1996 Fitzroy Football Club season

113th season of the Fitzroy Football Club June 2026 June 2026 Fitzroy Football Club 1996 Dyson Hore-Lacy Mick Nunan (R1–R14)Alan McConnell (R15–R22) Brad Boyd Whitten OvalOptus Oval Home-and-away 16th (last) Finals series Mitchell Medal Martin Pike Anthony Mellington (22) 13,497 (Round 6 vs ) 5,083 (Round 8 vs ) 9,482Attendances 1996 https://afltables.com/afl/crowds/1996.html AFL Tables 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260214101912/https://afltables.com/afl/crowds/1996.html 14 February 2026 7,628Annual Report 1996 https://footyindustry.com/docs/AFL%201996%20Annual%20Report.pdf AFL 27 August 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20230422152112/https://footyindustry.com/docs/AFL%201996%20Annual%20Report.pdf 22 April 2023The pride of Brisbane town...and Fitzroy https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-pride-of-brisbane-town-and-fitzroy-20030329-gdvgb8.html The Age 27 August 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20181007020255/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-pride-of-brisbane-town-and-fitzroy-20030329-gdvgb8.html 7 October 2018 29 March 2003 1995 2009 The 1996 season was the 100th and final season of the Fitzroy Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and its 113th season overall.Westerman William The Fateful Season – Remembering the Fitzroy Lions and the Tragedy of 1996 https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-books-the-fateful-season-remembering-the-fitzroy-lions-and-the-tragedy-of-1996/ The Footy Almanac 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605040039/https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-books-the-fateful-season-remembering-the-fitzroy-lions-and-the-tragedy-of-1996/ 5 June 2026 6 May 2021 The year saw significant turmoil for the club, which announced during the season that it would merge with the Brisbane Bears.15 years on… https://www.afl.com.au/news/532648/15-years-on AFL.com.au 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605132623/https://www.afl.com.au/news/532648/15-years-on 5 June 2026 4 July 2011 Fitzroy claimed the wooden spoon after finishing last on the ladder for the second season in a row and seventh season overall. The club won just one senior match, defeating by 31 points at Whitten Oval in round 8.De Haer Katie TBT: Fitzroy's last victory https://www.lions.com.au/news/286748/tbt-fitzroys-last-victory Brisbane Lions 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605141355/https://www.lions.com.au/news/286748/tbt-fitzroys-last-victory 5 June 2026 8 June 2017 Its final-ever AFL match was also against Fremantle, when it was defeated by 86 points at Subiaco Oval in round 22.Fitzroy Flashback: The Final Chapter https://www.lions.com.au/news/1196039/fitzroy-flashback-the-final-chapter Brisbane Lions 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605141844/https://www.lions.com.au/news/1196039/fitzroy-flashback-the-final-chapter 5 June 2026 12 August 2022 In the reserves competition, Fitzroy finished tenth out of twelve teams and won seven matches, including its last match of the season.1996 AFL Reserve Grade Competition https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/reserves/104/140/1996 Australian Football 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20180909170313/https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/reserves/104/140/1996 9 September 2018 Following the conclusion of the season, Fitzroy's AFL operations were merged into those of the Brisbane Bears, who became the Brisbane Lions from 1997. Fitzroy did not resume playing operations until 2009, when it merged with the Fitzroy Reds and entered the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).Holmesby Luke Fitzroy back from the dead in alignment with VAFA club https://www.afl.com.au/news/126866/fitzroy-back-from-the-dead-in-alignment-with-vafa-club AFL.com.au 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605045325/https://www.afl.com.au/news/126866/fitzroy-back-from-the-dead-in-alignment-with-vafa-club 5 June 2026 9 December 2008 Season summary Financial troubles and merger Proposed mergers and relocations of the Fitzroy Football Club During the 1986 season, Fitzroy was more than one million dollars in debt. A merger with was proposed but did not occur, while another merger with was announced in October 1989 but collapsed after Footscray supporters secured sufficient money and sponsors to prevent it from taking place. In 1995, Fitzroy general manager John Birt said the club was "strong enough to be here for many years to come".Fitzroy's future secure says chief https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130544031 The Canberra Times 7 June 2026 12 16 April 1995 On 28 June 1996, the Nauru Insurance Company (a creditor of the Fitzroy Football Club), appointed Michael Brennan to administer the affairs of the club to ensure a loan of 1.25 million was to be repaid.Revisiting the Fitzroy and Brisbane merger https://www.theroar.com.au/2012/07/07/revisiting-the-fitzroy-and-brisbane-merger/ The Roar 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605132241/https://www.theroar.com.au/2012/07/07/revisiting-the-fitzroy-and-brisbane-merger/ 5 June 2026 6 July 2012 During the season, there were fears that the club would collapse mid-season because of its lack of cash, but this was averted when the AFL guaranteed funds that allowed Fitzroy to continue in the competition for the remainder of the season.Westerman William The Merger Trilogy: The Room Where It Happened https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/the-merger-trilogy-the-room-where-it-happened/ The Footy Almanac 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20250422040929/https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/the-merger-trilogy-the-room-where-it-happened/ 22 April 2025 5 July 2021 Discussions were most advanced with . By the beginning of July 1996, Fitzroy had agreed to arrangements to become the North Fitzroy Kangaroos Football Club. Negotiations for elements including the new club's colours, guernsey and song were to be settled by the morning of 4 July 1996 by the Fitzroy board. However, later that afternoon, Brennan (who had been appointed to temporarily replace Fitzroy's board) agreed to merge the club's AFL operations with the Brisbane Bears, with the agreement of the AFL Commission and a majority vote of the AFL's constituent clubs.Blucher Peter Moments Of Change: The Merger https://www.lions.com.au/news/1085776/moments-of-change-the-merger Brisbane Lions 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605125540/https://www.lions.com.au/news/1085776/moments-of-change-the-merger 5 June 2026 25 March 2022 AFL chairman Ross Oakley described the Fitzroy–Brisbane merger as "the absolute best outcome for the competition".20 years since "merge day" https://www.lions.com.au/news/14635/20-years-since-merge-day Brisbane Lions 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605125823/https://www.lions.com.au/news/14635/20-years-since-merge-day 5 June 2026 4 July 2016 Round 8: Final AFL win thumb|240px|Whitten Oval pictured in 2007; this was Fitzroy's final VFL/AFL primary home ground and its fourth since leaving Brunswick Street Oval at the end of 1966 Fitzroy's final win in the AFL occurred on 18 May 1996 at Whitten Oval.Blucher Peter Round 8: Remember When... https://www.lions.com.au/news/1118923/round-8-remember-when Brisbane Lions 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20250722210644/https://www.lions.com.au/news/1118923/round-8-remember-when 22 July 2025 6 May 2022 The Lions were playing , who had won three of their first seven matches of the season but were coming off a 96-point loss to . Fitzroy had lost to Fremantle on two occasions during the 1995 season, including in round 3, which was Fremantle's first AFL victory.1995 AFL Premiership Season https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1995 Australian Football 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20250814141935/https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/afl/138/premiership%2Bseason/1/1/1995 14 August 2025Fee Tom Freo facts from 500 games https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/282301/freo-facts-from-500-games Fremantle Football Club 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20250821180936/https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/282301/freo-facts-from-500-games 21 August 2025 21 March 2017 The Lions led at every break and won the match by 31 points. Anthony Mellington kicked four goals, while Chris Johnson recorded 24 disposals and kicked three goals to earn three Brownlow Medal votes.Fitzroy v Fremantle https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1996/060819960518.html AFL Tables 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605134931/https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1996/060819960518.html 5 June 2026 18 May 1996Fitzroy vs Fremantle https://australianfootball.com/game/view/11389 Australian Football 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20230407180705/https://australianfootball.com/game/view/11389 7 April 2023 18 May 1996 It was Fitzroy's first win since round 8 of the 1995 season (364 days prior), ending a 21-match losing streak; its next senior win was in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) almost 13 years later, when they defeated Pra on 18 April 2009.The Amateur Footballer, Week 1, 2009 https://cdn-vafanewsite.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AF_Rd_1_2009.pdf VAFA 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260212120209/https://cdn-vafanewsite.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AF_Rd_1_2009.pdf 12 February 2026 18 April 2009The Amateur Footballer, Week 2, 2009 https://cdn-vafanewsite.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AF_Rd_2_2009.pdf VAFA 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260212131907/https://cdn-vafanewsite.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AF_Rd_2_2009.pdf 12 February 2026 25 April 2009 The crowd of 5,083 was the lowest for any AFL match in 1996, the lowest VFL/AFL crowd at Whitten/Western Oval since 1934, and the lowest-ever crowd for a Fitzroy match at the venue.Western Oval – Attendances (1925-1997) https://afltables.com/afl/crowds/vn_western_oval.html AFL Tables 7 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260124124811/https://www.afltables.com/afl/crowds/vn_western_oval.html 24 January 2026 Playing list A total of 36 players played senior matches for Fitzroy during the 1996 season.Fitzroy Playing List for 1996 https://www.draftguru.com.au/lists/1996/fitzroy Draftguru 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605084501/https://www.draftguru.com.au/lists/1996/fitzroy 5 June 2026The Merger: Where Are They Now? https://www.lions.com.au/news/973233/the-merge-what-happened-next Brisbane Lions 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605140430/https://www.lions.com.au/news/973233/the-merge-what-happened-next 5 June 2026 6 July 2021 Chris Johnson, who later played 205 matches with the Brisbane Lions, was the last remaining player to have been on Fitzroy's AFL list when he retired at the end of 2007.AFL's last Fitzroy player calls it quits https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-08-31/afls-last-fitzroy-player-calls-it-quits/656580 ABC News 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605135555/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-08-31/afls-last-fitzroy-player-calls-it-quits/656580 5 June 2026 31 August 2007Chris Johnson retires https://www.afl.com.au/news/87036/chris-johnson-retires AFL.com.au 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605135900/https://www.afl.com.au/news/87036/chris-johnson-retires 5 June 2026 31 August 2007 No. Player Statistics (season) Statistics (career) Games Goals Games Goals 1 Boyd Brad Boyd 16 6 70 49 2 Johnson Chris Johnson 22 19 59 67 3 Mellington Anthony Mellington 18 22 24 24 4 Paxman Stephen Paxman 21 4 102 18 5 Barker John Barker 21 9 47 12 6 McInnes Brian McInnes 0 0 0 0 7 Molloy Jarrod Molloy 19 13 59 54 8 Pike Martin Pike 22 5 60 40 9 Ramsey Jason Ramsey 2 0 2 0 10 Hogg Jeff Hogg 14 7 184 347 11 McGregor Anthony McGregor 6 3 41 11 12 Primus Matthew Primus 20 5 20 5 13 Frewen Brent Frewen 2 0 2 0 14 Bizzotto Frank Bizzotto 4 0 38 4 15 McMahon Robert McMahon 2 1 2 1 16 Zanotti Mark Zanotti 0 0 157 19 17 Hawking Simon Hawking 16 15 60 30 18 Mitchell Nick Mitchell 0 0 9 2 19 Holmes Darren Holmes 7 1 63 9 20 Dwyer Mick Dwyer 8 3 88 64 21 Cavedon Andrew Cavedon 0 0 28 21 22 Bamford Scott Bamford 22 6 22 6 23 Atkins Simon Atkins 19 6 168 69 24 Cummings Trent Cummings 11 5 27 18 25 McCarthy, J John McCarthy 18 11 163 178 26 Manfield Matthew Manfield 4 0 5 0 27 Chandler Brett Chandler 16 2 28 2 28 Doyle Peter Doyle 7 1 12 2 29 Cassidy Brad Cassidy 14 10 14 10 30 Carter Nick Carter 17 4 17 4 31 Dent Matthew Dent 19 6 47 9 32 Baldwin Jason Baldwin 11 1 125 36 33 Warfe Rowan Warfe 16 0 26 1 34 Morton Danny Morton 16 9 30 17 35 Cook Brett Cook 4 0 25 7 36 Lamb Wayne Lamb 3 3 21 13 37 Rombotis John Rombotis 22 15 26 16 38 McCarthy, A Adam McCarthy 2 0 30 12 39 Warry Marty Warry 5 11 8 11 40 Clayton Shane Clayton 13 1 13 1 41 Bird Peter Bird 3 2 15 7 42 Credlin Nigel Credlin 0 0 0 0 AFL season Lightning Premiership 1996 AFL Lightning Premiership Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Fitzroy's scores indicated in bold) Venue Crowd Ladder Home Away Result 1 Friday, 9 February (7:30 pm) 17 2.5 (17) 40 6.4 (40) 01 Lost by 23 points Waverley Park — — Ansett Australia Cup 1996 Ansett Australia Cup Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Fitzroy's scores indicated in bold) Venue Crowd Ladder Home Away Result 1 Monday, 26 February (8:00 pm) 87 12.15 (87) 111 16.15 (111) 01 Lost by 24 points Waverley Park 4,818 — Home-and-away season 1996 AFL season Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Fitzroy's scores indicated in bold) Venue Crowd Ladder Home Away Result 1 Saturday, 30 March (2:10 pm) 71 11.5 (71) 92 13.14 (92) 03 Lost by 21 points Whitten Oval (H) 10,239 12th 2 Saturday, 6 April (2:10 pm) 101 15.11 (101) 133 21.7 (133) 05 Lost by 32 points Whitten Oval (H) 8,685 13th 3 Saturday, 13 April (2:10 pm) 121 17.19 (121) 70 10.10 (70) 07 Lost by 51 points Whitten Oval (A) 14,345 16th 4 Saturday, 20 April (2:10 pm) 160 24.16 (160) 75 11.9 (75) 14 Lost by 85 points Waverley Park (A) 17,625 16th 5 Sunday, 28 April (2:10 pm) 158 24.14 (158) 49 6.13 (49) 20 Lost by 109 points The Gabba (A) 14,495 16th 6 Saturday, 4 May (2:10 pm) 62 9.8 (62) 154 23.16 (154) 17 Lost by 92 points Whitten Oval (H) 13,497 16th 7 Saturday, 11 May (2:10 pm) 125 18.17 (125) 62 8.14 (62) 09 Lost by 63 points Optus Oval (A) 16,176 16th 8 Saturday, 18 May (2:10 pm) 107 16.11 (107) 76 10.16 (76) 01 Won by 31 points Whitten Oval (H) 5,083 15th 9 Friday, 24 May (8:10 pm) 170 25.20 (170) 65 9.11 (65) 19 Lost by 105 points MCG (A) 19,964 15th 10 Saturday, 8 June (2:10 pm) 67 10.7 (67) 137 21.11 (137) 13 Lost by 70 points Whitten Oval (H) 9,701 16th 11 Sunday, 16 June (2:10 pm) 56 8.8 (56) 119 18.11 (119) 10 Lost by 63 points Whitten Oval (H) 10,836 16th 12 Saturday, 22 June (2:10 pm) 114 17.12 (114) 83 12.11 (83) 04 Lost by 31 points Waverley Park (A) 16,217 16th 13 Saturday, 29 June (2:10 pm) 39 6.3 (39) 166 25.16 (166) 21 Lost by 127 points Whitten Oval (H) 10,504 16th 14 Saturday, 6 July (2:10 pm) 52 7.10 (52) 118 17.16 (118) 11 Lost by 66 points Optus Oval (H) 12,748 16th 15 Friday, 12 July (6:40 pm) 131 20.11 (131) 63 9.9 (63) 12 Lost by 68 points WACA (A) 22,044 16th 16 Sunday, 21 July (2:10 pm) 116 17.14 (116) 76 10.16 (76) 06 Lost by 40 points Victoria Park (A) 23,567 16th 17 Sunday, 28 July (12:40 pm) 166 26.10 (166) 67 9.13 (67) 17 Lost by 99 points Football Park (A) 31,880 16th 18 Sunday, 4 August (2:10 pm) 45 6.9 (45) 60 8.12 (60) 02 Lost by 15 points Whitten Oval (H) 8,757 16th 19 Saturday, 10 August (2:10 pm) 35 5.5 (35) 88 13.10 (88) 08 Lost by 53 points Whitten Oval (H) 7,781 16th 20 Saturday, 17 August (2:10 pm) 100 14.16 (100) 187 29.13 (187) XXX Lost by 87 points Optus Oval (H) 6,469 16th 21 Sunday, 25 August (2:10 pm) 187 28.19 (187) 36 5.6 (36) 22 Lost by 151 points MCG (A) 48,884 16th 22 Sunday, 1 September (12:10 pm) 157 24.13 (157) 71 10.11 (71) 15 Lost by 86 points Subiaco Oval (A) 22,574 16th Ladder 16 Reserves season Home-and-away season Rd Date and local time Opponent Scores (Fitzroy's scores indicated in bold) Venue Crowd Ladder Home Away Result 1 Saturday, 30 March (11:15 am) 61 9.7 (61) 67 9.13 (67) 09 Lost by 6 points Whitten Oval (H) — 7th 2 Sunday, 7 April (10:50 am) 172 26.16 (172) 92 13.14 (92) 22 Lost by 80 points SCG (A) — 11th 3 Saturday, 13 April (11:15 am) 57 9.3 (57) 66 8.18 (66) 07 Won by 9 points Whitten Oval (A) — 10th 4 Saturday, 20 April (11:15 am) 82 11.16 (82) 157 24.13 (157) 03 Won by 75 points Waverley Park (A) — 6th 5 Saturday, 27 April (11:15 am) 168 26.12 (168) 111 17.9 (111) 21 Lost by 57 points Optus Oval (A) — 8th 6 Saturday, 4 May (11:15 am) 155 24.11 (155) 65 9.11 (65) 01 Won by 90 points Whitten Oval (H) — 6th 7 Saturday, 11 May (11:00 am) 70 10.10 (70) 149 23.11 (149) 02 Won by 79 points Optus Oval (A) — 5th 8 Saturday, 18 May (11:15 am) 71 11.5 (71) 110 16.14 (110) 18 Lost by 39 points Whitten Oval (H) — 8th 9 Friday, 24 May (5:15 pm) 103 14.19 (103) 86 12.14 (86) 15 Lost by 17 points MCG (A) — 6th 10 Saturday, 8 June (11:15 am) 76 12.4 (76) 92 13.14 (92) 14 Lost by 16 points Whitten Oval (H) — 8th 11 Sunday, 16 June (11:15 am) 95 14.11 (95) 100 14.16 (100) 08 Lost by 5 points Whitten Oval (H) — 9th 12 Saturday, 22 June (11:15 am) 83 12.11 (83) 134 21.8 (134) 05 Won by 51 points Waverley Park (A) — 9th 13 Saturday, 29 June (11:15 am) 60 9.6 (60) 108 15.18 (108) 19 Lost by 48 points Whitten Oval (H) — 9th 14 Saturday, 6 July (10:45 am) 80 11.14 (80) 70 10.10 (70) 11 Lost by 10 points Windy Hill (A) — 10th 15 Sunday, 14 July (11:00 am) 103 14.19 (103) 95 14.11 (95) 10 Lost by 8 points Whitten Oval (A) — 10th 16 Sunday, 21 July (11:15 am) 99 15.9 (99) 75 11.9 (75) 16 Lost by 24 points Victoria Park (A) — 10th 17 Saturday, 27 July (11:15 am) 76 11.10 (76) 100 14.16 (100) 17 Lost by 24 points Whitten Oval (H) — 10th 18 Sunday, 4 August (12:00 pm) 48 7.6 (48) 100 15.10 (100) 20 Lost by 52 points Whitten Oval (H) — 10th 19 Saturday, 10 August (10:00 am) 97 14.13 (97) 82 12.10 (82) 13 Lost by 15 points Moorabbin Oval (A) — 11th 20 Saturday, 17 August (11:15 am) 77 11.11 (77) 63 10.3 (63) 12 Lost by 14 points Optus Oval (H) — 12th 21 Sunday, 25 August (11:05 am) 75 11.9 (75) 135 19.21 (135) 04 Won by 60 points MCG (A) — 11th 22 Saturday, 31 August (11:15 am) 63 9.9 (63) 108 16.12 (108) 06 Won by 45 points Waverley Park (A) — 10th Awards and milestones Robert McMahon was Fitzroy's 1157th VFL/AFL player and final AFL debutant.Fitzroy's Last Game: An Injustice https://www.lions.com.au/news/700396/fitzroys-last-game-an-injustice Brisbane Lions 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605135203/https://www.lions.com.au/news/700396/fitzroys-last-game-an-injustice 5 June 2026 29 May 2020 Milestones Rd Player Milestone Opponent Venue Ref 1 Scott Bamford AFL debut Whitten Oval Fitzroy – All Time Player List https://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/fitzroy.html AFL Tables 5 June 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260605134807/https://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/fitzroy.html 5 June 2026 Brad Cassidy AFL debut Matthew Primus AFL debut Mick Dwyer Club debut 6 Nick Carter AFL debut Whitten Oval Shane Clayton AFL debut Brent Frewen AFL debut 13 Jason Ramsey AFL debut Whitten Oval 18 Robert McMahon AFL debut Whitten Oval 20 Stephen Paxman 100th AFL game Optus Oval See also 1996 Brisbane Bears season References Category:1996 AFL season Category:1996 in sport in Melbourne 1996