Recalling the old Lions
How Fitzroy history refuses to fade away
THERE is a letter Alan McConnell has kept with other prized pieces of memorabilia from Fitzroy’s demise.
It is written by a heartbroken supporter and tells the tale of the proud club’s final days and the pain fans felt of a merger with Brisbane.
“I’ve still got a letter about how I was personally responsible for shattering their love of the footy club,” McConnell said. “It was like going to a state funeral for eight weeks. It was tough.”
This week marks 24 years since merger plans were formalised and the club packed its bags north.
Former Geelong assistant McConnell was at the helm for the final months, called in for a second stint as interim coach.
He was appointed caretaker in 1995 after Bernie Quinlan was sacked and returned the following year when Michael Nunan stood down when the merger was formalised.
“I thought on the first occasion I could make a difference and contribute to the wellbeing and performance of the players and also where the club might want to go,” McConnell said.
“The second time, I didn’t think that was true.”
McConnell was in charge for eight games in 1996, taking over a “disjointed group”.
“It was a different and unique time and the reality is, the closer we got to the end of the season, the more fractured the group became,” he said.
“We had a group of players who committed to contracts with Brisbane, we had a couple more who were hoping to contract with Brisbane, we had another group of players who were hoping for an opportunity beyond the merger through the draft and then we had another group of players, both old and young, who probably sensed their time was up.
“There was a sense of helplessness. It was pretty unique circumstances … but the closer we got to the end, the more disjointed the group became.”
A group of Fitzroy players joined Brisbane, including Chris Johnson, who would play in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 flags.
Simon Hawking was on traded to Sydney and Brisbane used the selection it received to recruit Brownlow medallist Simon Black.
“Pretty fair pick,” McConnell said. “There were a couple of good players that came out of it that ultimately influenced their three-peat.”
McConnell coached Fitzroy’s final eight games and has held on to “a lot of documents, letters, bits and pieces of memorabilia”.
The margins in the final three games were 87, 151 and 86 points. The final bow came against Fremantle at Subiaco.
“The greatest disappointment of all was the fact in that last eight weeks, we weren’t able to give our supporter base something to cheer about — a fond farewell,” he said.
He said the collection of letters and documents showed the passion attached to the game. “We’re talking about it 24 years on, another 24, 25 years time …” he said.
“I think it tells something about the significance of football in the lives of Australians and in particular Victorians and those that followed the Fitzroy footy club.
“In that context, it’s an important piece of history and that’s why I’ve kept it, not because I go and dwell on it too often.”
McConnell, 63, is now GWS’ women’s coach and will be in the SCG stands when Geelong meets Brisbane tonight.
He attended the 2001 grand final victory with his son Ben, but has no attachment to the Lions.
“Footy’s a business,” he said. “It is a business but it’s a business with an awful lot of passion attached to it and you can’t work within it if you don’t have a drive and a passion.”
Any fondness attached to Brisbane’s second coming?
“I work for the Giants.”
He has not read the letter for a few years but does not need reminding of what the game means to the community. “It’s something that reflects just how passionate people are about our game and why it’s such a great game and great to be a part of,” he said.