Brisbane Lions facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brisbane Lions
Names
Full name	Brisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club Limited, trading as Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club
2024 season
After finals	AFL: Premiers AFLW: Runners-up
Home-and-away season	AFL: 5th AFLW: 3rd
Leading goalkicker	AFL: Joe Daniher (61) AFLW: Taylor Smith (22)
Best and fairest	AFL: Lachie Neale AFLW: Ally Anderson
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	Sam Graham
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 team from Brisbane, Queensland. They play in the Australian Football League (AFL), which is the top competition for the sport. The Brisbane Lions are the current AFL champions, having won the 2024 Grand Final by a large margin.

The Lions team was formed in 1996. This happened when the Brisbane Bears, a team started in 1987, joined with the Fitzroy team. Fitzroy was one of the original clubs from Melbourne, Victoria, founded in 1883. The Lions' team colors (maroon, blue, and gold) come from both the Fitzroy and Bears teams.

The club plays its home games at the Gabba in Brisbane. Their main office and training facilities are at Springfield Central Stadium. The Lions were very successful in the early 2000s. They played in four Grand Finals in a row from 2001 to 2004, winning three championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003. They also finished second in 2023 and won their fourth championship in 2024.

The Lions also have a team in the AFL Women's competition, which started in 2017. They have played in five 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 and Formation

Fitzroy Football Club's Early Years

The Fitzroy Football Club started in Melbourne on September 26, 1883. They joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1884. Fitzroy quickly became a very successful team, often finishing in the top four. They won the VFA championship in 1895.

Fitzroy's 1898 championship-winning team.

In 1897, Fitzroy was one of eight clubs that created the Victorian Football League (VFL). They continued to be strong in the VFL's early days, winning eight championships in total. Seven of these (1898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922) were won when they were called the Maroons. They won one more (1944) as the Gorillas. Many great players, including six Brownlow Medal winners, played for Fitzroy.

Haydn Bunton Sr. was a famous Fitzroy player who won three Brownlow Medals.

The club changed its nickname to the Lions in 1957. However, after being forced to leave their home ground in 1965, Fitzroy faced many tough years. They often finished at the bottom of the league and had serious money problems. Despite a brief comeback in the 1980s, their financial situation remained very difficult. By 1996, Fitzroy was struggling to survive.

Brisbane Bears: A New Beginning

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

The Brisbane Bears team was created in 1987. They first played their home games at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast. In their early years, the Bears struggled to win games and were sometimes made fun of.

After some financial difficulties, the AFL took over the club. To help the team survive, the Bears started playing games at the Gabba in Brisbane in 1991. By 1993, all their home games were played there. This move helped the club a lot, as more people joined as members and attended games.

The Bears made it to the finals in 1995 and 1996. In 1996, they reached a preliminary final, which is just before the Grand Final. Despite getting better on the field and having talented young players like Michael Voss and Simon Black, the Bears still faced big money problems. Since 1990, they had been looking into joining with another team, like Fitzroy.

The Brisbane Lions Are Born

Fitzroy had almost agreed to join with the North Melbourne Football Club. However, this idea was rejected by the other clubs. Instead, Fitzroy's operations were merged with the Brisbane Bears.

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

Fitzroy played its last 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: A New Era

Early Years: 1997–2000

A chart showing the Brisbane Lions' yearly ladder positions in the AFL.

In 1997, the Lions just made it to the finals, finishing eighth. They lost their first final game. Despite having many talented players, the team struggled in 1998 and finished last. Because of this, their coach, John Northey, was replaced.

The club then hired Leigh Matthews as coach. Matthews was a legendary player and coach. He helped the Lions connect with their Fitzroy history. Within a year, the Lions went from last place to fourth. In 1999, they won their first finals games as the merged club before losing in the preliminary final. They also made the finals in 2000. During this time, the club brought in key players like Luke Power, Jonathan Brown, and Simon Black, who would become very important to their future success.

Triple Premiership Success: 2001–2004

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

The Lions had a great start to 2001, reaching the pre-season Grand Final. After a mixed start to the regular season, they beat the reigning champions, Essendon, in Round 10. Coach Leigh Matthews famously told his team, "if it bleeds, we can kill it," to motivate them. The Lions then won 16 games in a row, finishing the year strong and making it to the 2001 AFL Grand Final against Essendon.

Even though they were considered underdogs, Brisbane started the game well. Essendon fought back and took the lead in the second quarter. However, the Lions came back strongly in the third quarter, scoring six goals to one. They took control of the game and won their first championship comfortably, with a final score of 15.18 (108) to 12.10 (82). Lions player Shaun Hart was named the best player on the field, winning the Norm Smith Medal.

In 2002, the Lions won a club record 17 games. They made it to their second Grand Final in a row, facing Collingwood. Brisbane won a close game in wet conditions, with a score of 10.15 (75) to 9.12 (66). They 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. They beat Collingwood again in the Grand Final with a score of 20.14 (134) to 12.12 (84). This made them only the fourth team in VFL/AFL history to win three consecutive championships. Simon Black was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for his outstanding performance, collecting 39 possessions, which was a Grand Final record at the time.

Brunswick Street Oval is considered the spiritual home of both Fitzroy and the Brisbane Lions.

After each championship win, the club took the premiership cups to Brunswick Street Oval in Fitzroy. This honored Fitzroy's history and connected with their Melbourne-based supporters. This tradition continued for the 2024 championship.

In 2004, Brisbane reached the Grand Final for the fourth year in a row. They played against Port Adelaide, who won the game by 40 points. This was the first Grand Final where both teams were from outside Victoria.

Rebuilding and New Coaches: 2005–2016

Players training in 2007.

After their championship run, the Lions struggled in 2005 and missed the finals. They also had many injuries in 2006. In 2007, they finished second in the pre-season competition but still missed the finals. The team continued to struggle in 2008, and coach Leigh Matthews resigned after 10 seasons.

Former player and captain Michael Voss became the new coach in 2009. The team improved that year, winning nine of their next twelve games and reaching the semi-finals. However, the next few seasons were difficult. In 2010, they started well but then lost many games. In 2011, the team finished 15th, their worst season since 1998.

In 2013, Brisbane won the pre-season NAB Cup. They also had a memorable comeback win against Geelong, known as the "Miracle on Grass." Despite this, Michael Voss's contract was not renewed, and he left the club.

Another former Lions player, Justin Leppitsch, became the senior coach in 2014. During this time, long-time captain Jonathan Brown retired due to injury. By 2016, Leppitsch was sacked after several disappointing seasons.

Building Success with Chris Fagan: 2017–Present

In October 2016, Chris Fagan was announced as Brisbane's new senior coach. The team finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. However, they showed signs of improvement with many close losses.

The Lions had a much better season in 2019, making the finals for the first time since 2009. They finished second on the AFL ladder. However, they lost both their finals games at home. In 2020, they repeated their strong home-and-away season, again finishing second. They won their qualifying final but lost the preliminary final to Geelong.

In 2021, Brisbane had an inconsistent start but then won seven games in a row. They finished in the top four for the third year in a row. However, they lost both their finals games again. In 2022, Brisbane reached the finals as well. They won two exciting finals games before losing the preliminary final to Geelong.

Back-to-Back Grand Finals and 2024 Premiership

Brisbane strengthened their team in 2023 with new star players. Coach Chris Fagan also signed a new contract. Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews became the new co-captains.

The Lions finished the 2023 home-and-away season in second place. They won their qualifying final and then beat Carlton in the preliminary final to reach the 2023 AFL Grand Final for the first time since 2004. They faced Collingwood, 20 years after their 2003 Grand Final match.

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

The 2024 season started tough for the Lions, with many injuries. However, they made an amazing comeback, winning nine games in a row at one point. They finished fifth on the ladder and made the finals for the sixth year in a row. They beat Carlton in their home elimination final.

In the semi-final, the Lions made history by coming back from 44 points down to beat Greater Western Sydney. They then defeated Geelong in the preliminary final to reach their second Grand Final in a row.

The Lions faced Sydney in the 2024 AFL Grand Final. They won convincingly with a score of 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60). This win was their first championship since 2003. Will Ashcroft won the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the field, becoming one of the youngest players ever to do so.

Club Identity

Team Emblem

A 2019 game between Brisbane and the Sydney Swans at the Gabba, Brisbane's home ground.

The Fitzroy lion became the symbol for the Brisbane Lions.

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

After some discussion, the club returned to using the older Fitzroy lion logo on its playing jerseys from 2015 onwards. However, the forward-facing lion remains the club's official logo.

Team Jerseys

• Home Jersey: 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. Maroon shorts are worn for home games.
• Away Jersey: This jersey is mostly red with a blue section on the shoulders and a golden Fitzroy lion. It has a blue collar and cuffs, similar to Fitzroy's last colors in the AFL. White shorts are worn with this jersey.
• Clash Jersey: This jersey is mostly gold with a maroon Fitzroy lion on a gold background, which reminds people of the Bears' first jersey. It has a maroon shoulder section and golden cuffs. This jersey is worn when playing against the Suns and Giants.

Mascots

The club's mascot was Bernie "Gabba" Vegas until 2015. He was replaced by Roy the Lion, named after the nickname for Fitzroy fans. In 2021, the club also introduced a lioness mascot named Auroara.

Team Song

The Brisbane Lions' team song is called "The Pride of Brisbane Town." It is based on the original Fitzroy Football Club song and uses the tune of "La Marseillaise", which is the French national anthem.

Training Base

Springfield Central Stadium is where the Brisbane Lions train and where their AFLW team plays home games.

From 1997 to 2022, the club trained at the Gabba. However, because the Gabba is also used for cricket in the summer, the team had to train at different locations. In 2020, the club announced they would move their training and offices to Springfield Central Stadium (also known as Brighton Homes Arena) in Ipswich. This new facility, which opened in October 2022, allows the club to have one permanent home for training, offices, and playing reserve-grade and AFLW matches.

Club Rivalries

Collingwood

The Lions playing against Collingwood in a 1960s Fitzroy jersey during the 2003 heritage round.

Before 1996, Fitzroy and Collingwood were big rivals for over 100 years. The rivalry between the Lions and Collingwood became very strong in the early 2000s. They played against each other in two Grand Finals in a row, in 2002 and 2003, with the Lions winning both times. The two clubs met again in the 2023 Grand Final, 20 years after their 2003 match, and this time Collingwood won.

Gold Coast Suns

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

The best player in each QClash game receives the Marcus Ashcroft Medal. This medal is named after Marcus Ashcroft, a famous player who played for the Brisbane Bears/Lions and was the first Queenslander to play 300 VFL/AFL games. The winner of the game also receives the "QClash Trophy."

Port Adelaide

The Port Adelaide Football Club joined the AFL in 1997, around the same time Fitzroy merged with Brisbane. In their early years, the two clubs had many close games. The rivalry became very strong between 2001 and 2004, as both teams were very dominant. They played against each other in several important finals, including the 2001 pre-season Grand Final, a 2001 qualifying final, a 2002 preliminary final, and the 2004 AFL Grand Final.

Club Honours

Team Championships

Other Achievements

Hall of Fame

The Brisbane Lions have a Hall of Fame to honor their greatest players and coaches. Some of the "Legends" include Haydn Bunton Sr., Kevin Murray, Michael Voss, Garry Wilson, Simon Black, and Jonathan Brown. Many other important figures are also inducted.

Team Facts

Coaches (Men's Team)

Coaches (Women's Team)

Captains (Men's Team)

Captain	Image	Season(s)	Achievements
				Lynch, AlastairAlastair Lynch		1997–2000 (co-captain)
Voss, MichaelMichael Voss		1997–2000 (co-captain) 2001–2006 (sole captain)	3× AFL premiership captain: 2001, 2002, 2003
Black, SimonSimon Black		2007–2008 (co-captain)
Brown, JonathanJonathan Brown		2007–2008 (co-captain) 2009–2012 (sole captain) 2013 (co-captain)
Johnson, ChrisChris Johnson		2007 (co-captain)
Lappin, NigelNigel Lappin		2007–2008 (co-captain)
Power, LukeLuke Power		2007–2008 (co-captain)
Adcock, JedJed Adcock		2013 (co-captain) 2014 (sole captain)
Rockliff, TomTom Rockliff		2015–2016
Beams, DayneDayne Beams		2017–2018
Zorko, DayneDayne Zorko		2018–2022
Neale, LachieLachie Neale		2023– (co-captain)	1x Ron Barassi Medalist (AFL premiership captain): 2024
Andrews, HarrisHarris Andrews		2023– (co-captain)	1x Ron Barassi Medalist (AFL premiership captain): 2024

Captains (Women's Team)

Captain	Image	Season(s)	Achievements
Zielke, EmmaEmma Zielke		2017–2018, 2020–2021	AFLW premiership captain: 2021
Kaslar, LeahLeah Kaslar		2019
Koenen, BreannaBreanna Koenen		2022 (S6)–present

Match Records (Men's Team)

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

AFL Women's Team

The Brisbane Lions AFLW team during the S7 Grand Final at Springfield Stadium.

Captain Breanna Koenen and coach Craig Starcevich holding the 2023 championship trophy.

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

Former player and coach Craig Starcevich was appointed the team's first head coach in June 2016. Emma Zielke was the team's first captain.

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

In 2021, the team won their first championship by defeating Adelaide in the Grand Final. In 2023, the Lions won their second championship, beating North Melbourne. Captain Breanna Koenen was named the best player on the field in that Grand Final.

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

Brisbane Lions Academy

Harris Andrews, a local Brisbane player and Lions captain, joined the club through its Academy.

The Brisbane Lions Academy helps develop young football players. It was started in 2010 as one of four academies in northern Australia. The Academy has 28 staff members who work with 220 selected players aged 12 and up.

The Academy's Under 16 and Under 18 teams compete in national championships. The Under 16 women's team won their first championship in 2023. The Lions Academy also joined the Talent League in 2019.

Many players from the Academy have gone on to play for the Brisbane Lions senior men's team, including Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood, and Keidean Coleman. Other Academy members have played for different AFL clubs or excelled in other sports.

Notable female Academy players who became senior AFLW players include Mikayla Pauga, Sophie Conway, and Belle Dawes.

Activism

Supporting Social Causes

The Brisbane Lions have supported important social causes. During the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, the club supported the "Yes" vote for same-sex marriage. The Brisbane Lions also supported the Voice to Parliament, which aimed to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a direct voice to the Australian Parliament.

See also

In Spanish: Brisbane Lions para niños

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