The year 1987 brought a new era of Australian Football after a protracted battle to licence the first Queensland-based club in the then Victorian Football League was won.
On Friday 27 March 1987, The Brisbane Bears stepped onto the MCG for their first official VFL match against the North Melbourne.
The team was led by Mark Mickan (Captain) and ex-Hawthorn champion, Peter Knights (Coach).
An unforgettable match was played with the Bears beating the odds and coming out with their first win, a 33-point triumph against the Kangaroos.
Vice-Captain Mark Williams made the Bear’s first kick, rover Bernie Harris kicked the Bear’s first goal and Brenton Phillips was best afield as they led at every change and got home 19.23 (137) to 15.14 (104) over a stunned North Melbourne team.
As the final siren sounded, a small team of inexperienced coaching, administration and support staff took the field to celebrate with the team. It was a memorable moment as the Club sung their new song, clutching pieces of paper which recited the words.
The Bears went on to defeat Geelong at Kardinia Park in the following week.
Goals:
Bears: Phillips 5, Edmond 3, Williams 2, Hardie 2, Harris 2, Hein 2, McCarthy, Campbell, Okeeffe.
North Melbourne: J Krakouer 2, Larkin 2, Schimmelbusch 2, Harris 2, Crocker 2, Holt, Mossop, Smith, Arceri, Stevenson.
Best:
Bears: Phillips, Harris, Walsh, Williams, Fidge, Edmond
North Melbourne: Schimmelbusch, Steele, Holt, Smith, Harris, J Krakouer
