The Brisbane Lions today launched the Club’s second Hall of Fame event, which will be held in Brisbane for the first time on Wednesday 21 May – prior to the Lions’ Round 10 Bye.
The Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame was introduced in 2012 and is designed to recognise and enshrine the most outstanding players, coaches and administrators across the Club’s merged VFL/AFL history – including Fitzroy, the Bears, and the Brisbane Lions.
The inaugural Hall of Fame event was held at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium in 2012, with a sold out crowd of over 900 people celebrating the Club’s first 17 inductees.
View the inductees from the inaugural 2012 Hall of Fame event
The prestigious event now heads to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre to celebrate the next wave of inductees.
Book tickets to the 2014 Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame event in Brisbane
Two of the inaugural inductees – Lions Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch and former premiership teammate Alastair Lynch – said their inclusion into the Hall of Fame in 2012 ranked among their career highlights.
“There have been some outstanding players, coaches and administrators associated with the Club throughout its history – which dates right back to the late 1800s with Fitzroy,” Leppitsch said.
“It was humbling to be recognised among some of the all-time greats of the game such as Kevin Murray, Paul Roos, and Michael Voss. The night I was inducted will be one of my fondest football memories."
“I certainly don’t envy the job of the selectors and I am sure there will be some tough calls this year."
As one of only two players to have represented Fitzroy, the Bears, and the Brisbane Lions, Lynch said the Hall of Fame initiative was important in helping bring together all arms of the Club’s history.
“I’m privileged to have a strong background with both Fitzroy and Brisbane, so to see the ‘old’ mixed with the ‘new’ is really pleasing,” Lynch said.
“Obviously the players from the premiership sides of the early 2000s are still fresh in peoples’ memories, but many forget that Fitzroy were a powerhouse in the early stages of the VFL competition and won seven premierships in the first two decades.
“So I’m sure there will be more than a couple blasts from the past in there as well.
“The 2012 event in Melbourne was a special night, and I’m sure the Brisbane will be just as memorable. No doubt the local Lions fans will be itching to get along and be part of the celebration.”
The Hall of Fame selection committee remains unchanged from 2012, and is made up of four highly respected and knowledgeable former Club officials in Graeme Downie (Chairman), Peter Blucher, Robert Walls, and Arthur Wilson.
The committee has already begun preliminary discussions surrounding potential candidates and can also add a third ‘Legend’ should they choose.
The Lions also revealed that the Club will wear a commemorative Hall of Fame guernsey for their Round 8 match against Essendon at the Gabba.
The guernsey will be inspired by a former Brisbane Bears design in recognition of the first Hall of Fame event in Queensland.
The final guernsey design will be selected by Lions fans, who will have the opportunity to choose between three design options in an online poll.
The Brisbane Lions Hall of Fame is held every two years, with the official ceremonies to be alternated between Melbourne and Brisbane.
