row at one point. They finished fifth on the ladder and qualified for finals for the sixth year in a row. They beat Carlton in a home Elimination Final.

In the Semi-Final, the Lions made history against the Giants. They were 44 points behind in the third quarter but still won 15.15 (105) to 15.10 (100). This was one of the biggest finals comebacks ever. Their victory sent them to their fourth Preliminary Final under Fagan, where they faced Geelong at the MCG. The Lions came back from 25 points down to beat Geelong 14.11 (95) to 12.13 (85), reaching their second Grand Final in a row.

2024 AFL Grand Final G B Total
Brisbane Lions 18 12 120
Sydney Swans 9 6 60
Venue: MCG Crowd: 100,013

The Lions played against the Sydney Swans in the 2024 AFL Grand Final. They won by a huge margin, 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60). This win was their first championship since 2003. The Lions became only the second team to win the championship from outside the top four under the current finals system. Will Ashcroft won the Norm Smith Medal for being the best player in the Grand Final. At 20 years old, he was the second youngest player ever to win this award.

Club Identity

Emblem

The Eastern end of The Gabba at sunset during an AFL game
A 2019 match between Brisbane and the Sydney Swans at the Gabba, Brisbane's home ground.
Fitzroy passant lion
The Fitzroy lion became the emblem of the Brisbane Lions.

In 1997, the club introduced its first emblem, which was the golden Fitzroy Lion on a maroon and blue badge. This emblem was used until 2000. In 2001, a new emblem was revealed. It was shaped like a football with "Brisbane Lions" written on it. The Fitzroy Lion was placed inside the "o" of Lions. This emblem was used until 2009. Then, the emblem changed again to a forward-facing lion's head.

Guernseys (Jerseys)

  • Home Guernsey: This jersey is mostly maroon with a blue section on the shoulders. It features a golden Fitzroy Lion. It has a gold collar and cuffs. For home games, maroon shorts are worn. In the AFL Grand Final, if the Lions are the away team, they wear white shorts with this jersey.
  • Away Guernsey: This jersey is mostly red with a blue section on the shoulders. It features a golden Fitzroy lion. It has a blue collar and cuffs. This design is based on Fitzroy's last colours in the AFL. White shorts are worn with this jersey. It's mostly used in games outside of Queensland, except against the Suns, Giants, and Swans.
  • Clash Guernsey: This jersey is mostly gold. It has a maroon Fitzroy lion on a gold background, which reminds people of the Bears' first jersey. It has a maroon section on the shoulders and golden cuffs. This jersey is only worn when playing against the Suns and the Giants. The same shorts as the Away Guernsey are worn.

Mascot

The club's mascot used to be Bernie "Gabba" Vegas until 2015. Then, Roy the Lion took over. Roy is named after the nickname for Fitzroy fans. In 2021, the club also introduced a lioness mascot named Auroara.

Song

The club's team song is called "The Pride of Brisbane Town." It is based on the Fitzroy Football Club song, which was written by former Fitzroy player Bill Stephen. The song uses the tune of "La Marseillaise," which is the French national anthem.

Training Base

Brighton Homes Arena Ipswich QLD during 2022 Season 7 AFLW Grand Final
Springfield Central Stadium is the training base for the Brisbane Lions and the home ground for their AFLW team.

From 1997 to 2022, the club trained at the Gabba during the football season. However, because of the cricket season in summer, the club had to train at different places throughout the year. This meant they didn't have one permanent home. In 2020, the club announced they would move their training and offices to Springfield Central Stadium (also known as Brighton Homes Arena). This is a modern facility in Ipswich that can hold 8,000 people. It allows the club to train and play reserve-grade and AFLW matches all in one place. The Lions moved into this new facility in October 2022.

Rivalries

Collingwood

Aussie rules wikipedia
The Lions playing against Collingwood in a 1960s Fitzroy jersey for the 2003 heritage round.

Before 1996, Fitzroy and Collingwood were big rivals for over 100 years. They were both very successful in the early days of the VFL. The rivalry between the Bears and Collingwood started in 1993 when star player Nathan Buckley left the Bears to join Collingwood.

The rivalry between the Lions and the Magpies became very strong in the early 2000s. The two clubs played against each other in two Grand Finals in a row, in 2002 and 2003. The Lions won both of those games. They met again in the 2023 Grand Final, 20 years after their 2003 match. This time, Collingwood won.

Gold Coast Suns

The Brisbane Lions have a rivalry with the Gold Coast Suns, another AFL team from Queensland. These two teams play each other twice every season in a game called the QClash. The first QClash was in 2011.

The best player in each QClash game wins the Marcus Ashcroft Medal. It's named after Marcus Ashcroft, who played for the Brisbane Bears/Lions for many years. The trophy for the winner of the game is called the "QClash Trophy."

Port Adelaide

The Port Adelaide Football Club joined the AFL in 1997, at the same time Fitzroy merged with Brisbane. This caused some hard feelings among supporters.

In their early years, the two clubs had many close games, even two draws. In the early 2000s, their rivalry was at its peak because they were both very strong teams. Between 2001 and 2004, they played each other in a pre-season Grand Final, a qualifying final, a preliminary final, and the 2004 Grand Final.

Honours

Club Honours

Fitzroy-Brisbane Lions historical society at Docklands stadium, Melbourne
The Historical Society at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, shows the history of Fitzroy, the Bears, and the Brisbane Lions.
Championships
Competition Team Wins Seasons Won
Australian Football League Senior Men's 4 2001, 2002, 2003, 2024
AFL Women's Senior Women's 2 2021, 2023
Reserves Teams Men's Reserves 5 2001, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019
Other Trophies
AFL Pre-season Competition Senior Men's 1 2013
AFLX Tournament Senior Men's 1 2018

Individual Awards

Team of the Decade

In 2006, to celebrate ten years of the Brisbane Lions, a "Team of the Decade" was announced. This team included the best players from the club's first ten years.

Team of the Decade
Backs: Chris Johnson Mal Michael Darryl White
Half-Backs: Marcus Ashcroft Justin Leppitsch Chris Scott
Midfielders: Nigel Lappin Michael Voss (c) Brad Scott
Half-Forwards: Jason Akermanis Jonathan Brown Craig McRae
Forwards: Luke Power Alastair Lynch Daniel Bradshaw
Followers: Clark Keating Simon Black Shaun Hart
Interchange: Martin Pike Tim Notting Jamie Charman Richard Champion
Coach: Leigh Matthews

Hall of Fame Legends

The Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame recognizes players and coaches who have made a huge impact on the club. Some are given the highest honour of "Legend."

Name Year Inducted as Legend
Bunton Sr., HaydnHaydn Bunton Sr. 2012
Murray, KevinKevin Murray 2012
Voss, MichaelMichael Voss 2014
Wilson, GarryGarry Wilson 2016
Black, SimonSimon Black 2023
Brown, JonathanJonathan Brown 2023

Club Facts

Coaches (Men's Team)

No. Coach Years
1 John Northey 1997–1998
2 Roger Merrett 1998
3 Leigh Matthews 1999–2008
4 John Blakey 2005 (one game)
5 Michael Voss 2009–2013
6 Mark Harvey 2013 (three games)
7 Justin Leppitsch 2014–2016
8 Chris Fagan 2017–present

Captains (Men's Team)

Captain Image Season(s) Achievements
Lynch, AlastairAlastair Lynch Colour photograph of Alastair Lynch in 2018 1997–2000 (co-captain)
Voss, MichaelMichael Voss Colour photograph of Michael Voss in 2008 1997–2000 (co-captain)
2001–2006 (sole captain)
  • 3× AFL premiership captain: 2001, 2002, 2003
  • Australian Football Hall of Fame
Black, SimonSimon Black Colour photograph of Simon Black in 2008 2007–2008 (co-captain)
Brown, JonathanJonathan Brown Colour photograph of Jonathan Brown in 2012 2007–2008 (co-captain)
2009–2012 (sole captain)
2013 (co-captain)
Johnson, ChrisChris Johnson Colour photograph of Chris Johnson 2007 (co-captain)
Lappin, NigelNigel Lappin 2007–2008 (co-captain)
Power, LukeLuke Power Colour photograph of Luke Power in 2008 2007–2008 (co-captain)
Adcock, JedJed Adcock Colour photograph of Jed Adcock in 2016 2013 (co-captain)
2014 (sole captain)
Rockliff, TomTom Rockliff Colour photograph of Tom Rockliff in 2017 2015–2016
Beams, DayneDayne Beams Colour photograph of Dayne Beams in 2017 2017–2018
Zorko, DayneDayne Zorko Colour photograph of Dayne Zorko in 2017 2018–2022
Neale, LachieLachie Neale Colour photograph of Lauchie Neale in 2020 2023– (co-captain)
Andrews, HarrisHarris Andrews Colour photograph of Harris Andrews in 2018 2023– (co-captain)

Captains (Women's Team)

Captain Image Season(s) Achievements
Zielke, EmmaEmma Zielke Colour photograph of Emma Zielke in 2017 2017–2018, 2020–2021 AFLW premiership captain: 2021
Kaslar, LeahLeah Kaslar Colour photograph of Leah Kaslar in 2017 2019
Koenen, BreannaBreanna Koenen Colour photograph of Breanna Koenen in 2023 2022 (S6)–present

Match Records (Men's Team)

  • Biggest win: 141 points – 29.15 (189) vs. Adelaide 6.12 (48) at the Gabba, July 24, 2004
  • Biggest loss: 139 points – 7.5 (47) vs. St Kilda 28.18 (186) at Docklands Stadium, August 27, 2005
  • Highest score: 29.15 (189) vs. Adelaide at the Gabba, July 24, 2004
  • Lowest score: 2.5 (17) vs. Richmond at Melbourne Cricket Ground, April 14, 2018
  • Most goals in one game by a player: Jonathan Brown, ten goals vs. Carlton at the Gabba, July 22, 2007

AFL Women's Team

AFLW S7 GF Lions commiseration huddle
Brisbane Lions AFLW team during the S7 Grand Final at Springfield Stadium.
AFLWGF 2023 - Koenen and Starcevich trophy
Captain Breanna Koenen and coach Craig Starcevich hold up the 2023 championship trophy.

In May 2016, the club decided to create a team for the new AFL Women's competition, which started in 2017. The Brisbane Lions were given a licence on June 15, 2016, making them one of the first eight teams in the league.

Tayla Harris and Sabrina Frederick-Traub were the first players to sign with the club. Emma Zielke was the team's first captain.

Former player and coach Craig Starcevich became the team's first head coach in June 2016.

The Lions have been a very successful team in the AFLW. They reached the finals in six of their first seven seasons. They narrowly lost Grand Finals in 2017, 2018, and 2022 (Season 7).

In 2021, the team finally won their first championship by beating their rivals, Adelaide, in the Grand Final.

In 2023, the Lions won their second championship by defeating North Melbourne. Captain Breanna Koenen was named the best player in that Grand Final.

The AFLW team plays their home games at Springfield Central Stadium in Ipswich.

Coaches (Women's Team)

No. Coach Years
1 Craig Starcevich 2017–present
2 Daniel Merrett 2020 (one game)

Season Summaries (AFLW)

Brisbane AFLW Honour Roll
Season Ladder Wins–Losses–Draws Finals Result Coach Captain(s) Best and Fairest Leading Goal Kicker
2017 1st 6–0–1 Runners-up Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke Emily Bates Kate McCarthy (9)
2018 2nd 4–3–0 Runners-up Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke Kate Lutkins Jess Wuetschner (13)
2019 9th ^ 2–5–0 Did Not Qualify Craig Starcevich Leah Kaslar Ally Anderson Jess Wuetschner (8)
2020 7th ^ 3–2–1 Qualifying Final Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke Emily Bates Jesse Wardlaw (9)
2021 2nd 7–2–0 Premiers Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke Ally Anderson Dakota Davidson (16)
2022 (S6) 3rd 8–2–0 Preliminary Final Craig Starcevich Breanna Koenen Emily Bates Greta Bodey (13)
2022 (S7) 1st 9–1–0 Runners-up Craig Starcevich Breanna Koenen Emily Bates Jesse Wardlaw (22)
2023 4th 7–3–0 Premiers Craig Starcevich Breanna Koenen Ally Anderson Dakota Davidson (23)

^ The ladder was split into two groups. The figure shows the club's overall position.
Daniel Merrett coached for one game in 2020, while Starcevich coached all other matches.

Brisbane Lions Academy

The Brisbane Lions Academy helps develop young football players for the club. It started in 2010 as one of four AFL Academies in the northern states.

The Academy has 28 staff members who work with about 220 young players, starting from age 12.

The boys' and girls' Under 16 and Under 18 teams have played in national championships since 2017. The Under 16 girls' team won their first championship in 2023.

The Lions Academy also joined the Talent League in 2019, which is a competition for talented young players.

Famous Academy Members

Harris Andrews Feb 2016
Local Brisbane player and Lions captain Harris Andrews was recruited through the club's Academy.

Many players who are now in the Brisbane Lions senior men's AFL team came from the Academy. These include Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood, and Keidean Coleman. Some players from the Academy have also gone on to play for other AFL clubs. Other Academy members have even become successful in different sports, like Kalyn Ponga (rugby league).

Many female players in the Brisbane Lions AFLW team also came from the Academy. These include Mikayla Pauga, Sophie Conway, and Belle Dawes.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Brisbane Lions para niños

  • Wikipedia listing of Brisbane Lions players
  • Merrett–Murray Medal
  • Australian rules football in Queensland
  • Sport in Queensland
  • Sport in Australia
  • Brisbane Broncos
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