The announcement was made simultaneously in Brisbane and Melbourne, with Lions Chairman Angus Johnson, CEO Malcolm Holmes, Senior Coach Michael Voss and star midfielder Simon Black joined via video-link from Melbourne by former Fitzroy captain Garry Wilson, former Fitzroy player and Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears coach Robert Walls and triple-premiership winning Brisbane Lions defender Chris Johnson.
The Lions’ Hall of Fame will honour the greatest players, coaches and administrators in the Club’s unique history, with Melbourne’s Crown Palladium chosen to host the first induction.
It will be the first time since the Club’s Kings of the Pride function in 2007 that the Lions’ coaches and players - both past and present - will be brought together with fans at a gala event in Melbourne.
The decision to host the event in Melbourne was further acknowledgement of the Club’s Fitzroy origins, Lions Chairman Angus Johnson said, with the Lions born from a merger of Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears in 1996. Brisbane will host the next Hall of Fame induction with the Club set to hold the event every second year.
“The Brisbane Lions’ Hall of Fame is more than just an event, it forms part of who we are as a united Club,” said Johnson.
“This is another progressive step in this Club’s desire to recognise all of our greats under the one banner.
“The Lions have a unique past steeped in history and the Hall of Fame selection committee will no doubt have a difficult job in recommending our inaugural inductees.”
The Brisbane Lions Board earlier this year established an independent selection committee comprised of four highly respected former Club officials.
Retired Director and former Chairman, Graeme Downie, will chair the committee that also includes former Fitzroy and Bears coach Robert Walls, former Lions media manager Peter Blucher and historian Arthur Wilson.
The committee also has the capacity to recommend Legends - a separate category that will be reserved for only the Club’s absolute elite.
The Lions also confirmed the Club would again stage Past Player events in both Brisbane and Melbourne this year.
