Dyson-Hore Lacy's book "Fitzroy"

[Roylion]

For those people that are interested, Dyson Hore-Lacy's book 'Fitzroy' has now been published. I received my copy on Friday and it is an excellent read of 259 pages. Much of the information in it I already knew because of my close association with the club, but there are a few gems in it which before now haven't been publicly known.

Frankly it throws a very poor light on most of the protagonists in the merger drama, including the Brisbane Bears, North Melbourne, Collingwood and especially the media and the AFL. To a lesser extent the Western Bulldogs and Richmond also come in for some criticism. Frankly the duplicity of the AFL (not just on this issue)continues to amaze me.

I mentioned in another thread that many clubs attempted to merge with Fitzroy.Now for the first time, some of the details are released.

Among some of the proposals made to Fitzroy from other clubs in 1996 were the:
- Fitzroy-Collingwood Magpies with the FFC strip as the away strip.

-Geelong Lions - detailed approach made

- Hawthorn Lions - even more detailed approach

- Footscray offered to merge with Fitzroy to form the Western Bulldogs. Shades of 1989, when the Fitzroy Bulldogs nearly came into existance.

- Richmond offered to merge with Fitzroy and play as Richmond in the AFL and Fitzroy in the VFL.

- Adelaide Crows offered to merge with Fitzroy in order to establish a more substantial Melbourne support base.

- The South Australian Cricket Association sent a detailed approach for Fitzroy to merge with Norwood, but this was knocked on the head by the AFL.

- The AFL proposed that Port Adelaide merge with Fitzroy to form the Port Power Lions. which would have been quickly nicknamed the"power lines"

Most of the offers appear to be just exercises in attempting to swallow Fitzroy, gain some money and supporters. This is why I find it difficult to understand supporters who blast Brisbane for doing just that. North, for so long the white knight in the merger drama also tried to do it as well.

Anyway if you are avid follower of football and football history and want to know the full story of the events of 1996, get the book and read it. It won't be in bookshops and has to be ordered directly from the publisher.

The cost is $27.75 (GST Inclusive) and can be bought from:
Lion Publications
PO Box 336
Fitzroy, Vic, 3065

 

[Pessimistic]

I'll be looking out for this one, and the New Version of Hawthorn history which may shed more light on 1996. Gary Lion threatened to reveal a lot more in his book but it looks like he had second thoughts.

I do remember the Melbourne - Fitzroy Lions one sounded very advanced but was blown open in 1995 by the then Hawthorn President - anfd guess what - It was Melbourne Hawthorn in 1996. Ironic that melbourne seemed to offer much more to Fitzroy in terms of Jumper design than Hawthorn were subsequently offered - Basically the reason why most voted No.

Incidentally I quite often see Brian Coleman (who was President at merger time) in the Hawthorn social club so the rift may be well on the way to healing.

 

[Fitzroy44]

Yep, got the book. Geez from what was written North Melbourne have to take a fair share of the blame for why their merger bid failed, as well as the AFL and the media. Pity really. I could have lived with the North Fitzroy Kangaroos, especially if we had had the colours, as seems to have been the promise.