"As a result of negotiations held over the summer between the Fitzroy Football Club and the Brisbane Lions, the Brisbane Lions announced today (Thurs. 10/2/05) that they would wear the Fitzroy heritage jumper for a game in Melbourne in addition to the Heritage Round that will be played in Sydney in August. (Sat. Night 13th August). The wearing of our jumper for a game in Melbourne has come about because of the failure of the Lions to play the minimum number of games in Melbourne as required by the Merger agreement.

The Merger Agreement is more correctly called the Deed of Company Arrangement and was executed on the 4th August, 1996, by the then registered Brisbane Bears Football Club and the Fitzroy Football Club. Whilst the administrator, the late Michael Brennan, completed his administration on the 19th December, 1996, certain provisions of the Deed continue on to this day.

Clause 7.2 (c) "The Logo of the Merged Club will be the Fitzroy Lion logo in perpetuity."

Clause 7.2 (h) The Merged Club will play one half of the total number of home and away games per season at the Gabba and as many Melbourne based away premiership games as possible will be played at Optus Oval or the Melbourne Cricket Ground (but not less than 6) with any other away premiership games at any of Waverley, Optus Oval or the Melbourne Cricket Ground at which Melbourne based members of the Merged Club will have home ground status (in respect of which Brisbane Bears will make a contribution to gate receipts of an amount determined by AFL); and

Clause 7.2 (i) Fitzroy's coterie groups will have the right to take up commensurate arrangements in the Merged Club including the designated away games played in Melbourne.

The Fitzroy Football Club is a party to this Agreement and we will always endeavour to represent our members and Fitzroy supporters in general to ensure that these commitments made by Brisbane and Fitzroy eight and a half years ago will always be adhered to."