Fitzroy 
Fitzroy
Fitzroy started with 1 guinea, for promotional purposes, and 23 people at its first meeting. Most of these people were Fitzroy Cricket Club members had attended earlier meetings at the Brunswick Hotel, and had played games of football at the Brunswick St oval, the clubs future home ground.
In Fitzroy’s first season, they finished 5th, and they showed a lot resourcefulness from the start. In one game against Carlton, Fitzroy employed the tactic of tagging.
Fitzroy established itself as one of the best VFA teams, finishing fourth in 1887 and third in 1890 and 1891. But Fitzroy climb up the ladder wasn’t without controversy, with the club building a gym and employing a professional trainer.
In 1892 Fitzroy was the only team to defeat Essendon on their way to finishing second on the ladder. In 1894 Fitzroy slipped out of premiership contention after their captain was injured. But in 1895 when he returned Fitzroy strengthen and with 3 games left they were on top of the ladder. But ahead of them they had to play Essendon, Geelong and South Melbourne. With many players injured a premiership looked remote, but Fitzroy just hung on to win 1 game and drew 2. Geelong finished a close second.
Fitzroy won 7 of their 8 premierships and played in the finals 12 times in the first 27 years in the VFL. In the next 35 years Fitzroy played in the finals only 3 times, winning their last premiership. During the 60’s and 70’s Fitzroy finished won 3 wooden spoons and finished in the bottom three, 11 times.
In 1967, Fitzroy changed its home ground to Princes Park, then 3 years latter they moved to the Junction oval. In 1984 , the clubs 101st season, they played at Collingwood. Fitzroy now plays its home games at the Western Oval, but the club trains at the Coburg Oval.
When Fitzroy first was form they were known as the ‘Maroons’. From after World War Two until 1957 a Gorilla was placed on the teams logo. In 1957 a Lion was added to replace the Gorilla, which immediately became popular.
In Brief
Joined League: 1897
Premierships: 8
Premiership Years: 1898-99, 1904-05, 1913, 1961, 1922, 1944.
Brownlow Medallists: Hayden Bunton (1931-32, 1935), W. ‘Chicken’ Smallhorn (1933), Dinny Ryan (1936), Alan Ruthven (1950), Kevin Murray (1969), Bernie Quinlan (1981).
