Past Mick Grace (1897-1900)

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Brisbane Lions Hall Of Fame 2023 Re-Cap

Saturday 8 May 1897. Fitzroy beat Carlton by 33 points at Brunswick Street Oval in the club’s very first game in the then VFL. At 22, 180cm ruck/forward Mick Grace, claimed a place in club history. But in truth Grace was a bona-fide Australian Rules star even before it was the VFL, having starred with the mighty Maroons in the VFA from 1895-96.Known as the ‘Flying Angel’ for his grace and ability in the airhe was at his best when the stakes were highest.

Said to have won at least two club champion awards in an era of limited records, he helped Fitzroy secure the 1895 VFA premiership, when there was no grand final, and was among the best afield in both the 1898 and 1899 VFL grand finals.

He kicked two of the team’s three goals in the following year’s Grand Final too, when Fitzroy finished just four points shy of claiming what would have been the League’s first ‘Three-Peat’.

He retired at 26 as the club’s games record-holder at the time, but was lured out of retirement by Carlton with whom he claimed back-to-back flags in 1906-07.

His phenomenal story was cut short in 1912 when he contracted tuberculosis and died at just 37.

One of football’s early greats, and now a Brisbane Lions Hall of Famer… MICK GRACE

 

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Mick Grace joins the Lions Hall of Fame

Known as the Flying Angel, Mick was said to have won at least two club champion awards in his era. The Brisbane Lions welcome Mick Grace to the Hall of Fame

www.lions.com.au