Why Does Brisbane Rarely Acknowledge It's Bears Heritage?

[Riccardo11]

This thread started in 2012, which is interesting, because I remember a number of Bears heritage jumpers being trotted out, pretty sure they alternated between Bears and Fitzroy when the gimmick was on.

Agree they should wear a Bears "inspired" (cerise and yellow) version of their jumper on the Gold Coast (and maybe the reverse home game Vs Suns) as they wear a Fitzroy "inspired" jumper in Melbourne.

 

[PAFC_1870]

I don't think they'd wanna bring up their average past too often. Embrace the new in my opinion.

Bears hardly ever won. Lions changed that quick.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Makes sense for Brisbane to wear their original Bears jumper in the QClash at Metricon since it was the club's original home for its first 6 seasons.
Celebrate the heritage and the derby occasion in one shot!

BTW... were Brisbane hoping that they would be able to move to the Gabba soon back in 1987?
Was there any temptation go with say "Gold Coast Bears" or even "Queensland Bears" when they were at Carrara?

Q Clash jumpers at Metricon Stadium (Carrara)

V

 

[Riccardo11]

I don't think they'd wanna bring up their average past too often. Embrace the new in my opinion.

Bears hardly ever won. Lions changed that quick.

They did make the preliminary final in their last ever season.

It took them a long time to shake off Skase, Pellerman and the "Bad New Bears" tag, but they would be been more than OK going forward on their own in 1997 and beyond.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

South Melbourne relocated to Sydney, so it's whole history should be considered in the record.

Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears to create The Brisbane Lions. As far as I'm concerned, if Fitzroy ceased to exist at the merger, then so should the Bears. The Brisbane Lions records should start once the new club was formed.

 

[Cleavy]

can they bring back the logo, for comedy purposes?

 

[Major Colvin]

I don't think they'd wanna bring up their average past too often. Embrace the new in my opinion.

Bears hardly ever won. Lions changed that quick.

What?

The Bears were making terrific progress (on-field) prior to the merger. The merger de-stablised them (in the early years at least) - they finished last in 1998.

They would surely have won premierships as a stand-alone - the only pick-up they got from Fitzroy that lasted was Chris Johnson.

Remember Freo's first 10 years in the comp? They were rubbish and had access to good picks and resources. The Bears were stationed in what might as well have been outer-Mongolia and bankrolled by failing entrepreneurs - players who were drafted by them (such as D.Jarman) refused to go there - preferring to play in the SANFL. It's a credit to them they managed to recruit the makings of a triple-premiership team in the 1990's.

Their '95-96 seasons were well worth remembering - that huge comeback v the Hawks - they pushed eventual premiers Carlton all the way in the 95 Elimination Final and belted them the following year. I always thought its a bit of a shame that the Bears needed to merge because they were on the brink of a premiership in 1996.

 

[PAFC_1870]

What?

The Bears were making terrific progress (on-field) prior to the merger. The merger de-stablised them (in the early years at least) - they finished last in 1998.

They would surely have won premierships as a stand-alone - the only pick-up they got from Fitzroy that lasted was Chris Johnson.

Remember Freo's first 10 years in the comp? They were rubbish and had access to good picks and resources. The Bears were stationed in what might as well have been outer-Mongolia and bankrolled by failing entrepreneurs - players who were drafted by them (such as D.Jarman) refused to go there - preferring to play in the SANFL. It's a credit to them they managed to recruit the makings of a triple-premiership team in the 1990's.

Their '95-96 seasons were well worth remembering - that huge comeback v the Hawks - they pushed eventual premiers Carlton all the way in the 95 Elimination Final and belted them the following year. I always thought its a bit of a shame that the Bears needed to merge because they were on the brink of a premiership in 1996.

Are you seriously comparing that to what happened in 2001 onwards?

I know what I'd be remembering. It sure as hell ain't the easy beats for years rubbish.

An odd decent year doesn't erase a decade of nothing.

Brink of a premiership? Pretty sure Adelaide and North would have something to say about that.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Are you seriously comparing that to what happened in 2001 onwards?

I know what I'd be remembering. It sure as hell ain't the easy beats for years rubbish.

An odd decent year doesn't erase a decade of nothing.

Remember what you want.

What the Bears built in 10 seasons was remarkable given how badly their hands were tied behind their backs at the outset.

 

[Major Colvin]

Are you seriously comparing that to what happened in 2001 onwards?

I know what I'd be remembering. It sure as hell ain't the easy beats for years rubbish.

An odd decent year doesn't erase a decade of nothing.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. But football club's heritage are worth preserving even if they are not ultimately successful. I'm saying the Bears played in more finals series than Freo did in their first 10 years. And if Freo win the flag this year, all of those unsuccessful seasons have been important stepping stones. Given Brisbane were never given a chance to succeed from their inception - the fact they turned it around by 1996 is an achievement

 

[PAFC_1870]

Remember what you want.

What the Bears built in 10 seasons was remarkable given how badly their hands were tied behind their backs at the outset.

Not denying that. But the real success came after. Simple.

All expansion clubs bar the last two were ****ed over.

 

[Major Colvin]

Not denying that. But the real success came after. Simple.

All expansion clubs bar the last two were stuffed over.

But would they still have been successful without the merger? Arguably, yes. Considering the bulk of 2001-2003 premiership list was at the Bears in 1996

 

[PAFC_1870]

I'm not sure what you're saying here. But football club's heritage are worth preserving even if they are not ultimately successful. I'm saying the Bears played in more finals series than Freo did in their first 10 years. And if Freo win the flag this year, all of those unsuccessful seasons have been important stepping stones. Given Brisbane were never given a chance to succeed from their inception - the fact they turned it around by 1996 is an achievement

What were the crowd and profits like in 1996? I remember the late run they had to make the 8 one year, was admirable. But it doesn't hold a candle to three flags imo.

 

[PAFC_1870]

But would they still have been successful without the merger? Arguably, yes. Considering the bulk of 2001-2003 premiership list was at the Bears in 1996

I personally doubt it. Not 3 flags in rows.

Everyone cried about the super club at the time. Some very handy Fitzroy players won premiership medals.

 

[Major Colvin]

What were the crowd and profits like in 1996? I remember the late run they had to make the 8 one year, was admirable. But it doesn't hold a candle to three flags imo.

No idea about crowd and profits - but the bulk of the team that played finals there in 95-96 - went on win premierships. One lead to the other.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I personally doubt it. Not 3 flags in rows.

You're moving the goal posts around a lot here mate. You've gone from saying the Bears are something the Lions wouldn't want to remind people of to saying "umm, yeah, well, they probably wouldn't have won three in a row".

 

[Major Colvin]

I personally doubt it. Not 3 flags in rows.

Everyone cried about the super club at the time. Some very handy Fitzroy players won premiership medals.

Chris Johnson is the only one (from the 8 players the Bears "absorbed" from Fitzroy's fallout). I guess you could say Jonathon Brown too because he was a Fitzroy F/S?

 

[PAFC_1870]

Chris Johnson is the only one (from the 8 players the Bears "absorbed" from Fitzroy's fallout). I guess you could say Jonathon Brown too because he was a Fitzroy F/S?

Well he'd count then. Lynch???

Pretty sure they were infinitely better thanks to the merger.

 

[PAFC_1870]

You're moving the goal posts around a lot here mate. You've gone from saying the Bears are something the Lions wouldn't want to remind people of to saying "umm, yeah, well, they probably wouldn't have won three in a row".

In 100 years people will still talk about the 3 flags and one of the greatest teams of all time. I'd be bringing that up over the Bears.

 

[Kram]

Well he'd count then. Lynch???

Lynch went up to the Bears about 3 years before the merger iirc.

 

[Scotland]

Why did Brisbane start playing at Carrara anyway? Just because of the dog track?

 

[Major Colvin]

Well he'd count then. Lynch???

Pretty sure they were infinitely better thanks to the merger.

Lynch moved to the Bears in 94 I think. They weren't "infinitely better" - in fact they got much worse (finishing last in 1998) before Leigh Matthews came and turned the ship around, but that was not a consequence of the merger.

Perhaps the merger provided better financial stability - but the core group of premiership players - Voss, Aker, Lappin, Lynch, Leppitsch, D.White, Ashcroft, Chris Scott, Shaun Hart were all a product of the Bears.

 

[PAFC_1870]

Lynch went up to the Bears about 3 years before the merger iirc.

Uh no worries.

 

[Riccardo11]

Why did Brisbane start playing at Carrara anyway? Just because of the dog track?

Christopher Skase was the owner and he wanted them to play there. Even when it was blindingly obvious to everyone it was a disaster and the VFL pretty much demanded he move them to the Gabba, he point blank refused, and was adamant the future was on the Gold Coast.

Interestingly enough, amongst the monies owed to the bank when he absconded to Majorca was the loan for the original licence fee paid to the VFL for the Brisbane Bears!

 

[Major Colvin]

In 100 years people will still talk about the 3 flags and one of the greatest teams of all time. I'd be bringing that up over the Bears.

There'd be no Brisbane Lions without the Brisbane Bears.

Interestingly, I think what wouldve happened if the Roys had merged with North? Would they have won more flags? Perhaps, perhaps not. It would have been unfortunate though if people forgot about the Kangaroos and only remembered the North Melbourne Lions - or whatever they were to be called.