Feel free to make this 110 Things You Love About The Brisbane Lions
1. We have the Captain's Captain in Michael Voss. Undisputedly he's the most renowned captain in the business, other captains worship him and he leads by example. He's not a front runner nor is he an outside player. He is a champion who likes to get his hands dirty and relishes a challenge. "You little Beauty!"
2. We are an exciting team: not your defensive style of play. Commentators relish watching Brisbane as we play the game as it should be played (with apologies to the Geelong theme song writers). We don't dish the ball around for easy stats nor do we clog it up. Ours is a free flowing game and you can see the boys like to go straight and long and get it into the big units Brown, Merrett & Bradshaw up front and why wouldn't you? When Lethal takes the shackles off we are a percentage machine, watch videos from 1999 onwards when it's junk time and the stars aren't cooling down on the bench!
3. We own the Victorian Clubs. After all of the Victorian clubs voted to merge the finished Fitzroy Club with the young Brisbane Bears' Club the Victorian teams thought they were holding off the inevitability of a powerhouse Carey-lead North Melbourne outfit. Short thinking and they've paid the price. Since 2001 Brisbane have owned Essendon, Carlton, The Kangaroos, Hawthorn, Richmond, Melbourne, The Bulldogs with a slight hiccup in 2005. Since the merger, the Brisbane Lions have owned popular clubs Collingwood, Geelong and St Kilda managing only 5 losses in total over 10 years to all of these clubs combined. Thanks for giving me a great team to follow guys!
4. New History and the way Brisbane acknowledges the old one. Look up any Brisbane Lions history published by the club and it includes The Brisbane Lions, Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears' histories. According to the AFL and Channel 10 there is no Fitzroy history. Anything the Brisbane Lions do is compared to the Bears' history so where was the merger. If you look at the Lions information they tell it like it is, Murray, Smallhorn, Bunton, Gale, Roos, Wilson, Quinlan are up there with Voss, Merrett, Black & Co. Thank you Lions.
5. The Fab Four. What can you say that hasn't already been said? Voss - I've already written about him. Aka - The Mouth from the North! He Talks the Talk and Walks the Walk and that's why he has respec mon. The southerners hate him because he tells it like it is and then backs it up. They'll tell you he's a ********er than in the same sentence they'll remind you that they wouldn't mind him in their team either. He's freakishly brilliant, honest, opinionated and we love him for what he is. Lappin - the skinny country kid from a country town where, trust me I know, you can't even get a decent coffee, in Chiltern. Where every second kid in the local footy teams is a Lappin we got the pick of the crop. He's lampooned at the club because everything has to be perfect and he can't handle his supposed inadequacies. He's humble, extremely modest and shy but he will always be there for you. Black - one of only 3 players to win Brownlow, Premiership and Norm Smith Medals I found out last night. He's not your flashy rover like a Ben Cousins but he's in at the ball getting the hard gets, he's got reflexes that would put Bradman to shame and he has peripheral vision like an eagle. He's class and from what the girls tell me, he's handsome as well. The Fab 4, even if 3 of them have a crap day, another bobs up and destroys you.
6. Father / Sons, Royboys or the ex-Fitzroy Supporters: Lynch, Brown, Pike, Power, Johnson & "Bunnings" Selwood. My Father and I pick a player with Fitzroy connections every year and we sponsor that player.
Lynchy - the very last player out of the VFL to have played in the AFL. He took mark of the year in 1991 and was still running around kicking goals 13 years later in 2004. A gentleman off the field but feared on it, he could play either end and battled the infamous chronic fatigue to play at the top echelon of Australian sport for another 10 years - an outstanding champion.
Jonothan Brown - the player's player. He doesn't have the looks that Riewoldt seems to have to be able to inspire the kids and he doesn't have the size of man-giant Tredrea but look at the polls, everyone wants him in their side. If he's not creating a presence and busting packs open in the forward line say hello to the midfield and watch him turn a game around. He's another Victorian Country kid who stood by his beloved lions and gives us all a link to a past era when size mattered and the Roys were in town.
Pike - 4 premierships and bobs up when you least expect. AFL bad boy but we all love him.
Power - apologies for not including him the Fab 4 but I wanted it for this bit. He's a Royboy and loves the Lions like his big mate Browny. If you ever get a chance to meet him, watch how he reacts to kids. He hangs off their every word and as a triple premiership midfielder you'd expect a bit of mongrel but his demeanour (snappy to the opposition) on the field belies his modest, caring approach off it. Wouldn't you love to have a bloke like him as your Dad?
Chrissy "Kinza" Johnson - the last of the "Fitzroy 8" and what a quality act. From struggletown Jacana near Broadmeadows in Melbourne's north Johnno has come a long way. Sure he didn't want to be a Brisbane boy at first but look at him now. He couldn't leave and he commands the troops in the backline like no other. Whether he's evading 3 players whilst getting a sharp kick out to a running team mate or he's crashing a pack of 8 men with the ball and getting out to pinpoint a handpass off to the Lions goals - he is an enigma.
Troy "Bunnings Selwood came of age Round 1 against the all-conquering Saints at The Gabba. Running down the wing at an oncoming player with the ball in dispute he had no hesitation in taking the hit just so a free teammate could get the ball down forward, this is the stuff of the Lions - breakfast of champions - no backward step. Not bad for a young fella who spent 2004 struggling with a back injury similar to the one that put Brad Boyd out of football!
7. No Passengers on the Brisbane Lions Coach. From time to time there will be someone rested on the bench but every man is expected to do his job, whether it be glamorous or not. Justin Leppitsch is a triple All Australian representative and at the 11th hour was deemed unfit to play a very-much in-form Collingwood side . How many teams could cover the loss of a big backman and still come and flog the opposition by over nearly 80 points? Up steps Chrissy Johnson, Josh Drummond, Jed Adcock and big Mal Michael and fills the size gap left by the Orange Roughy. This is just one example of time and time again where the Lions somehow seem to be able to play anywhere on the ground, any time. Bradshaw's kicked 5 goals in the first quarter? No problem, next quarter he's running around the wing! Browny in the forward line, simple, too simple in fact. Why not a spell in the midfield big fella? Our fears were that the backline-midfield would struggle without a new fella like Hadley coming through but what happens?
8. The Cubs. When a club rebuilds, it's usually down over a 3 year period. Just ask Hawthorn, Carlton, Richmond et al. After winning 3 premierships in a row the Lions suffer a setback and lose the 4th grand final and it's time to start again. Yeah, we lost some very winnable games but look at the youth that can get us going in the next year or so - HELLO! These guys are firing right now! Drummond, Adcock, Selwood, Moody, Merrett - my God a ready-made replacement for Alistair and then second tier players step up like Corrie & Magrath (sorry J-Mac you've still got to prove yourself but you're getting better).
9. The Colours. Simply put, we can't go wrong with this one as we've got the best colours in the business. Maroon, Blue & Gold. What are the three most popular colours with kids? Yes, that's right. The easiest job in the world would be the costume designer for The Lions. Lion, no problem, Maroon, yep, Blue & Gold you beauty! Imagine designing with the Hawthorn colours and you get my drift.
10. Finally, The Gabbatoir. Well it hasn't exactly been that this year has it? But in times gone by, it's the place where opposition teams fear to tread. Not opposition supporters mind you, just the team, and as Ben Lee would say "that's the way I like it." You see, Brisbane people are pretty easy going and don't have a chip on their shoulder like some Victorian and definitely most South Australian people have so you don't see people getting spat on, cars with Victorian plates scratched, drink cannisters getting thrown at opposition supporters or any of that stuff at the Gabba but what you do see is pure zoological pillaging, Magpies, Cats, Tigers, Hawks, Kangaroos and Dogs getting feasted on by hungry Lions.
Thank you Brisbane Lions for giving some things to love.
TtT
1. We have the Captain's Captain in Michael Voss. Undisputedly he's the most renowned captain in the business, other captains worship him and he leads by example. He's not a front runner nor is he an outside player. He is a champion who likes to get his hands dirty and relishes a challenge. "You little Beauty!"
2. We are an exciting team: not your defensive style of play. Commentators relish watching Brisbane as we play the game as it should be played (with apologies to the Geelong theme song writers). We don't dish the ball around for easy stats nor do we clog it up. Ours is a free flowing game and you can see the boys like to go straight and long and get it into the big units Brown, Merrett & Bradshaw up front and why wouldn't you? When Lethal takes the shackles off we are a percentage machine, watch videos from 1999 onwards when it's junk time and the stars aren't cooling down on the bench!
3. We own the Victorian Clubs. After all of the Victorian clubs voted to merge the finished Fitzroy Club with the young Brisbane Bears' Club the Victorian teams thought they were holding off the inevitability of a powerhouse Carey-lead North Melbourne outfit. Short thinking and they've paid the price. Since 2001 Brisbane have owned Essendon, Carlton, The Kangaroos, Hawthorn, Richmond, Melbourne, The Bulldogs with a slight hiccup in 2005. Since the merger, the Brisbane Lions have owned popular clubs Collingwood, Geelong and St Kilda managing only 5 losses in total over 10 years to all of these clubs combined. Thanks for giving me a great team to follow guys!
4. New History and the way Brisbane acknowledges the old one. Look up any Brisbane Lions history published by the club and it includes The Brisbane Lions, Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Bears' histories. According to the AFL and Channel 10 there is no Fitzroy history. Anything the Brisbane Lions do is compared to the Bears' history so where was the merger. If you look at the Lions information they tell it like it is, Murray, Smallhorn, Bunton, Gale, Roos, Wilson, Quinlan are up there with Voss, Merrett, Black & Co. Thank you Lions.
5. The Fab Four. What can you say that hasn't already been said? Voss - I've already written about him. Aka - The Mouth from the North! He Talks the Talk and Walks the Walk and that's why he has respec mon. The southerners hate him because he tells it like it is and then backs it up. They'll tell you he's a ********er than in the same sentence they'll remind you that they wouldn't mind him in their team either. He's freakishly brilliant, honest, opinionated and we love him for what he is. Lappin - the skinny country kid from a country town where, trust me I know, you can't even get a decent coffee, in Chiltern. Where every second kid in the local footy teams is a Lappin we got the pick of the crop. He's lampooned at the club because everything has to be perfect and he can't handle his supposed inadequacies. He's humble, extremely modest and shy but he will always be there for you. Black - one of only 3 players to win Brownlow, Premiership and Norm Smith Medals I found out last night. He's not your flashy rover like a Ben Cousins but he's in at the ball getting the hard gets, he's got reflexes that would put Bradman to shame and he has peripheral vision like an eagle. He's class and from what the girls tell me, he's handsome as well. The Fab 4, even if 3 of them have a crap day, another bobs up and destroys you.
6. Father / Sons, Royboys or the ex-Fitzroy Supporters: Lynch, Brown, Pike, Power, Johnson & "Bunnings" Selwood. My Father and I pick a player with Fitzroy connections every year and we sponsor that player.
Lynchy - the very last player out of the VFL to have played in the AFL. He took mark of the year in 1991 and was still running around kicking goals 13 years later in 2004. A gentleman off the field but feared on it, he could play either end and battled the infamous chronic fatigue to play at the top echelon of Australian sport for another 10 years - an outstanding champion.
Jonothan Brown - the player's player. He doesn't have the looks that Riewoldt seems to have to be able to inspire the kids and he doesn't have the size of man-giant Tredrea but look at the polls, everyone wants him in their side. If he's not creating a presence and busting packs open in the forward line say hello to the midfield and watch him turn a game around. He's another Victorian Country kid who stood by his beloved lions and gives us all a link to a past era when size mattered and the Roys were in town.
Pike - 4 premierships and bobs up when you least expect. AFL bad boy but we all love him.
Power - apologies for not including him the Fab 4 but I wanted it for this bit. He's a Royboy and loves the Lions like his big mate Browny. If you ever get a chance to meet him, watch how he reacts to kids. He hangs off their every word and as a triple premiership midfielder you'd expect a bit of mongrel but his demeanour (snappy to the opposition) on the field belies his modest, caring approach off it. Wouldn't you love to have a bloke like him as your Dad?
Chrissy "Kinza" Johnson - the last of the "Fitzroy 8" and what a quality act. From struggletown Jacana near Broadmeadows in Melbourne's north Johnno has come a long way. Sure he didn't want to be a Brisbane boy at first but look at him now. He couldn't leave and he commands the troops in the backline like no other. Whether he's evading 3 players whilst getting a sharp kick out to a running team mate or he's crashing a pack of 8 men with the ball and getting out to pinpoint a handpass off to the Lions goals - he is an enigma.
Troy "Bunnings Selwood came of age Round 1 against the all-conquering Saints at The Gabba. Running down the wing at an oncoming player with the ball in dispute he had no hesitation in taking the hit just so a free teammate could get the ball down forward, this is the stuff of the Lions - breakfast of champions - no backward step. Not bad for a young fella who spent 2004 struggling with a back injury similar to the one that put Brad Boyd out of football!
7. No Passengers on the Brisbane Lions Coach. From time to time there will be someone rested on the bench but every man is expected to do his job, whether it be glamorous or not. Justin Leppitsch is a triple All Australian representative and at the 11th hour was deemed unfit to play a very-much in-form Collingwood side . How many teams could cover the loss of a big backman and still come and flog the opposition by over nearly 80 points? Up steps Chrissy Johnson, Josh Drummond, Jed Adcock and big Mal Michael and fills the size gap left by the Orange Roughy. This is just one example of time and time again where the Lions somehow seem to be able to play anywhere on the ground, any time. Bradshaw's kicked 5 goals in the first quarter? No problem, next quarter he's running around the wing! Browny in the forward line, simple, too simple in fact. Why not a spell in the midfield big fella? Our fears were that the backline-midfield would struggle without a new fella like Hadley coming through but what happens?
8. The Cubs. When a club rebuilds, it's usually down over a 3 year period. Just ask Hawthorn, Carlton, Richmond et al. After winning 3 premierships in a row the Lions suffer a setback and lose the 4th grand final and it's time to start again. Yeah, we lost some very winnable games but look at the youth that can get us going in the next year or so - HELLO! These guys are firing right now! Drummond, Adcock, Selwood, Moody, Merrett - my God a ready-made replacement for Alistair and then second tier players step up like Corrie & Magrath (sorry J-Mac you've still got to prove yourself but you're getting better).
9. The Colours. Simply put, we can't go wrong with this one as we've got the best colours in the business. Maroon, Blue & Gold. What are the three most popular colours with kids? Yes, that's right. The easiest job in the world would be the costume designer for The Lions. Lion, no problem, Maroon, yep, Blue & Gold you beauty! Imagine designing with the Hawthorn colours and you get my drift.
10. Finally, The Gabbatoir. Well it hasn't exactly been that this year has it? But in times gone by, it's the place where opposition teams fear to tread. Not opposition supporters mind you, just the team, and as Ben Lee would say "that's the way I like it." You see, Brisbane people are pretty easy going and don't have a chip on their shoulder like some Victorian and definitely most South Australian people have so you don't see people getting spat on, cars with Victorian plates scratched, drink cannisters getting thrown at opposition supporters or any of that stuff at the Gabba but what you do see is pure zoological pillaging, Magpies, Cats, Tigers, Hawks, Kangaroos and Dogs getting feasted on by hungry Lions.
Thank you Brisbane Lions for giving some things to love.
TtT
