Marika Dobbin The boys from old Fitzroy, The Age August 16th 2004

 

HE WAS the last Fitzroy Lion left standing.

When Brisbane Lions co-captain Chris Johnson was chaired from the Gabba at the end of last season, he took with him into retirement the last playing relic of the "mighty Roys".

What remains of Fitzroy in the AFL in 2008 are the links forged with Brisbane over 12 years since the two clubs merged and the famous Fitzroy colours, which the Brisbane Lions now wear as an away strip, except in the case of a jumper clash.

Of all the men to wear the maroon and blue for Fitzroy over 113 years or more, none have done it more proudly than Brisbane's Jonathan Brown, Luke Power, Travis Johnstone and Troy Selwood.

Each has a connection to Fitzroy older than they are themselves.

Their stories are of family allegiances and defiant support that manifest the emotion of all Fitzroy fans who hung in to the bitter end.

Each is determined to prove that the beloved club of their childhood lives on, not just in hearts and minds but on the field.

These players claim to carry the soul of old Fitzroy with them, and so do their teammates. These are their stories.

TRAVIS JOHNSTONE

MY GRANDFATHER, Norm Johnstone, played 228 games for Fitzroy and was one of the toughest of his era, earning him a place in the Lions' Team of the Century.

Pop was the main reason I wanted to be traded to Brisbane from Melbourne Football Club at the end of last season.

I waited until the deal was signed before driving down to the house in Mordialloc where my grandparents have always lived, to break the news.

Pop is reserved in what he says to me, but I could see in his eyes that he was proud. My grandparents had fallen on hard times in the past two years and it brought a smile to their faces. They and my parents were very excited for me.

I've worn the Fitzroy colours in three away games this season and it's pretty special to belong to the same tradition as my grandfather — it was a good feeling. I can't wait to wear the jumper again because it shows that Fitzroy has not been forgotten.

Pop is pretty quiet about his playing days, but deep down I know he's proud of what he achieved. I've heard from other people how ruthless he was and the way he went about representing Fitzroy. He is still a pretty big name with Fitzroy supporters.

Of course, my dad and uncles grew up barracking for Fitzroy. When I was 16, my whole family went to support Pop at Fitzroy's last game at the MCG. We sat in the stands with many of the old players and it was a sad day for everyone, seeing the demise of a club that had been so strong in the past.

However, I think the Brisbane Lions have done a lot as a club to build and maintain a connection with the past, which has been fortunate for Fitzroy supporters.

TROY SELWOOD

I'VE loved football since I was born and Fitzroy footy club was everything to me as a kid.

Growing up in Bendigo, I was the only one of four boys to follow my dad in barracking for Fitzroy, probably because they were pretty woeful at the time. In fact, I remember being the only kid at St Therese's primary who wore the red, blue and yellow colours to school in the 1980s and '90s.

If Fitzroy got within six goals of a side or we put in a good effort, I'd wear my scarf to school and treat it like a victory.

We beat Fremantle in 1996, our last victory before the merger, and I wore my Fitzroy jumper for the entire week. I was just so ecstatic.

There was a park across the road from our house and I'd spend hours there with my brothers pretending to be Darren "Doc" Wheildon and trying to snap goals over my shoulder.

However, John Blakey was my No. 1 idol and when I first came to Brisbane, Blakey was an assistant coach. Being able to work closely with him was pretty special.

Brisbane was one of only two clubs not to interview me at draft camp — I was that shattered. I thought, "How dare they? They don't understand how much I love the club."

When Brisbane selected me in the draft it was totally unexpected, but it's worked out so well. I'm living the dream.

The first time I wore Fitzroy colours, Brisbane was playing my brother's team, West Coast, in Perth. I put on the jumper at training and got goose bumps. It turned out that game was the most amazing win I've ever had in my football career. We beat the reigning premier.

In Victoria you still see so many fans wearing raggedy, old Fitzroy jumpers, and I just think it's so good they've refused to believe Fitzroy is dead. It is still going strong.

There's no doubt in my mind that when I run out to play, I'm not just representing the Brisbane Lions, but also Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. I'm playing for three clubs.

LUKE POWER

MY DAD grew up around the corner from Brunswick Street Oval and would walk around with his brothers to watch Fitzroy play.

I was the middle of three boys and we took on Dad's allegiance.

Every week without fail we'd go to the game in our Fitzroy jumpers, socks, shorts and boots. Afterwards, we'd hop the fence to have a kick and bash each other for hours, while our parents drank in the bar.

It's funny, because a lot of Victorian Brisbane Lions' fans still remember us as kids.

The memory that stands out most for me was missing one game for the 1986 season because I was sick. It just happened to be one of the greatest finals of all time: our semi against Essendon where Mick Conlan goaled close to the siren and got us over the line.

I used to like Paul Roos, Richard Osborne and Gary Pert. My younger brother Sam, who now plays for North Melbourne, loved Paul Broderick.

In the latter years, we used to love Alastair Lynch, Chris Johnson, Martin Pike and Jarrod Molloy all of whom I eventually played with, which was amazing for me.

Like all Fitzroy supporters, my family was sad to see the club leave Victoria. However, since I've been playing for the Lions, I see the reasons and merit behind merging with Brisbane.

I think the premiership successes of 2001-03 healed a lot of wounds and many Fitzroy people were very proud about it.

The club's done a good job of honouring the past, you just have to look the walls at the Gabba to see how much we respect Fitzroy.

The first time I wore the Fitzroy colours was in 2003 against Collingwood. It had special meaning for me and I know Dad was proud of me wearing the jumper he grew up supporting. Dad was pretty quick to grab it off me at the end of the game for safekeeping.

JONATHAN BROWN

MY FATHER, Brian, and my uncle, Noel Mugavin, played for Fitzroy, so I've got a deep, solid connection to the club.

As a young fella, I supported them no end, even through the tough times.

I'll never forget the first time Dad took me into the rooms at Princes Park after a game against North Melbourne.

I was probably eight to 10 years old and really small, so it was pretty daunting because these huge blokes were my heroes.

I remember seeing the likes of big Johnny Ironmonger and getting an autograph off Alastair Lynch. Who'd have thought that years later, I would play in premierships with him?

Now, when kids come into the rooms, I always remember that I was that kid once, so I try to give them plenty of time.

I used to get around in Dad's old jumper, or I'd pretend to be Lynchy, Paul Roos and Richard Osborne, all the glamour boys.

It was easy for me to make the transition to support Brisbane because my cousin, Marcus Picken, son of Collingwood legend Billy Picken, got drafted to the Lions. Then, I got drafted under the father-son rule.

I know many fans would have preferred Fitzroy merge with a Melbourne club, but I think it's worked out for the best because the Brisbane Lions are now in a strong financial position.

It's been blokes such as Kevin "Bulldog" Murray, who's been terrific in his support of the Brisbane Lions, that have helped other Fitzroy supporters jump on board.

We've worn the Fitzroy colours a few times now and I've been very proud to don that jumper, to do it for my old man and my uncle.

The first time was against Collingwood and we had a good win — there was a fair bit of passion and emotion that day!

We still have the old Fitzroy trainers helping out on match days in Melbourne, the same guys who knew my dad and uncle as players.

I love it when they all meet up in the locker rooms and the old stories come out, the old timers having a bit of a laugh.