When it was officially announced on 4 July 1996 that Fitzroy would merge with the Brisbane Bears to form the Brisbane Lions, one of the Club’s newest draftees, Darcy Gardiner, was yet to celebrate his first birthday.

This stat goes to prove that the next generation of AFL players will have little to no first-hand knowledge of the two clubs that merged to form what is now known as the Brisbane Lions.

But the Lions go to great lengths to ensure that its players understand the proud and unique history of the Club they now represent.

Part of that process took place during one of the breaks in the recent AFLPA induction program in Melbourne, when the Lions’ 10 first-year players were taken on a tour of the Historical Society Museum located at Etihad Stadium.

The Museum houses the most comprehensive collection of artefacts from Fitzroy’s long history, and includes an exceptional new display featuring loaned items from some of the Club’s all-time greats such as Kevin Murray, Haydn Bunton, and Garry Wilson.

It provided the newest Lions recruits with a visual representation of the Club’s proud combined history.

The Club’s Manager of Welfare, Leadership and Culture, Manny Lynch, said the visit to the Museum was an important part of the players’ education process.

“The whole of the Lions’ history has been overshadowed a bit by the success of the early 2000s. Some of the younger generation forget that our Club had a rich and proud history long before those recent premierships,” Lynch said.

“It’s also important for them to understand that there is such a strong grounding here in Melbourne.

“To see that wonderful display here at Etihad Stadium helps them realise that they’re part of something quite significant.”

The players were suitably impressed with the display, and were quick to share their experience through social media channels.

“Another one would fit nicely,” Nick Robertson Tweeted along with a picture of him standing alongside seven of Fitzroy’s premiership cups (pictured below).

Darcy Gardiner and Tom Cutler, meanwhile, said the visit certainly opened their eyes to the extent of the Club’s former glories.

“I obviously didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I knew about the Club,” Gardiner said.

“Being a Melbourne boy, I was aware of Fitzroy’s existence, but didn’t know a lot about some of the Club legends like Kevin Murray.

“There are a handful of names of older players on my locker at the Gabba, and it makes me want to do a bit more research on each of them.”

Cutler recognised some of the famous names that appeared in the Museum, and now hopes to one day make his own history with the Club.

“I’m obviously aware of the merger, and some of the old players like Paul Roos whose names appear in the locker room,” he said.

“I don’t actually have any 100+ gamers on my (#26) locker so far, so there’s a bit of an incentive to make your own mark on that jumper.

“But, at the same time, it would be nice to wear a number that is famous at the Club.”

Find out how and when you can visit the Historical Society Museum at Etihad Stadium