Ive just been reading a book called Urge to Merge by Ian and John Ridley. It is about the almost merger of Melbourne and Hawthorn in 1996 from the perspective of then Melbourne President, Ian Ridley.
In the early part of the book it explains a couple of the merger attempts that Melbourne encountered in 1986/87. These were North Melbourne, Richmond and Fitzroy. The Melbourne/Fitzroy merger got as far as deciding on a name, Melbourne Lions, who would be on the board and a jumper design.
Ridley say the main reason about it not being announced already was Fitzroy asked to hold off until they found our how much money they made at the door of a gala they were running. Ridley and others decided if their clubs future was hanging on what Fitzroy took at the door they didnt want to be involved, so pulled out before the anouncement was made.
Here's the jumper design that Ridley describes in the book, he says it looked like the current Brisbane Lions design (book was written in 2001)
Im sorry if this is common knowlege but its news to me, I was 5 years old in 1996.
Thanks for staying with me on that long winded lead up.
and screw you guys that didnt