The Brisbane Lions tonight inducted 17 inaugural members into the Club’s Hall of Fame in front of a sold out crowd of close to 900 guests at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium, with former Fitzroy champions Kevin Murray and Haydn Bunton awarded immediate ‘Legend’ status.

Murray - the Club’s games record holder and nine-time Best and Fairest winner - and Bunton - a triple Brownlow Medallist - become the first official ‘Lions Legends’.

They join a host of other famous names from Fitzroy, the Bears and the Brisbane Lions, as inaugural members of this exclusive group reserved only for the Club’s absolute ‘best of the best’.

The remaining 15 inductees include: Marcus Ashcroft (Bears/Lions), Fred Hughson (Fitzroy), Nigel Lappin (Bears/Lions), Justin Leppitsch (Bears/Lions), Alastair Lynch (Fitzroy/Bears/Lions), Leigh Matthews (Lions), Jack Moriarty (Fitzroy), John Murphy (Fitzroy), Percy Parratt (Fitzroy), Bernie Quinlan (Fitzroy), Paul Roos (Fitzroy), Allan Ruthven (Fitzroy), Bill Stephen (Fitzroy), Michael Voss (Bears/Lions) and Garry Wilson (Fitzroy).

The Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame was designed to recognise and enshrine the most outstanding players, coaches and administrators from across the Club’s combined 126-year VFL/AFL history.

The Brisbane Lions Board earlier this year established an independent selection committee comprised of four highly respected former Club officials, including Graeme Downie (chairman), Robert Walls, Arthur Wilson and Peter Blucher.

To be eligible for selection, players had to be retired from the game for a period of at least three years, with candidates adjudged on their overall contribution to the Club, as opposed to one specific aspect.

Only a very limited number of individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame every two years, with Brisbane set to host the next induction ceremony in 2014.

Please find below a brief background on each of the Lions’ inaugural Hall of Fame inductees and Legends

MARCUS ASHCROFT

Years
1989-1996 - Brisbane Bears (Player)
1997-2003 - Brisbane Lions (Player)

Games
318 (152 Bears, 166 Lions)

Goals
145 (84 Bears, 61 Lions)

Playing Honours
Lions Premiership Player - 2001, 2002, 2003
First, and only, Queenslander to play 300 AFL games
Has played the second most games (318) in Club history
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006)
Queensland Football Hall of Fame
Queensland Team of the Century
Queensland/Allies State Representative (6 times)

HAYDN BUNTON (LEGEND)

Years
1931-1937, 1942 - Fitzroy (Player)
1936 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
119 (Played)
18 (Coached)

Goals
209

Playing Honours
Brownlow Medallist - 1931, 1932, 1935 (Equal most in VFL/AFL history)
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1934-35
Fitzroy Captain - 1932, 1936-37
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1936-37
AFL Hall of Fame Legend
AFL Team of the Century
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1927-56)
Victorian State Captain - 1937
Victorian State Representative (15 times)

FRED HUGHSON

Years
1938-1947 - Fitzroy (Player)
1943-1947 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
164 (Played)
96 (Coach)

Goals
95

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1943
Fitzroy Premiership Captain - 1944
Fitzroy Premiership Coach - 1944
Fitzroy Captain - 1942-47
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1938
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Captain - 1945
Victorian State Representative (twice)

NIGEL LAPPIN

Years
1994-1996 - Brisbane Bears (Player)
1997-2008 - Brisbane Lions (Player)

Games
279 (61 Bears, 218 Lions)

Goals
174 (40 Bears, 134 Lions)

Playing Honours
Lions Best & Fairest - 2004
Lions Premiership Player - 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Co-Captain - 2007-08
All Australian - 2001-04
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006)
Australian IR Representative
Victoria State Representative

JUSTIN LEPPITSCH

Years
1993-1996 - Brisbane Bears (Player)
1997-2006 - Brisbane Lions (Player)

Games
227 (44 Bears, 183 Lions)

Goals
194 (58 Bears, 136 Lions)

Playing Honours
Lions Best & Fairest - 1999
Lions Premiership Player - 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Leading Goal Kicker - 1997-98
All Australian - 1999, 2002-03
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006)
Australian IR Representative

ALASTAIR LYNCH

Years
1988-1993 - Fitzroy (Player)
1994-1996 - Brisbane Bears (Player)
1997-2004 - Brisbane Lions (Player)

Games
306 (120 Fitzroy, 32 Bears, 154 Lions)

Goals
633 (173 Fitzroy, 89 Bears, 371 Lions)

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1993
Lions Premiership Player - 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Co-Captain - 1997-2000
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1993
Bears Leading Goal Kicker - 1996
Lions Leading Goal Kicker - 2000-03
Holds the record for most goals kicked in Club history (633)
All Australian - 1993
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006)
Tasmanian State Representative (6 times)

LEIGH MATTHEWS

Years
1999-2008 - Brisbane Lions (Coach)

Games
237

Coaching Honours
Lions Premiership Coach - 2001, 2002, 2003
Longest serving coach in Club history (237 games)
All Australian Coach - 2001-03
AFL Hall of Fame Legend
Lions Life Member
Queensland Hall of Fame Legend
Lions Team of the Decade Coach (1997-2006)

JACK MORIARTY

Years
1924-1933 - Fitzroy (Player)

Games
157

Goals
626

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1927
Fitzroy Captain - 1933
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1924-29, 1931-33
VFL Leading Goal Kicker - 1924
Holds record for most goals with Fitzroy (626) Second most in Club history
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
Victorian State Representative (11 times)

JOHN MURPHY

Years
1967-1977 - Fitzroy (Player)

Games
214

Goals
327

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1968, 1970-71, 1973, 1977
Fitzroy Captain - 1973-77
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1971, 1976
AFL Hall of Fame
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1967-1976)
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Representative (9 times)

KEVIN MURRAY (LEGEND)

Years
1955-1964, 1967-74 - Fitzroy (Player)
1963-1964 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
333 (Played)
34 (Coached)

Goals
51

Playing Honours
Brownlow Medallist - 1969
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1956, 1958, 1960-64, 1968-69
Equal record holder for most Best & Fairest awards in VFL/AFL history
Fitzroy Captain - 1963-64, 1967-72
Holds record for most games in Club history
All Australian - 1958
AFL Hall of Fame Legend
AFL Team of the Century
Fitzroy Team of the Century Captain
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1957-66)
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Representative (24 times)

PERCY PARRATT

Years
1908-1917, 1920-1923 - Fitzroy (Player)
1913-1915, 1920-1921 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
196 (Played)
91 (Coached)

Goals
202

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Premiership Player - 1913, 1916, 1922
Fitzroy Premiership Coach - 1913
Fitzroy Captain - 1914-15, 1920-21
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1897-1926)
Lions Life Member
Victorian State Representative (twice)

BERNIE QUINLAN

Years
1978-1986 - Fitzroy (Player)
1995 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
189 (Played)
19 (Coached)

Goals
576

Playing Honours
Brownlow Medallist - 1981
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1981-85
VFL Leading Goal Kicker - 1983-84
Only Lions player to kick 100 goals in a season
Holds Club record for most goals in a season
All Australian - 1983-84
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
AFL Hall of Fame
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Fitzroy Night Premiership Player - 1978
Victorian State Representative (3 times)

PAUL ROOS

Years
1982-1994 - Fitzroy (Player)

Games
269

Goals
270

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1985-86, 1991-92, 1994
Fitzroy Captain - 1988-90, 1992-94
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1990
All Australian Captain - 1991-92
All Australian - 1985-88, 1991-92
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1987-1996)
AFL Hall of Fame
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Representative (14 times)

ALLAN RUTHVEN

Years
1940-1954 - Fitzroy (Player)
1951-1954 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
222 (Played)
57 (Coached)

Goals
442

Playing Honours
Brownlow Medallist - 1950
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1944-46, 1948-49
Fitzroy Captain - 1948, 1950-54
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1944-45, 1954
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
AFL Hall of Fame
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1927-1956)
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Representative (17 times)

BILL STEPHEN

Years
1947-1957 - Fitzroy (Player)
1955-1957, 1965-1970, 1979-1980 - Fitzroy (Coach)

Games
162 (Played)
214 (Coached)

Goals
4

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1950, 1954
Fitzroy Captain - 1955-57
Longest serving coach in Fitzroy history (214 games)
Third longest serving coach in Club history
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
AFL Jack Tits Award - 1996
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Representative (14 times)

MICHAEL VOSS

Playing Career
1992-1996 - Brisbane Bears (Player)
1997-2006 - Brisbane Lions (Player)
2009-Present - Brisbane Lions (Coach)

Games
289 (Played) (79 Bears, 210 Lions)
80* (Coached)
*As at the end of Round 13 2012

Goals
245 (72 Bears, 173 Lions)

Playing Honours
Brownlow Medallist - 1996
Bears Best & Fairest - 1995-96
Lions Best & Fairest - 2000-01, 2003
Lions Premiership Captain - 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Captain - 1997-2006
Longest serving Captain in Club history (10 years)
All Australian - 1996, 1999, 2001-03
Lions Kings of the Pride (1997-2006)
AFL Hall of Fame
Lions Life Member
Lions Team of the Decade Captain (1997-2006)
Queensland Hall of Fame Legend
Queensland Team of the Century Captain

GARRY WILSON

Years
1971-1984 - Fitzroy (Player)

Games
268

Goals
451

Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest - 1972, 1976, 1978-80
Fitzroy Captain - 1981-84
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker - 1972-73
All Australian - 1979-80
AFL Hall of Fame
Fitzroy Team of the Century Vice-Captain
Fitzroy Kings of the Pride (1977-86)
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Fitzroy Night Premiership Player (1978)
Victorian State Captain (1984)
Victorian State Representative (12 times)