Toast TLR calls for vote on guernsey - update: Members vote for Premiership/Fitzroy Lion - it's back baby!

[Fatcat08]

Just submitted my letter and have posted it into the hyundai centre. Was amazed at how emotionally invested I got when writing it. Hope others can get on board and let members decide what they want.

 

[Last of the Roys]

A big thanks to the people behind The Lions Roar - it is our best chance to bring the premiership jumpers back.

I hope everyone who wants this to occur gets on board and signs up on the website https://thelionsroar.squarespace.com/. If you have some time it would be great if you could write the Club a letter as well - hopefully I will get some time to do that myself this week.


In terms of the issue in general, it can't be too hard to ask members what they want the jumpers to be - the Western Bulldogs did it (and the result was the return of their premiership jumper), Freo did it with their song, gee we already put out a survey to members every year - yet we have never asked any questions about this fundamental issue to our identity.

I would love for the Club to release a detailed case for why the current jumpers should remain. So far we have been treated like children with ridiculous excuses: cost (as someone with a strong background in accounting and economics I find this patently absurd); so that all levels of the club including the Academy have the same Lions face on the jumper (really, WTF?); and for marketing reasons (just absolutely zero evidence that it has worked because wins are clearly what matter).

A club is something unique. The Brisbane Lions, as with any other club, solely exists to benefit its members. The identity of our Club is what binds us together. It is therefore hardly out of the ordinary for members to want to have a strong say in how to protect and define that identity going forward. Without that we are nothing more than an organisation set up to play football - we might as well be called the Darwin Zebras (and play in Darwin) if identity doesn't matter.

Of course members should not try to micro-manage every issue faced by the Club - but some things are too important to the future identity of what we want to see our Club to be to let slide. This is one issue that has the potential to meet that requirement - one issue in 17 years of our existence. This is not about micro-management - it is about having a say in helping defining what our Club stands for now and into the future.

If you don't agree with changing the jumpers - that is OK. It would be great if you got to have your say count, just as it would be for everybody that cares about this issue.

 

[Skoob]

A terrible thought just my mind and I feel a bit silly, but for a letter to be tabled or even read or registered, should it not have on the letter or at least the envelope, a return name and address?
I must admit it didn't cross my mind 'til now. All my business envelopes have this info and business letters go out on letterhead so never have to bother with such detail.
If anyone here with some corporate advice can comment on this perhaps those who haven't sent yet should do so and if that's the case I will reprint and resend mine.

 

[MacMum]

The jumper is our IDENTITY........pure and simple, really

 

[weevil]

Hmm... if true this makes me a bit cranky.

 

[MacMum]

If they are in fact "snickering"....then they are ar..seholes!!....shows the contempt in which they hold their members and supporters!

While we are at it, lets get rid of them too!

 

[western royboy]

Hmm... if true this makes me a bit cranky.

My initial thought was "that's it - they can jam it", but **** them who wants to go for the board and oust the CEO while were at it, $9.6 Mill in 7 years, we couldn't do any worse.

 

[matwt73]

My initial thought was "that's it - they can jam it", but **** them who wants to go for the board and oust the CEO while were at it, $9.6 Mill in 7 years, we couldn't do any worse.

I think this is worth considering generally. We need serious passionate fans, who listen and engage with other fans, which is what most Bfers are.

Realistically it all so needs to be someone who has sufficient, contacts, professional or business kudos to offer something

 

[MacMum]

Someone who genuinely loves our club and wants to be there FOR the club, not their own ego trip..

 

[Mr Ripper]

Some footy nous wouldn't go astray, either.

 

[Dylan12]

Someone who genuinely loves our club and wants to be there FOR the club, not their own ego trip..

You just described 75% of the Board.

 

[Gibbo_88]

If they are in fact "snickering"....then they are ar..seholes!!....shows the contempt in which they hold their members and supporters!

While we are at it, lets get rid of them too!

Kind of makes me not want to attend lions games if that is their attitude.

 

[MacMum]

You just described 75% of the Board.

There for the club?....or their own ego trips?

 

[Dylan12]

There for the club?....or their own ego trips?

For their own ego trips.

 

[wantok]

It is important to keep the focus on the objective which is to secure a vote on the jersey. Stay on message folks and don't be distracted by rumours or unsubstantiated statements. To start a campaign for the board might indeed be the end game if the club does not provide due recognition but let's give them a chance to take heed. Letter writing is only one facet of this campaign and a good start to reinvigorate the cause. .Yes We need to be prepared to take things to the next level if necessary via direct marketing to stakeholders (sponsors are only one)and the targeted use of mass media etc. but that message also needs to be "on message" and at this stage that message is ----We want a vote! If nothing happens then its definitely time to get political.

 

[Bert Man]

If that really is the clubs attitude then Respectful and United clearly mean jack ****.

 

[Triple R]

Hmm... if true this makes me a bit cranky.

Just sounds like they are trying to kick start the campaign with a bit of emotion and motivation.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Hammo has picked up the story. Link below:

Brisbane Lions' Member Based Organisation Calls for the Return of the 2001-03 Premiership Strip

 

[Harris Specter]

Hammo has picked up the story. Link below:

Brisbane Lions' Member Based Organisation Calls for the Return of the 2001-03 Premiership Strip

 

[Grade_Zero]

That tweet is no doubt just an attempt to stir people up rather than hard fact, but I reckon it's actually pretty close to the clubs attitude on the matter.

I very much disagree with suggestions that the real lion is outdated. It's a very simple design, with very few features. It's about as close to just a solid shape as you can get. It isn't created in an art style that is indicative of a particular time period, it just looks simple and traditional, as the elements of a football jumper design should. Now, the paddlepop is a different story. It is busier and more detailed, made to look modern right now, but will quickly become dated. What happens then? Do the club hire more marketing people that don't understand football to make something new and modern again?

There is, of course, obviously a need for modern marketing techniques in promoting a club. That's why most of us here agree that the logo, for the purposes of print and digital media, is fair game. Hell, they can license the actual paddlepop lion and use that for all I care, but the jumper should not be tampered with. The football community at large is very clearly inclined towards simple, traditional playing strips, as evidenced by the strips of every other club (perhaps barring Gold Coast). For me, the lion itself is not only awful and too busy, but far too big. The blue area is also too big, and uneven, which honestly grates on me almost as much as the lion. The whole thing is a mess, and for all the emotions it invokes in me, pride is not one of them.

The issue can't be viewed as just a standard business decision; the club is not a standard business. Quite frankly, it can't even be viewed as a standard football club decision, as this club is in an almost unique position of having supporter bases in 2 states. They should thank their lucky stars that is still the case too, with all the disrespect that has been shown to the Fitzroy portion of the supporter base. Playing fewer games in Melbourne is one thing, the AFL dictate that and there's likely little the club can do for it (assuming they even want to, which I honestly wonder at times...), but the playing strip is purely down to the club. That was one link to Fitzroy that they could have preserved to help those supporters continue to identify with the club, but they chose to destroy it instead. It can still be repaired, but they still show no inclination to even acknowledge the issue, let alone fix it.

And lastly, all those painfully force-fed quotes from current players and staff about leaving the past in the past and embracing the future are rubbish. Every club honours the successful periods in their history while remaining dedicated to the present and future, but strangely ours is the only one to decide that bastardizing the playing strip is needed in order to do that.

 

[chopperduck]

I really think thelionsroar should extend their reach a bit, make sure people know it's not just about which jumper you like more, but more importantly, just being able to get a say as a member. Would be great to see some more pro paddle pop letters, yet still wanting the same thing, a say in the jumper.

 

[Bert Man]

I could imagine a players like Brown, Black, Rockliff, Adcock and Rich getting on board, however I doubt that would be organised.

 

[jjami15]

As employees of the club they would have to toe the party line and we have already seen this by comments made by Adcock, Brown and Voss. The mobilisation of past players and other high profile people is what is needed. Great to see Chris Johnson on board but we definitely need others. Kevin Rudd, Richard Champion, Kevin Murray come to mind. We he members will need to create the under swell but we certainly need people with higher profiles to be added to the cause.

 

[POBT]

I really think thelionsroar should extend their reach a bit, make sure people know it's not just about which jumper you like more, but more importantly, just being able to get a say as a member. Would be great to see some more pro paddle pop letters, yet still wanting the same thing, a say in the jumper.

Couldn't agree more chopper. The vote is the important thing. Actually, it is more fundamental than that - making sure members and supporters are heard is what matters.

 

[whatboutbob]

Couldn't agree more chopper. The vote is the important thing. Actually, it is more fundamental than that - making sure members and supporters are heard is what matters.

On that theme:


Respect.