11 Premierships. Nine Brownlow Medallists. 21 All Australians. Four VFL/AFL leading goal-kickers. 20 Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees.

These are just a few of the Brisbane Lions’ most outstanding achievements throughout 126 years of combined VFL/AFL history.

It’s a history unlike any other - representing 100 years of Fitzroy and 10 years of the Brisbane Bears, as well as the ongoing Brisbane Lions who are in their 16th season since the historic merge.

Tonight at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium, the Club will honour the best players from across a range of different eras at the inaugural Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame.

Current Lions Captain Jonathan Brown said he and he team-mates were looking forward to attending the night and acknowledging the Club’s history by wearing a heritage-style guernsey during Saturday’s match against the Western Bulldogs.

Brown’s history with the Lions extends further than just his 13-year playing career. In fact, he grew up a passionate Lions supporter given his father Brian played 51 games with Fitzroy in the late 70s and early 80s.

His uncle (from his mother’s side) Noel Mugavin also played with Fitzroy in the same era as his father.

“The old Fitzroy jumper obviously means a hell of lot to me,” Brown said.

“My old man Brian wore it back in the 70s and 80s, and one of my most prized memorabilia items is a piece I got framed up which has one of my Dad’s old Fitzroy jumpers alongside the one the Lions wore as a one-off back in 2009.”

“No doubt the one we wear on Saturday will stir a few emotions up among the old Fitzroy crowd.”

The current Lions players were treated to a visit from Fitzroy great Garry Wilson prior to Friday’s training session in Melbourne, while Club icon Kevin Murray was among the small crowd of supporters watching the team go through their paces at the Albert Park Hocky and Tennis Centre.

Brown said these interactions with the former players certainly helped educate his young side in the Club’s origins.

“It’s important for our younger blokes to get an understanding of where this Club has come from,” Brown said.

“We’re relatively new in terms of the Brisbane Lions, but still have a proud history in the competition that is a long as any other clubs’.”

“Some of our younger players are still teenagers, and would have only been around a few years old when Fitzroy and the Bears merged back in 1996. They might recognise a few old names here and there, but occasions like these can really help educate them on what this Club’s all about.”

“Hopefully it can help spur the boys on against the Bulldogs.”