Fitzroy's last AFL win - 30 years today - May 18th 1996

[Roylion]

Where are the members of Fitzroy’s last winning team 30 years on?​

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Herald Sun - 18th May 2026​

1996 was a painful year for all fans of the old Fitzroy Lions but on one day in May, they had reason to cheer again. 30 years on, where are the players from the final victorious Roys now?

Just a smattering of fans - around 5000 in total - were there to see their team come out of the blocks early and never be headed to triumph over Fremantle by 31 points.

30 years on, where are the players who led Fitzroy to their final ever win, now?

John Rombotis
One season at Port Adelaide followed by three at Richmond following the last year of Fitzroy, Rombotis is a real estate agent and auctioneer at O’Brien Real Estate in Cheltenham.

Martin Pike
Four time AFL premiership player (one with North Melbourne and 3x with Brisbane Lions). Pike has worked on building sites in Melbourne.

Stephen Paxman
After over 100 games at Fitzroy, Paxman played more than 100 at Port Adelaide where he won the 1999 best and fairest. Paxman is a senior manufacturing engineer at Ford Motor Company.

Jarrod Molloy
Played 169 games for Fitzroy then the Brisbane Lions before three seasons at Collingwood. Currently works at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond.

Anthony McGregor
41 games for the Roys. McGregor became a local footy coach and in 2025 is coaching the Watsonia Saints. He is also a butcher at McGregor Artisan Butchery in Lower Templestowe

John McCarthy
The 1996 season was McCarthy’s last after a decade in the AFL. Is based in Adelaide where he has been a salesman in the medical field.

Chris Johnson
264 games for Fitzroy and then the Brisbane Lions where he became a three time Lions premiership player. Is now a member of the Channel 7 commentary team.

Darren Holmes
Coached Yackandandah in the Tallangatta and District FL to a drought breaking premiership in 2024. After a year off in ‘25 is coach of the Roos again this year.

Simon Hawking
Played 60 games for Fitzroy before spending time on the Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans and Collingwood lists without adding to his games tally. Is a teacher at Somers Camp on the Mornington Peninsula.

Shane Clayton
Played in a premiership with North Melbourne in 1999. A recruitment professional, Clayton is the Managing Director of Dekro Recruitment in Heidelberg.

Mick Dwyer
After 80 games over 10 years for St Kilda, Dwyer spent 1996 at Fitzroy. Sales manager at ASAP Printing in Keysborough.

Brad Cassidy
1996 was Cassidy’s first season in the AFL. Played two games for Collingwood in 1997. Owns a house painting business - Cassidy Painting - in Stawell.

John Barker
Played 168 games for Fitzroy/Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn. Barker spent a decade and a half as an assistant coach at AFL level including interim senior coach of Carlton. Barker is now National Client Manager – Insurance Brands at John Lyng Group, a Melbourne based building services company.

Frank Bizotto
Played 38 games across six seasons for Fitzroy. Bizzotto is the Melbourne Sales Manager for BeeDee Bags in Tullamarine.

Scott Bamford
After a long coaching and playing career in local footy in South Australia, Bamford is currently the head reserves coach at North Adelaide in the SANFL.

Nick Carter
After a long career as a General Manager at Bendigo Bank, Carter is the Head of Institutional Investments at Triple Bubble Fintech fund and Chairman of Be.Bendigo.

Matthew Dent
Went to the Western Bulldogs and then a season at Hawthorn following Fitzroy’s merger with Brisbane. Dent has coached teams in the SANFL and country footy and is Manager of Delta Agribusiness in his hometown of Coonalpyn, SA.

Brad Boyd
Was Fitzroy’s final captain and a regular State footballer for Victoria through the ‘90s. Boyd is a Real Estate agent and Director of Abode Peninsula in Mornington.

Matthew Primus
Was senior coach of Port Power and a long time assistant at the Gold Coast Suns, Primus is currently head coach of Southport in the VFL.

Anthony Mellington
Mellington kicked six goals in that final Fitzroy win and spent three years with North Melbourne after the end of Fitzroy. Returned to his hometown of Shepparton where he was a prolific country goal kicker through the 2000s.

Danny Morton
Played four seasons for Fitzroy before moving to newly formed Port Adelaide Power. Since 2005, Morton has been a PE teacher at Tyndale Christian School in Salisbury, SA.

 

[killer]

Won the tipping that week