Brisbane Lions

The Brisbane Lions is a professional Australian rules football club based in Brisbane, Queensland, that plays in the Australian Football League (AFL).

For the soccer team formerly known as Brisbane Lions, see Queensland Lions FC.

Brisbane Lions
Names
Full nameBrisbane Bears-Fitzroy Football Club Limited, trading as Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)Lions
2020 season
After finals4th (Preliminary Final)
Home-and-away season2nd
Leading goalkickerCharlie Cameron (26)
Merrett–Murray MedalLachie Neale
Club details
Founded1996
Colours  Maroon   Blue   Gold
CompetitionAFL: Senior men
AFLW: Senior women
NEAFL: Reserves men
ChairmanAndrew Wellington[2]
CEOGreg Swann
CoachAFL: Chris Fagan
AFLW: Craig Starcevich
NEAFL: Mitch Hahn
Captain(s)AFL: Dayne Zorko
AFLW: Emma Zielke
NEAFL Ryan Bastinac
PremiershipsAFL (3)
Reserves/NEAFL (5)
Ground(s)AFL: The Gabba (42,000)
AFLW: Hickey Park (5,000)
NEAFL: SP Sports Complex (3,000)
Training ground(s)The Gabba (1997–present)
Uniforms
Home
Away
Clash
Other information
Official websitelions.com.au

The club was formed in late 1996 via a merger of the Fitzroy Football Club's football operations and the Brisbane Bears.[3] The club's colours of maroon, gold and blue are drawn from both entities. The Lions were the most successful AFL club of the 2000's, appearing in four consecutive Grand Finals from 2001 to 2004 and winning three premierships (2001, 2002, 2003). They play home matches at the Gabba and have their offices and indoor training facilities located within the stadium.

The Lions also field teams in two other competitions. They 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. They have also fielded a reserve men's team in several leagues over the years, and as of 2021 the reserves team competes in the Victorian Football League.

History

Pre-Merger
See also: History of the Fitzroy Football Club and History of the Brisbane Bears

In 1996, the ten-year-old Brisbane Bears had enjoyed their best season to date, losing a preliminary final to the eventual premiers, North Melbourne. However, the club was on extremely shaky financial ground and did not have many opportunities to generate revenue.

In contrast, the Fitzroy Lions, a foundation club of the VFL/AFL, had been among the bottom teams of the league for the better part of the last four decades. They had finished in last place for two successive seasons, although they contained a number of promising young players. The club was in serious trouble off the field as well. It had not had a permanent home since 1966 and had been on the verge of folding as early as 1986.

By the start of the 1996 season, Fitzroy was almost at the end of its financial tether. The club's directors agreed in principle to merge with the 1996 premiers, North Melbourne, as the "North-Fitzroy Kangaroos". However, that proposal was rejected 15–1 by the AFL Commission, reportedly out of concern that an all-Victorian merge would be too powerful. Instead, Fitzroy was placed into administration, and its administrator accepted an offer to merge its football operations with Brisbane. The merged team would be based in Brisbane, and Bears coach John Northey would become coach of the merged club. However, it adopted a logo, song, and guernsey based largely on those of Fitzroy, would take 8 Fitzroy players in the draft, three Fitzroy representatives would serve on the board, and the Lions would keep an office in Melbourne.

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. Accordingly, Northey was sacked as coach with eight rounds remaining in the season. During the off-season the club hired Leigh Matthews, who in 1990 had delivered Collingwood its first premiership since 1958.

Matthews, who was voted "Player of the Century" in 2000, played his entire career with Hawthorn and brought many of the Hawthorn disciplines to the Lions. Within a season the Lions rose from the bottom of the ladder to fourth, before losing to the eventual premiers, the Kangaroos, in a preliminary final. The Lions played finals again in 2000, but would bow out in the second week after losing to Carlton by 82 points.

Triple premiership success: 2001–2003
Michael Voss captained Brisbane to three successive premierships

As the Brisbane Lions, the club won its first AFL premiership in the 2001 AFL Grand Final, defeating Essendon 15.18 (108) to 12.10 (82).[4] Lions utility player Shaun Hart won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final.[5]:521 During their triple premiership years, the Lions took each premiership cup to Fitzroy's spiritual home of Brunswick street oval the morning after the grand final, a move seen by many as an important one, as it helped win over many disaffected former Fitzroy fans. [6] [7]

In 2002, the Lions won back-to-back premierships when they defeated Collingwood 9.12 (66) to 10.15 (75) 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 won their 3rd premiership in a row. 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 (134) to 12.12 (84)[5]:860 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.[8]

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 (MCG) and the Australian Football League (AFL) that required one preliminary final to be played each year at the MCG.[9] 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.[10]

Rebuild & Michael Voss: 2005–2013
Training, May 2007

The 2005 season saw the end of domination by the Lions. At the finish of the home and away season they were not placed in the final eight, finishing 11th.

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 started the 2007 season promisingly, finishing runner up in the 2007 NAB Cup. However, the Lions would fail to make the finals for a third successive year. Despite this, the Lions made history by becoming the first team in the history of the AFL to have five co-captains.

The team struggled during the 2008 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. Following the season, Coach Leigh Matthews resigned after 10 seasons and 3 premierships with the club. The Lions appointed former player and Captain Michael Voss as the coach ahead of 2009.

Brendan Fevola became the first player to be traded the year after winning the Coleman Medal. He originally came from Carlton.

Brisbane's 2009 season was promising for the club. After only winning 2 games from the first 5 played, the club won 9 of the next 12 to sit in 6th on the Ladder, where they would finish the season. They would also record a strong victory over eventual premiers Geelong during this timeframe by 43 points. The club beat Carlton in their Elimination Final, coming from 30 points behind in the final quarter to win by 7 points, before losing to the Western Bulldogs in a Semi Final.

The 2009/2010 off-season was dominated by the arrival of Brendan Fevola from Carlton, with a belief in the club that Fevola could help them capitalise and improve upon 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 finish 13th by the end of the season.

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 and finished 15th overall. 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. However, the club began its 2013 season with back-to-back losses to the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide. Injuries took a toll on the team, 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, in what would become known as the Miracle on Grass.[11]

On 13 August 2013, coach Michael Voss was told that his contract would not be renewed.[12][13][14][15]

On 18 October 2013, Brisbane Lions legend Simon Black announced his retirement.

Playing under Justin Leppitsch: 2014–2016

On 25 August 2013, former premiership player for the Lions, Justin Leppitsch, was confirmed to be the senior coach of the Lions for the next three seasons.

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, and subsequently retired from football. His retirement, alongside the retirement of Ash McGrath, meant there were no players from the triple-premiership era remaining at the club.[16]

On 29 August 2016, Leppitsch was sacked as coach of the Lions after multiple disappointing seasons.[17]

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.[18]

The Lions claimed the 2017 wooden spoon, despite winning 5 games for the season, 2 more than the previous season. Their percentage of 74.3 was the worst in the league, behind Fremantle with a percentage of 74.4. The 2018 season was very similar, recording 5 wins to finish in 15th place.

The Lions had a magnificent 2019 season, making the finals for the first time since 2009 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 their qualifying final and then to eventual runners-up Greater Western Sydney by three points in their 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.

Brisbane repeated their form displayed in 2019 the following year, once again finishing in second position on percentage at the conclusion of the Home and Away season. They won 14 games in a shortened 17-game season. During their qualifying final, they defeated Richmond for the first time since 2009 and qualified for a preliminary final berth, but would go onto be beaten by a more experienced Geelong side in that match.

Membership base

Crowds and memberships for the Brisbane Lions grew dramatically during the four seasons in which they made the AFL Grand Final.

The club still maintains healthy Victorian support due to their Fitzroy origins, and The Royal Derby Hotel in Fitzroy is the official social venue for Victorian Lions fans, showing all televised games, and displaying a mural of club greats Kevin Murray and Jonathan Brown on its Alexandra Parade side. [19]

To add to this presence in Melbourne, the Lions Historical Society is based at Etihad stadium, containing exhibits of club history stretching from Fitzroy, to the Bears, and the Brisbane Lions. [20]

YearMembers
[21]		Change from previous seasonFinishing positionFinals result/Wooden spoonAverage home crowd
[22]		Profit (loss) Kit manufacturerMajor sponsor/sShorts Sponsor
199716,769N/A8thQualifying finalists19,550Un­knownPumaCarlton & United Breweries Spam
199816,108 66116thWooden spoon16,675
199916,931 8233rdPreliminary finalists21,890Devine Homes
200020,295 3,3646thSemi-finalists27,406AAPTSpam
200118,330 1,9652ndPremiers27,638($845,000)[23] Russell AthleticBio Organics Vitamins
200222,288 3,9582ndPremiers26,895Un­knownAAMI
200324,365 2,0773rdPremiers31,717$2,200,000[24]
200430,941 6,5762ndGrand finalists33,619Un­known
200528,913 1,30811thN/A33,267
200626,459 2,45413th28,630
200721,976 4,48310th28,848$1,058,000[25] PumaVodafone
200822,737 76110th28,128($2,200,030)[26] HBA
200924,873 2,1366thSemi-finalists29,172($603,207)[27] MBF
201026,779 1,90613thN/A29,933($2,713,848)[28]Bank of Queensland, Conergy
201122,338 4,44115th20,462($1,855,926)[29]KooGa/BLK[lower-alpha 1]Bupa
201220,762 1,57613th20,344($2,513,262)[30]
201324,130 3,36812th21,083($1,574,762)[31]National Storage, Vero Insurance
201424,012 11815th19,743($3,543,138)[32] TechnologyOne
201525,408 1,39617th18,810($681,053)[33]Garuda Indonesia
201623,286 2,12217th17,074($1,783,506)[34]Camperdown Dairy International, Vero InsuranceN/A
201721,362 1,92418thWooden spoon16,455($2,261,990)[35]MajesticXXXX
201824,867 3,50515thN/A18,405($230,641)[36]Oaks Hotels & Resorts, Vero Insurance
201928,821 3,9542ndSemi-finalists24,741$648,618[37]Neds, Oaks Hotels & Resorts[lower-alpha 2]The Coffee Club
2020 29,277 456 2nd Preliminary finalists 10,648[lower-alpha 3] N/A Classic Neds, XL Express

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

  1. The manufacturer was known as KooGa from the 2011 season to the 2013 season, and as BLK from the 2014 season to the 2016 season.
  2. For a short period in the 2018/19 off-season, from November '18 to March '19, the Lions' co–major sponsors were Oaks Hotels & Resorts and SOOW; however, the contract with SOOW was cancelled before the first game of the home-and-away season was played.
  3. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were capped crowd capacities during the 2020 season

Non-playing/coaching staff
Name Position
Greg Swann Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Wellington Chairman
Sarah Kelly Deputy chairman
Cyril Jinks Directors
Leigh Matthews
Peter McGregor
Mick Power
Ross Thornton
Danny Daly 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

Relationship with Fitzroy FC

Fitzroy FC Ltd improved its relationship with the Brisbane Lions in the ten years from 1999–2009. In that time Brisbane acknowledged the two parent clubs for the merger with the letters BBFFC printed below the back of the neck of the club's guernseys from 2002. The Fitzroy Reds played the curtain-raiser at the MCG when the Brisbane Lions met the Collingwood Magpies in the AFL Heritage Round of 2003. Brisbane also now wears a version of Fitzroy's AFL guernsey with red instead of maroon in most matches played in Victoria, consistent with Fitzroy's most recent colours.

Relationships between Fitzroy and Brisbane were strained in late 2009, when Brisbane announced that it was adopting a new logo for season 2010 and beyond, which Fitzroy Football Club believed contravened Section 7.2 c) of the merger agreement. The new logo, a lion's head facing forward, replaced the former Fitzroy logo of a passant lion with a football. On 22 December 2009, Fitzroy lodged a Statement of Claim with the Supreme Court of Victoria, seeking an order that the Brisbane Lions be restrained from using as its logo, the new logo or any other logo other than 'the Fitzroy lion logo'. On 15 July 2010, the two clubs reached a settlement, agreeing that the Fitzroy logo symbolically represents the historic merger between the Bears and Fitzroy and the first 13 years of the Brisbane Lions competing in the AFL, and that Brisbane would use both the old and new logos alongside each other in an official capacity (e.g. on letterheads, marketing, etc.), with the old logo to be phased out altogether after 2014. Brisbane returned to using the old logo on its playing guernseys from 2015, but the new logo will remain for corporate purposes.

The Lions also keep strong ties with the Fitzroy Football Club in the VAFA and the Fitzroy junior football club, and the support of Fitzroy greats such as Kevin Murray have ensured the Brisbane Lions are considered a direct continuation of Fitzroy in the AFL.

Club identity

Emblem

In 1997, the club unveiled its new merger emblem, consisting of the golden Fitzroy Lion on a badge of Maroon and Blue. The club used this emblem from 1997 until the end of 2001. In 2002, the club would unveil a new emblem in the shape of a football, emblazoned with the words "Brisbane Lions" and with the Fitzroy Lion located within the o of Lions. This emblem was used until 2010, when the emblem was again changed, this time in favour of a forward-facing Lion head.

Guernseys

Home Guernsey (worn since 2015): Predominantly maroon guernsey with a blue yoke featuring a golden Fitzroy Lion, with a gold collar and cuffs. XL Express is the current sponsor on the front whilst Ned's is the current sponsor on the back. For shorts, maroon home shorts are worn in home games and white away shorts are worn in away games not played in Victoria. This guernsey was also worn between 1997 and 2009.

Away Guernsey (worn since 2015): Predominantly red guernsey with a blue yoke featuring a golden Fitzroy lion, with a blue collar and cuffs, and based on Fitzroy's final colours in the AFL. Ned's is the current sponsor on the front and XL Express is the current sponsor on the back. White away shorts are worn when this guernsey is used. This guernsey was also worn in 2008 and 2009.

Clash Guernsey (worn since 2020): This predominantly white guernsey features a golden Fitzroy lion on a maroon v (the v reminiscent of the Bears’ final guernsey), with a maroon collar and cuffs. Ned's is the sponsor on the front and XL Express is the sponsor on the back. The same shorts as the Away Guernsey are worn.

Mascot
Bernie "Gabba" Vegas

The Lion's Mascot Manor representative and club mascot was Bernie "Gabba" Vegas, a caricature of a lion dressed in Brisbane Lions jumper, sunglasses, wide lapels, and flares, designed to resemble Elvis Presley. In 2016 Roy the Lion (named Roy after the nickname for Fitzroy fans) replaced Bernie "Gabba" Vegas as club mascot.[38]

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.[39]

Training base

The club trains out of the Gabba. 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 at 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.[40]

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.[41] 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.[42] The Bears also lost their final regular season match in their final season (1996) 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, beginning in late 1999 when Collingwood played their last ever VFL/AFL game at their spiritual home ground, Victoria Park. The Lions emerged 42 point victors that day and consigned the Magpies to their second wooden spoon in their VFL/AFL history. The rivalry between the two clubs peaked in the early 2000's, as the clubs played off in two consecutive Grand Finals in 2002 and 2003, with the Lions emerging victors on both occasions.[42]

Gold Coast
Main article: QClash

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.[43]

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.[44] 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".[45]

Port Adelaide

This rivalry dates back to 1997, the inaugural season of Port Adelaide and the newly merged Brisbane Lions. In their early days, the two clubs couldn’t be separated and had multiple close encounters, with a draw in two of their first three meetings.[46] In the early 2000's, the rivalry reached its peak as the two clubs would be the most dominant of the era, meeting in consecutive finals series between from 2001 to 2004 and consistently finishing at the top of the Ladder.[47] The most notable meeting between the two sides is the 2004 AFL Grand Final, where Port Adelaide ended Brisbane's chances of a fourth consecutive premiership. In recent years, the rivalry has died down.

Honours

Club honours
Premierships
Competition Team Wins Years Won
Australian Football LeagueSeniors32001, 2002, 2003
Queensland Australian Football League (1998–2010)Reserves12001
North East Australian Football League (2011–2019)42012, 2013, 2017, 2019
Victorian Football League (2021–)0Nil
Other titles and honours
AFL Preseason competitionSeniors12013
AFLX TournamentSeniors12018
Finishing positions
Australian Football LeagueMinor premiership
(McClelland Trophy)		0Nil
Grand Finalist12004
Wooden spoons21998, 2017
AFL Women'sMinor premiership12017
Grand Finalist22017, 2018

Individual
Main article: List of Brisbane Lions individual awards and records

Club facts

Coaches (men's)
No.CoachPWLDW%Years
1 John Northey 34 12 21 1 35.29 1997–1998
2 Roger Merrett 11 3 7 1 27.27 1998
3 Leigh Matthews 237 142 92 3 59.92 1999–2008
4 John Blakey 1 0 1 0 0.00 2005
5 Michael Voss 109 43 65 1 39.45 2009–2013
6 Mark Harvey 3 2 1 0 66.67 2013
7 Justin Leppitsch 66 14 52 0 21.21 2014–2016
8 Chris Fagan 68 26 42 0 38.24 2017–present

Coaches (women's)
No.CoachPWLDW%Years
1 Craig Starcevich 25 14 10 1 56.00 2017—
2 Daniel Merrett 1 0 0 1 0.00 2020

Captains (men's)
Captain Image Season(s) Achievements
Alastair Lynch 1997–2000 (co-captain)
Michael Voss 1997–2000 (co-captain)
2001–2006 (sole captain)
Simon Black 2007–2008 (co-captain)
Jonathan Brown 2007–2008 (co-captain)
2009–2012 (sole captain)
2013 (co-captain)
Chris Johnson 2007 (co-captain)
Nigel Lappin 2007–2008 (co-captain)
Luke Power 2007–2008 (co-captain)
Jed Adcock 2013 (co-captain)
2014 (sole captain)
Tom Rockliff 2015–2016
Dayne Beams 2017–2018
Dayne Zorko 2018–

Captains (women's)
Captain Image Season(s) Achievements
Emma Zielke 2017–2018, 2020
Leah Kaslar 2019

Biggest home crowds
RankCrowdRound, SeasonResultOpponentBrisbane LionsOppositionMarginVenueDay/Night/Twilight
137,478QF2, 2019LossRichmond8.17 (65)18.4 (112)−47The GabbaNight
237,22415, 2005WinCollingwood19.19 (133)7.13 (55)+78The GabbaNight
337,032PF2, 2001WinRichmond20.16 (136)10.8 (68)+68The GabbaNight
436,8034, 2003WinCollingwood14.11 (95)11.15 (81)+14The GabbaNight
536,7802, 2010WinCarlton16.11 (107)12.16 (88)+19The GabbaNight
636,4673, 2004WinCollingwood21.11 (137)12.5 (77)+60The GabbaNight
736,1971, 2003WinEssendon14.20 (104)8.13 (61)+43The GabbaNight
836,14910, 2001WinEssendon15.12 (102)10.14 (74)+28The GabbaNight
936,07717, 2005WinEssendon17.12 (114)14.17 (101)+13The GabbaNight
1035,8983, 2002WinEssendon17.15 (117)9.13 (67)+50The GabbaNight

AFL finishing positions (1997–present)

Legend: Premiers, Wooden spoon

Finishing PositionYear (Finals in Bold)Tally
Premiers2001, 2002, 20033
Runner-up20041
3rdnil0
4th1999, 20202
5th2000, 20192
6th20091
7thnil0
8th19971
9thnil0
10th2007, 20082
11th20051
12th20131
13th2006, 2010, 20123
14thnil0
15th2011, 2014, 20183
16th19981
17th2015, 20162
18th20171

Players

Current squad
Brisbane Lions
Senior list Rookie list Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

  • Mark Stone (strategy)
  • Murray Davis (backline)
  • Dale Tapping (midfield)
  • Ben Hudson (ruck/midfield)
  • Jed Adcock (forwards)
  • Scott Borlace (head of development)
  • Mitch Hahn (NEAFL head coach)
  • Paul Henriksen (development)
  • Zane Littlejohn (development)
Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)
  • (B) Category B rookie
  • italics - Inactive player list
  • Long-term injury
  • (ret.) Retired

Updated: 29 January 2021
Source(s): Players, Coaches

Reserves team
Main article: Australian Football League reserves affiliations

The Brisbane Lions have entered a reserves team in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) competition since 2011. The club had previously entered a reserves team in the local Queensland Australian Football League in 1998, known initially as the Lion Cubs before later becoming known as the Suncoast Lions Football Club in 2004 and basing themselves from 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, participating in the Northern Conference of the North East Australian Football League. In 2012, the Lions won both the Northern Conference and overall NEAFL premiership, 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
Premierships (5)
Year Competition Opponent Score Venue
2001QAFLSouthport Sharks13.20 (98) – 13.8 (86)Giffin Park
2012NEAFLQueanbeyan Tigers22.12 (144) – 11.9 (75)Manuka Oval
2013NEAFLSydney Swans12.9 (81) – 10.13 (73)Graham Road Oval
2017NEAFLSydney Swans12.13 (85) – 10.22 (82)Sydney Cricket Ground
2019NEAFLSouthport Sharks20.15 (135) – 8.11 (59)Fankhauser Reserve

Season summaries
SeasonCompetitionW–L–DLadder positionFinals result/Wooden spoon?Coach
1998QAFLUnknownUnknownUn­known[lower-alpha 1]Roger Merrett
1999Un­known
2000
2001PremiersCraig Brittain
2002Un­known[lower-alpha 1]
2003
2004
2005
2006John Blakey/Daryn Cresswell
2007Craig Brittain
Justin Leppitsch (caretaker)
2008Paul Hudson
Justin Leppitsch (caretaker)
2009Craig Brittain
20106–12–08thN/ACraig McRae
2011NEAFL
(Northern Conference)		4–13–110thWooden spoonNathan Clarke
201214–4–02ndPremiers (conference and combined)
201316–2–01st (minor premiers)Premiers (conference and combined)Leigh Harding
2014NEAFL6–12–09thN/A
20152–16–010thShane Woewodin[48]
20163–15–010thWooden spoon
201715–3–02ndPremiersMitch Hahn
201810–7–15thElimination finalists
201918–0–01st (minor premiers)Premiers

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

  1. Whilst the finals result is unknown, it is known the team was neither premiers nor runners-up.

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.[49] The Brisbane Lions were granted a license on 15 June 2016, becoming one of eight teams to compete in the league's first season.[50] Former AFL Queensland employee Breeanna Brock was appointed to the position of Women's CEO the following day.[50]

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.[51] 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.[52]

Former Collingwood and Brisbane Bears player and AFL Queensland coach Craig Starcevich was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in June 2016.[53] 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.[54]

Existing club sponsor Hyundai, along with Epic Pharmacy, will sponsor the team in 2017.[55]

The team plays its home games at the South Pine Sports Complex in Brendale.

Current squad
Brisbane Lions (AFL Women's)
Senior list Rookie list Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)
  • (i) Inactive player(s)

Updated: 29 January 2021
Source(s): Players, Coaches

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

Season summaries
Brisbane AFLW honour roll
SeasonFinal position Coach CaptainBest and fairestLeading goal kicker
2017 Runners-up Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke Emily Bates Kate McCarthy (9)
2018 Runners-up Craig Starcevich Emma Zielke Kate Lutkins Jess Wuetschner (13)
2019 9th ^ Craig Starcevich Leah Kaslar Ally Anderson Jess Wuetschner (8)
2020 7th ^ Craig Starcevich
(rounds 1–2, round 4–semi-final)
Daniel Merrett
(round 3)		 Emma Zielke Emily Bates Jesse Wardlaw (9)

^ Denotes the ladder was split into two or more conferences. Figure refers to the club's overall finishing position that season.

See also

References
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