AFL: While he might not be featuring in the Grand Final, Oscar McInerney will still have an impact, with Big O serving as extra motivation for the Lions according to Dayne Zorko.
For an instant at the Royal Derby Hotel in Fitzroy on Thursday night, one might have been forgiven for thinking Lions star Charlie Cameron had just kicked a goal to secure the AFL grand final .
The Swans and Lions have become modern-day powers north of the ‘Barassi line’ but both Sydney and Brisbane actively engage in their past, as evidenced by the vibrant history that dots the streets and pars of their former suburbs in MelbourneAt every turn in Fitzroy on Thursday night, and also across South Melbourne, the celebration of the past and present of the grand final aspirants was on display in the lead-in to what is expected to be the highest-rating AFL grand final ever.
It was a raucous atmosphere evident in some of the other pubs in the suburb which serve as museums to another era when the Fitzroy Maroons, Gorillas and then Lions starred. The Swans and Lions have become modern-day powers north of the ‘Barassi line’ but both Sydney and Brisbane actively engage in their past, as evidenced by the vibrant history that dots the streets and pars of their former suburbs in MelbourneThe front bar is a classic. A moose head decked out with a Lions scarf is eye-catching amid a treasure trove of fabulous memorabilia including a photo of revered legend Kevin Murray, the 1969 Brownlow Medallist.
“The stand at Brighton Homes Arena , for example, is very deliberately architecturally consistent with the grandstand at the Brunswick St Oval. Last year the Lions approached the family of the preacher, after whom the AFL’s Indigenous round is named, and received permission to take cuttings from the Moreton Bay Fig Tree.
“It means a heap to me, because there was a time with the Bears when they were coming to Melbourne where there was not much support at all, and obviously the merger was tough for a lot of people, but then to build that passionate support wherever the club goes, but especially down here, to have that passionate Lions support in the crowd, and we see it around the streets in Fitzroy as well … it is good.
Actor Paul Cronin and infamous tycoon Christopher Skase financed the Lions but the financial promises never came to fruition and the Bears were on life support in the 1990s. The harrowing end to the Lions meant some former players and fans could not stomach being involved with the Queensland reincarnation. Others took decades to overcome their despair and disconnect.that a phone call in 2019 informing him that he would be inducted into the Lions Hall of Fame reconnected his interest in the club.
“But incrementally there’s been steps to reclaim it. Obviously getting the guernsey back was a big part of it, but to be here with this many people here in the Royal Derby, it feels like almost like the club has had marriage counselling between the Brisbane and Fitzroy arms and we’ve worked things out and now we’re a happy union once again.”
“Now we are seeing lots of fives on the back, so they are clearly great role models. And it is not just Isaac. There are so many of these guys who are cult heroes to Swans people.”Watching Sydney and Brisbane play footy in front of packed houses at the SCG and the Gabba over the past season has been breathtaking.
The Swans and Lions have become modern-day powers north of the ‘Barassi line’ but both Sydney and Brisbane actively engage in their past, as evidenced by the vibrant history that dots the streets and pars of their former suburbs in Melbourne“If you look at the fan bases - the AFL has research and Roy Morgan does the same thing each year - and it measures fandom … and to give you an idea of the impact, the Sydney Swans have the most fans of any sporting code in the country,” Pridham said.
“Quite often, particularly against some of the smaller Victorian clubs, we will have as many supporters at an away game as the home team does, which is just fantastic and the players love that,” Pridham said.
Derby Hotel South Melbourne Footy World Works Grand Finals Alastair Lynch Club President Clubs Underscore Moose Head Melbourne Rules Territory Adam Goodes Brisbane Office GOLD Preliminary Final Kevin Murray Paul Roos Fabulous Fig Tree Isaac Heeney Royal Derby Hotel Andrew Pridham Grand Final Paul Cronin Victoria Perth Gerard Healy Greg Williams Healing Moment West Coast Eagles Role Models The Gabba Sporting Code Brian Life Support Australian Football League Andrew Wellington Home Team Football State Crowd Breaks Home Away From Home Footy Club Doug Nicholls Colours Maroon John Denver Sydney Swans History Courtney Walsh Geoffrey Edelsten Western Australia New South Wales Fan Bases Fremantle Dockers Treasure Trove Marquee Players Oscar Mcinerney Core Fans Success Helps Oceania Players Love Charlie Cameron Sydney Swans Richard Osborne Brisbane Lions Premiership Posters Ownership Venture Grand Final Aspirants Brisbane Board Christopher Skase Rugby League Country Cult Heroes Australia And New Zealand Three-Time Premiership Hero Guy Pearce Box Office Inc. Three-Time Premiership Chris Johnson John Longmire Lance Franklin John Barker Cheer Squad National Competition Club Chairman Napier Hotel BOX OFFICE GOLD Australia Queensland
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