Why I Love the PaddlePop

[matwt73]

This will likely turn into a debate thread, and we probably don't need another of those, but I felt it necessary to set out why my feelings about the PP jumper have evolved over the last 12 to 18 months, to the point where I love it as a symbol of our club.

I loved the Fitzroy Lion. It carried with it the Fitzroy connection, and it was a design classic, bold yet simple and elegant. As a bears fan I had endured some pretty dodgey jumpers (though I liked our last one) and a classic old school design worked well.

In 1998 I got married, the cake is here. (don't know if I did that right) so I had a personal attachment to the FL. It became a symbol not just of the club but of the other important relationships in my life.

I saw my club win it all with that magnificent image on their chest.

We moved to the UK, and stayed their for more than eight years. In that time my club won two more flags, turned my second favourite player of all time into an ornament of the game (Black), but pissed off my third favourite to the point where he left (Bradshaw).

They took a playing legend and turned him into a coaching laughing stoke, and turned a coaching legend into an old man. And they changed the jumper, and I hated it.

When we returned in 2010 my wife and I were unsure if we would rejoin. Our daughter was 11 and showed little interest, we were losing and I personally wondered if it was worth the effort of learning to love a whole new raft of players let alone the pain of seeing them lose.

The friends we used to go with had drifted away from the Lions and we thought we might to. We started with a 3 game membership though, and went along wearing our old gear, because the PP was an abomination.

Our daughter hated it. It was three hours, it was hard to follow, dad gets angry at the umpires and Brisbane lose. She was bored and disinterested and becoming a teenager, and then one day we were in the shop and she asked if she could get a jumper.

I baulked, the PP still looked cheap and nasty to me then but it was the only interest she had shown in the Lions. Quite clearly her pre-teen need to have stuff bought for het outweighed her apathy on this occasion, and so we bought it.

The next game we bought a football and went out for a kick after the siren.

By the end of the year she had half a dozen signatures on the jersey, a favourite player and still no idea of what was going on.

She will still say she Hates football,.she still takes her Nintendo DS to the game, and she, has too much teen embarrassment to sing the club song. In her own head she is much too cool to love a football club, but she insists on wearing the jumper, and wears it to bed after a win, and wears her members hat to rowing training.

I am sorry for those who see the PP as a negative symbol, and appreciate that there are some equally (or more) heartfelt connections to the Fitzroy Lion, to me though, the PP represents a fresh new connection (that doesn't diminish the old) and allows me to see our club through New eyes.

 

[BlackCaviar]

fair call

 

[chopperduck]

I think for many it's not even about the PP Lion, but more so how it came to be, and the continued refusal for any kind of members input on it. I get what the club is trying to do, have a new Lion that represents the modern day Brisbane Lions and be a brand we can establish our identity with going forward. I think if a members survey was done and the PP lion came out one top, the majority of people would accept it and move on. I don't like it, i love the old Lion, but i'm not against change entirely. I'd be open to a new logo design, but it needs to be done right. The 'Costa' Lion is still my benchmark for what could have been, a fresh new logo that many here liked, and would have got behind, even those who want the old Lion back. It would have been our fresh new symbol for the modern day club, yet still been something that the members relate to and get behind, the momentum for the club behind a change like that would be great. Instead we are stuck with the logo that no one voted on, were told it didn't exist, and in the end, was forced on us and on the body of the old Lion. The new Lion is something that is clearly aimed at the kids though, and i give the club credit for that, as it seems to be working well, kids seem to love it.

The biggest thing that works in the clubs favour and against those of us who want it gone, is that the majority of people just don't care enough. Even if their preference is the old Lion, the new one doesn't rub people the wrong way enough to get enough support to do something about it. Brisbane supporters are mostly new to the sport, don't have a connection with the old Lion and just accept it as a jumper and logo change. It's not a big deal for them.

 

[Jorgo]

Nice story, thanks for sharing.

 

[The Golfing Lion]

My objection to the Fitzroy lion disappearing is helped greatly by its reinstatement on letterheads and on the website. To me it reeks of the history of Fitzroy whenever I see it on events programs etc.

I can understand the desire to have a younger focused and modern looking logo for marketing and the front on face has grown on me like time allows. it looks fine on the website etc.

My problem is I still just hate the jumper. It looks so much like pyjamas, a hybrid of the paddle pop and Fitzroy lion in an attempt to blend the two that just doesnt work in my opinion and emphasized by its reduculous size.

I would love them to create a simpler jumper, use the face if that is the target marketing aim if its working and keep the Fitzroy Lion in all livery forever.

 

[The Wight Nite]

Terrific post matwt73.

I am an old Fitzroy man who adored the jumper that was adopted by the Lions post-marger (and still do).

When the paddlepop came in, I was shattered. But it had nothing to do with the side-on Lion's significance to the 'old' Fitzroy, but more with the fact that it was the one I had watched my team win 3 Premierships in!

That said, the jumper change didn't affect my support for the team at all. I still went along to games, bought merchandise and my membership, and cheered as passionately for the team as before. It just meant that I copped a bit more flack from my mates.

Do I prefer the PP to the original one? Hell no. But I simply can't understand those people who are contemplating turning their backs on the Club because the Lion on the front of the jumper now looks forward. Give me a break.

Maybe I'm one of theose people that chopperduck was speaking about, because I don't care enough about the change of jumper to take action. If it was put to a Club-wide vote, then I would absolutely tick the box for the old one to return. But if no vote occurs, then I'm content watching the boys in the maroon, blue and gold with a slightly comical lion on the front.

To be honest, once the game starts I really don't notice the PP at all. As far as I'm concerned, it's just our jumper. I think the sooner more people come to that realisation, the quicker we can all move on.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Each to their own.

 

[dlanod]

Each to their own.

Each to their own, as long as you all agree with me.

 

[steveys]

Old jumper was a classic that being said you have to roll with the times..

 

[Eons]

Banana would be my favourite, like the rainbow ones too. Oops, THAT paddlepop.

I have an 8 month old girl and one day I hope to have similar experiences with my daughter. Hopefully it will be wearing our old jumper.

Nice post though

 

[Grade_Zero]

For me, that the paddlepop is comical and utterly out of place in a league of simple, traditional strips is only part of the issue. The other part, is that it was implemented without consultation with the members and supporters, and even now the club refuses to so much as communicate on what is still a sore point for many.

It was a slap in the face to those supporters who came from the Fitzroy side (of which I am not one), erasing what was in all honesty one of not all that many incentives for them to follow the club from two states away. That we have 2 supporter bases separated by such a distance makes the club quite unique, but for all the talk from the club about the importance of the Victorian supporters, they don't often back it up with actions, and with moves like that, seem almost intent on pushing those supporters away.

Can you imagine the boards of Essendon or Collingwood trying to pull a stunt like that, and putting a huge cartoon plane or magpie on their playing strips? While it's highly unlikely they would ever do such a thing, assuming for a moment they did, the backlash would be incredible, and there's no danger it would be a long-lived endeavour.

I want to follow a club that takes pride in its tradition and unique heritage, and equally, a club that engages and communicates with supporters, and actually listens to feedback. Or better yet, one that reaches out for feedback on proposed major changes before giving them the green light. What I don't want to follow is a club that forsakes these fundamental things, and instead, throws tacky marketing gimmicks at us, and then blocks their ears to the criticism that follows.

 

[POBT]

The thread title is pretty clear as to the direction of this conversation. Many don't agree but there are lots of people who either don't mind or actually prefer the paddlepop.

I don't think we need to rehash old ground in this thread on why others disagree. We have lots of places where that line of argument is already prevalent and can be pursued further.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Enjoyed reading the OP. Nice to hear an anecdote from the other side of the fence.

Such a shame that we have to have him killed now

 

[Sherrinator]

Compelling story, but you're incorrect.

 

[Sherrinator]

Enjoyed reading the OP. Nice to hear an anecdote from the other side of the fence.

Such a shame that we have to have him killed now

Don't need no paddlepop-lovers round these parts.

 

[blynd_freddie]

In 1998 I got married, the cake is here.View attachment 17059 (don't know if I did that right) so I had a personal attachment to the FL. It became a symbol not just of the club but of the other important relationships in my life.

Nice story, thanks for sharing.

Nice story?

I ask... is matwt73 on the board? Fancy going to the Fitzroy Lion with a knife!

I've seen at least 3 variations to the Fitzroy jumper, a 'merge' and have taken on a Fitzroy VAFA membership in my time - Sure I have my preferred and that never had a lion of any sort on it but having said that, I will always support the club, in any jumper!

I'm generally not a vocal, stamp my feet type of person but must say the Port Adelaide - Vox populi - just seems a logical way to quell members/supporters discontent.

So to quell any disharmony, surely the voice of the majority should be offered the chance to become the umpire - and at the very least the club 'un-silence' itself with a transparently reasoned argument.

 

[Voss the boss]

Thanks for sharing that story mat73.

My daughter has the old lions jumpper. I purchased this early 09 when i found out we were having a baby. On game days she puts hers on and goes to my wardrobe and picks from all the lions jumpers i have hanging. I have the new, the old, fitzroy and clash gurnsey. Each time she brings the old one and says look dad our lions are the same! Any other time i wear a jumper, say to footy training, she always tells me to get the lion the same as hers! She may only be three but to me it says something

 

[patfullfankezz]

My main attachment to the Paddlepop is it's the one I've "grown up" with. A lot of things went on for me between the beginning of 2010 and now and the Paddlepop sort of represents that to me. I'll get shouted down of course, but I feel a lot "closer" to our current crop than to the Premiership ones. Why? Because I've "grown up" with them. Most of these boys are around the same age as me. I could have gone to school with most of them.

Plus it does look intimidating if you use your imagination a bit.

 

[chopperduck]

I didn't realize how much I missed the old Lion Until I saw Rocky and Mayes wearing it in the paper, gee it just looks good on players.

 

[BuntonRules]

Thanx for that, Matwt - reminds us there are many sides to the story. My lass is 20, & distains the footy likewise - but while it is such an important part of her dad's makeup there will always be a bit of her that is a Lion.

That being said - 13 year olds is the upper end of the target/focus group the paddlepop is aimed at.

 

[Ceebee]

This will likely turn into a debate thread, and we probably don't need another of those, but I felt it necessary to set out why my feelings about the PP jumper have evolved over the last 12 to 18 months, to the point where I love it as a symbol of our club.

I loved the Fitzroy Lion. It carried with it the Fitzroy connection, and it was a design classic, bold yet simple and elegant. As a bears fan I had endured some pretty dodgey jumpers (though I liked our last one) and a classic old school design worked well.

In 1998 I got married, the cake is here.View attachment 17059 (don't know if I did that right) so I had a personal attachment to the FL. It became a symbol not just of the club but of the other important relationships in my life.

I saw my club win it all with that magnificent image on their chest.

We moved to the UK, and stayed their for more than eight years. In that time my club won two more flags, turned my second favourite player of all time into an ornament of the game (Black), but pissed off my third favourite to the point where he left (Bradshaw).

They took a playing legend and turned him into a coaching laughing stoke, and turned a coaching legend into an old man. And they changed the jumper, and I hated it.

When we returned in 2010 my wife and I were unsure if we would rejoin. Our daughter was 11 and showed little interest, we were losing and I personally wondered if it was worth the effort of learning to love a whole new raft of players let alone the pain of seeing them lose.

The friends we used to go with had drifted away from the Lions and we thought we might to. We started with a 3 game membership though, and went along wearing our old gear, because the PP was an abomination.

Our daughter hated it. It was three hours, it was hard to follow, dad gets angry at the umpires and Brisbane lose. She was bored and disinterested and becoming a teenager, and then one day we were in the shop and she asked if she could get a jumper.

I baulked, the PP still looked cheap and nasty to me then but it was the only interest she had shown in the Lions. Quite clearly her pre-teen need to have stuff bought for het outweighed her apathy on this occasion, and so we bought it.

The next game we bought a football and went out for a kick after the siren.

By the end of the year she had half a dozen signatures on the jersey, a favourite player and still no idea of what was going on.

She will still say she Hates football,.she still takes her Nintendo DS to the game, and she, has too much teen embarrassment to sing the club song. In her own head she is much too cool to love a football club, but she insists on wearing the jumper, and wears it to bed after a win, and wears her members hat to rowing training.

I am sorry for those who see the PP as a negative symbol, and appreciate that there are some equally (or more) heartfelt connections to the Fitzroy Lion, to me though, the PP represents a fresh new connection (that doesn't diminish the old) and allows me to see our club through New eyes.

I think part of your story is quite relevant.
The part where you said the friends you used to go with were drifting away from the Lions.Was it because we were losing ?
Did they drift away slowly before the jumper changed ?
Would our supporter base have stayed with us IF, we were winning games and successful in the new jumper ?
Or had they already drifted away because the successful era was over and they decided they were not too keen on watching the Club rebuild again.
Or was the jumper the deciding factor?
Just curious, but I am glad you decided to hang around anyway.
Cheers.

 

[matwt73]

I think part of your story is quite relevant.
The part where you said the friends you used to go with were drifting away from the Lions.Was it because we were losing ?
Did they drift away slowly before the jumper changed ?
Would our supporter base have stayed with us IF, we were winning games and successful in the new jumper ?
Or had they already drifted away because the successful era was over and they decided they were not too keen on watching the Club rebuild again.
Or was the jumper the deciding factor?
Just curious, but I am glad you decided to hang around anyway.
Cheers.

Good questions I think it was a few things but the losing is probably the big one for them. They still follow the lions but making the investment of money and emotional energy to be a member and get to 11 games a year, when most were losses... That became more difficult.

I certainly get the impression that if we were winning they would likely be interested again.

 

[Ceebee]

Good questions I think it was a few things but the losing is probably the big one for them. They still follow the lions but making the investment of money and emotional energy to be a member and get to 11 games a year, when most were losses... That became more difficult.

I certainly get the impression that if we were winning they would likely be interested again.

Thought that might be the case.

 

[Dom PC]

Change is hard. I like the old lion better, but the new one is growing on me. The more wins we have in it the easier it will be to grow an attachment to it.

 

[wabaa]

God sports fans are fickle. I've never understood people who just join or follow a team because they're winning. Might just be me...