Brisbane Lions Football Club 2012

The Brisbane Lions Football Club formed in 1996 via a merger between the now disbanded Fitzroy Football Club based in Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears. Nicknamed the 'Lions’, their home games are played at the Gabba in the heart of Brisbane and club colours are maroon, yellow and blue.

The Brisbane Bears did not set the world on fire in the early days and the Lions also took time to find success before they became one of the best sides in the modern era winning 3 flags in a row from 2001 to 2003. and finishing runner-up to Port Adelaide in 2004.

The club has produced some outstanding footballers including Jonathan Brown, Michael Voss, Simon Black and Jason Akermanis, with the latter two winning Brownlow Medals in 2001 & 2002 respectively.

Brisbane Lions in 2011
The Brisbane Lions did better than their 4 wins and 18 losses suggests and long term injuries to captain Jonathan Brown, full-back Daniel Merrtt, defender Josh Drummond, forward Brent Staker, plus an injury interupted season to Rising Star winner Daniel Rich did little to help the Lions.

A number of players including Matthew Leuenberger, Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden and Irish pair Pearce Hanley & Niall McKeever all stepped up to show they have a big future at the club.

Brisbane Lions 2011 Best and Fairest winner: Tom Rockliff

Tom Rockliff had a breakout season with the Lions and collected 554 disposals, including 310 kicks and 244 handballs, from just 20 games. Rockliff kicked 12 goals along the way for the Lions.