Premierships of any kind are incredibly hard to win.

You just have to take a look back into the Brisbane Lions’ history to see that Grand Final success - whether it is at senior or reserves level - is rare and should never be taken for granted.

So even though the Lions’ senior team unfortunately missed out on playing Finals this season, the Club and its fans can take great encouragement and pleasure out of the Reserves’ triumph over NT Thunder in last Sunday’s NEAFL Grand Final.

The win signalled the strength of the Lions’ next generation of stars, as well as their determination and commitment towards success.

With their senior counterparts already on holidays, it would have been easy for the Reserves players to simply bow out of the NEAFL Finals and begin an early off-season.

But the entire group craved success, and refused to let a rare opportunity to win a Grand Final slip through their hands.

While it had been well publicised that the Lions hadn’t won a Reserves title in 11 years, few probably realised that the Club had won a total of only FIVE reserve-grade Premierships since the introduction of the seconds’ competition in 1919.

Thanks to Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke and his team, the Club now boasts six flags in the past 93 years - four of which came prior to the 1997 merger.

Fitzroy secured three Reserves Premierships in 1944, 1974 and 1989, while the Brisbane Bears’ only silverware in their 10-year existence came when former Reserves Coach Rodney Eade led them to the 1991 title.

The Bears’ achievement - together with Fitzroy’s ones from 1974 and 1989 - were particularly satisfying as it gave the players a taste of success in an otherwise lean period.

The same can be said for Fitzroy’s sole two Night/Pre-Season Premierships in 1959 and 1978.

An AFL Premiership will forever be the pinnacle of our game, but the importance of both Reserves and Pre-Season Premierships should never be understated.

Just ask Lions Hall of Famer Bernie Quinlan, whose only Premiership appearance came in Fitzroy’s Night Grand Final win over North Melbourne in 1978.

Or fellow great Mick Conlan whose first Grand Final was with Fitzroy’s Reserves side in 1989 - his final match before retirement.

Or even current Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke - who experienced his first ever Grand Final last Sunday despite spending countless years as a player and coach.

It’s important to remember that in 126 years of combined VFL/AFL history (incorporating Fitzroy and the Bears), the Brisbane Lions have only ever tasted success on Grand Final day 19 times - made up from 11 senior Premierships, six Reserves Premierships, and two Night/Pre-Season Premierships.

So enjoy the spoils of any success as it comes along, as you never know when you’ll get to experience it again…

Hopefully for the Lions’ sake, it’s just around the corner.

BRISBANE LIONS PREMIERSHIPS*

Senior Premierships (11)
1898 (Fitzroy)
1899 (Fitzroy)
1904 (Fitzroy)
1905 (Fitzroy)
1913 (Fitzroy)
1916 (Fitzroy)
1922 (Fitzroy)
1944 (Fitzroy)
2001 (Lions)
2002 (Lions)
2003 (Lions)

Reserves Premierships (6)
1944 (Fitzroy)
1974 (Fitzroy)
1989 (Fitzroy)
1991 (Bears)
2001 (Lions)
2012 (Lions)

Night/Pre-Season Premierships (2)
1959 (Fitzroy)
1978 (Fitzroy)

*NB: Fitzroy also won the 1895 VFA Premiership - but that was prior to the commencement of the VFL competition.