Official AFL records show that the merged Brisbane Lions are one of five clubs to have never won a pre-season premiership.

But the Club itself proudly boasts two such premierships throughout its uniquely combined history, courtesy of Fitzroy’s triumphs in 1959 and 1978 during what was then known as the ‘Night Series’.

The ‘Night Series’ first started back in 1956 and has since taken on many different forms – including the current pre-season format which has been in place since 1988.

So technically, it’s been 35 years since the Club has tasted success in the VFL/AFL’s ‘secondary’ premiership.

On that occasion, Fitzroy produced one of their most stunning performances to trounce reigning VFL Premiers North Melbourne by 76 points.

Back in those days, night matches were held on Tuesdays at Waverley Park and the Grand Final was held midway through the regular season. 

At the time, North Melbourne were the competition benchmark and sitting atop the VFL ladder, while Fitzroy were consigned to the bottom.

To compound matters for the ‘Roys, they were forced to enter the match without injured Captain and star defender Harvey Merrigan.

Garry Wilson was temporarily handed the captaincy duties, and along with coach Graham Campbell, helped steer the team to a remarkable win.

It’s believed that Campbell’s winning move was rotating Fitzroy's mid-season purchases Robert Walls (from Carlton) and Bernie Quinlan (from Footscray) through the half-forward line.

Quinlan, in particular, set his new club alight when he booted a 75-metre goal midway through the third quarter. It was one of the team’s seven for the term, while the Kangaroos managed just a solitary behind.

In fact, North Melbourne managed just two goals for the match – both of which came in the opening four minutes of play.

By the time the final siren had sounded, even Lions fans couldn’t quite believe the scoreboard, which read 13.18 (96) to 2.8 (20) in their team’s favour.

It was Fitzroy's first senior title since the 1959 Night Series when it defeated Hawthorn. Coincidentally, coach Graham Campbell played for Fitzroy in that particular game and kicked two goals.

Although Fitzroy were languishing at the bottom of the ladder at the time of the 1978 Night Grand Final, they went on win eight games and finish ninth at the end of the season.

More importantly, it sparked the Roys’ resurgence as one of the competition’s powerhouses throughout the 1980s.   

Lions Hall of Famer Garry Wilson told lions.com.au earlier this week that the 1978 Night Series Grand Final remained one of the highlights of his illustrious football career.

“It certainly ranks up there very highly,” Wilson said.

“Back in those days it was a mid-week competition at Waverley and the Night Premiership was well sought after. North Melbourne were a powerhouse, and we annihilated them.”

“Winning the Night premiership was also a lead-up to us playing Finals in the ensuing years, and we became one of the best sides in the competition.”

“We made Finals in 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1984. It really was the start of Fitzroy becoming a really solid team.”

A fresh-faced Laurie Serafini was also a member of Fitzroy’s 1978 Night premiership side.

“It was when games were in the middle of the year and it was very exciting. Fitzroy weren’t world-beaters and to get on TV was a pretty big deal,” Serafini remembered.

“North Melbourne were a powerhouse – they had guys like Malcolm Blight, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Keith Greig. We were underdogs.”

“After probably my first ever game and representing Victoria, it was definitely one of the highlights of my career.”

So while a Night / NAB Cup title pales in significance compared to a senior VFL/AFL premiership, the importance of it should never be understated.

Just ask the likes of Wilson, Quinlan, and Serafini whose only senior VFL premiership appearance came in Fitzroy’s Night Grand Final win over North Melbourne back in 1978.

Lions Legend Kevin Murray also tasted VFL premiership success for the only time in Fitzroy’s 1959 Night Series triumph.

NAB CUP AND NIGHT SERIES HISTORY

The current pre-season competition has its origins in a post-season competition which began in 1956 as the VFL Night Premiership. Back then, the Night Series was originally contested by the eight teams that missed the VFL finals.

After a hiatus, the Night Series returned in a completely new format, as a mid-season competition with some pre-season games, and able to be contested by teams from outside the VFL. Eventually, as this format fell out of favour, the entire competition was switched to the pre-season.

As such, even though there are three completely different eras of the Night Series/Pre-Season, all three formats are considered to be historically equivalent; that is, a team will usually speak of its night premierships and pre-season premierships collectively, despite the widely different formats under which they were won.