Lions.com.au recently caught up with former Captain and five-time Best & Fairest winner Garry Wilson to discuss his time at Fitzroy, some of his former team-mates and modern-day football.

What are some of your fondest memories from your playing days with Fitzroy?

I started in 1971 and when I arrived at the Club, “Mr Fitzroy” Kevin Murray was Captain and I got to play with him for four years.

In 1978 we started to have some success. We won the Night Premiership against North Melbourne - who were the day Premiers that year - and made the Finals in 1979 and regularly in the early 80s.

Throughout the latter part of my career we had a great win/loss ratio and I played in seven Finals.

I played in some good sides and some not-so-good sides.

You were fortunate to play during a pretty successful era at Fitzroy. In your opinion, which year was the closest the Club came to winning another VFL Premiership?

I retired at the end of 1984, but we had a really strong side from 1979 right through to 1986. I wasn’t there at the time, but the Club played in the Preliminary Final in 1986.

We had a tremendous side over that time and our win/loss ratio was probably second to none.

I remember Hawthorn beat us by a few points in the 1983 Qualifying Final and Collingwood beat us by one point in the 1981 Semi Final.

There were a couple of close ones, but we just couldn’t quite get to the big one.

You famously wore a helmet towards the latter stage of your career. How did that come about? Would you recommend more current footballers to wear one?

I think it's an individual thing. But if you had a preference, you wouldn't wear one.

I wore one at the suggestion of our doctor at the time, Dr John Fraser, after having probably five or six really severe concussions, and another 15-20 cases of blurred vision.

I had certainly developed a weakness to what I thought were reasonably light knocks.

I played for 14 years and wore a helmet for the last four. So I still played 10 years without a helmet.

I've also had a depressed fractured cheekbone which required an operation and cost me five weeks. And I cracked my jaw a couple of times as well. But concussions are different. If you have a number of severe concussions, it can have long term effects. I went to a neurologist at one time, and had to take their professional advice.

What are your thoughts on the modern game? Do you still keep an interest in the AFL?

I still enjoy watching the game, although I do get a bit frustrated sometimes with the 15 metre kicks.

But it’s a fantastic spectacle and there are some great players. I particularly look forward to attending the Finals every year - I don’t miss the Finals, I’m always at the MCG.

I would still like to tinker with the rules a little bit because I think 15 metres is too short for a mark nowadays. Maybe they could stretch that out to 20 metres or 25 metres to stop the kicking around a bit.

How about the Brisbane Lions, do you maintain a connection with the Club?

Yes, I still take a keen interest in how the Lions are going.

I also used to play with Jonathan’s dad Brian Brown so there’s a good connection there.

Jonathan supported Fitzroy growing up in Warrnambool and the Hampton League was Fitzroy’s own back then. So he’s got a long connection with the Fitzroy Football Club as well which is really good.

The Brisbane Lions will hold its inaugural Hall of Fame event in Melbourne on Saturday 23 June to honour some of the Club’s past greats. Who, from your time at Fitzroy, would you consider to be worthy Hall of Famers?

Kevin Murray is the obvious one that comes to mind. He won nine Best & Fairest awards and is already a ‘Legend’ in the AFL Hall of Fame. What a career he had.

John Murphy won five Best & Fairests at Fitzroy. He was a super player, but was still underrated.

Then there’s Bernie Quinlan who came from Footscray and won a Brownlow Medal and kicked 100 goals in a couple of seasons.

At the end of my career, I was fortunate enough to be Captain for four years, then Paul Roos came along and had a fantastic career with Fitzroy.

They’re probably the players that come to mind through my era.

I think the Brisbane Lions have done a terrific job in incorporating the history of the Fitzroy Football Club anyway, but the Hall of Fame is just another positive step towards amalgamating the three clubs.

Garry Wilson played 268 matches with Fitzroy from 1971-1984. He won five Best & Fairests (1972, 1976, 1978-80), was Captain from 1981-84, led the Club's goal-kicking for two seasons (1972-73) and was a two-time All-Australian (1979-80). Wilson was also named as Vice-Captain in Fitzroy's Team of the Century.