About
The Fitzroy Football Club (the Fitzroy Lions) was formed in 1883, as part of the VFL/AFL. The club had some early success before relocating its home games several times and finally running into financial difficulties in the 1980s, forcing it to cede its AFL operations to Brisbane Bears at the end of 1996, upon which Brisbane changed their name to form the Brisbane Lions.
Fitzroy came out of administration after the Brisbane merger in 1998, and the clubs shareholders voted for it to continue with the goal of resuming its playing operations. After sponsoring various local clubs, Fitzroy merged with the University Reds and finally returned the playing field after a 13 year absence, participating in the 2009 Victorian Amateur Football Association season with its home games played out of Brunswick Street Oval.
Since that time, Fitzroy have doubled their membership and achieved promotion twice within the VAFA. The club is the only club to have played in the VFA, VFL, AFL, and VAFA competitions of Australian Rules football. Their home games are noted for their passion and community atmosphere, and in 2023 Fitzroy celebrated its 140th birthday.
Website
Fitzroy Reds
Home Ground
Brunswick Street Oval, Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy
Location
Fitzroy is a suburb of Melbourne, located 2 km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD. It has a long association with the working class and is currently inhabited by a wide variety of ethnicities and socio-economic groups and is known for a culture of bohemianism. Its commercial heart is Brunswick Street, which is one of Melbourne’s major retail, eating, and entertainment strips. Fitzroy was named after Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, the Governor of New South Wales from 1846 to 1855.
Premierships
1895, 1898-99, 1904-05, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1944
