Arguably the biggest AFL news of 1996 – even more so than the eventual premiership North Melbourne won – was the merger between Fitzroy and Brisbane.

However, right up until the last moments, it was the Kangaroos who had the inside running to unite with the Lions for the 1997 season and beyond. NMFC.com.au brings the story, and the news of the time back to life.

Part 1: The Beginning
Part 2: The Negotiations
Part 3: The Roadblock

Part 4: The Finale

North Melbourne and Fitzroy were, on the face of it, destined for a merger. Even with all the obstacles put in their paths over the previous few months, the clubs had the details of the partnership put together and were just about ready to go.

With days remaining until the AFL-imposed merger deadline, the remaining clubs were by now openly hostile to the player rules agreed to by the Roos, Lions and the league.

Melbourne’s football manager called it ‘football suicide for every other club’ while Richmond’s president said there was ‘no hope’ of enough votes for the merger.

Footscray then launched legal action, going to the Supreme Court for an injunction order against the merger. This was because the Bulldogs believed Fitzroy was in breach of a 20 year contract it had reportedly signed to play home games at Whitten Oval. The request was not successful.

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At least five clubs had to vote for the merger if it was to go through, or to be more accurate – 11 clubs had to reject it.

So July 4, 1996 dawned as one of the most important days in the competition’s history.

Two meetings were scheduled – the first between the clubs and then the ‘official’ AFL gathering.

At the first meeting, there were two key points to the North-Fitzroy merger that were expected to be opposed.

“(The merger) allowed for a list of 50 next season, 48 in 1998, 44 in 1999 and 42 – the same as other clubs – in 2000. The salary cap has also been set at $3.3 million for the merged club next year; $400,000 more than existing clubs will receive. That figure, too, will descend each year in line with reductions in list sizes.” – Stephen Linnell, The Age

But there still had to be another alternative if this offer was to be rejected.

“With clubs set to overwhelmingly reject the Fitzroy-North Melbourne merger because of player concessions, the Bears have resurrected their long standing offer.” – Daryl Timms, Herald Sun

“There is another alternative, and everyone in football knows of its existence and its substance. It is a course that is both viable and exciting. It is Brisbane’s offer to become the Brisbane Lions, with a continuing presence in Melbourne for the Fitzroy faithful.” – Mike Sheahan, Herald Sun

Heading into the crucial meetings, creditor Michael Brennan stated all that was left to approve a North-Fitzroy merger was club approval. He had worked on obtaining the support of Nauru and had a viable, working proposal.

Meanwhile Roos CEO Greg Miller was staying on the bumpy path which had got the club this far.

“These rules have been worked out in good faith and we’ll be sticking with them for sure. There will be no compromise and there’ll be no merger and never will there be a merger without player concessions. It’s been in place now for 12 months and we need all these rules.”

The scene was set for an evening to change the AFL forever. The end result?

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At the first meeting of the evening, Brisbane had put its case before the club delegates at Richmond’s Punt Road headquarters.

There were two massive differences in the Bears’ bid which allowed it to gain the favour of clubs.

Firstly, the playing list. Brisbane proposed a total of 44 in 1997, a significant reduction on the 50.

Then, the salary cap. North-Fitzroy was to be $400,000 more than existing clubs to start with; in the Bears’ pitch it was only $300,000.

With this information, the votes were cast. Clubs elected 14-1 against North and Fitzroy. The Roos were the only club to vote for the merger, with Brennan unable to have a say on the Lions’ behalf.

All of a sudden, Brisbane had the inside running and North entered frantic last minute negotiations.

The Roos’ adjustments meant they ended with a proposal extremely similar to the Bears. Now it was up to the AFL Commission to decide.

“Fitzroy president Dyson Hore-Lacy said the club had been ‘shafted’.

"Chairman John Kennedy informed the club that for ‘strategic reasons’ a Brisbane deal was favoured.” – Philip Cullen, Herald Sun

In the end, the general sentiment was captured by the Herald Sun’s Trevor Grant.

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“Brisbane, as it turned out, won with the bid that was judged of a lesser threat to the majority of the other clubs.

“So in essence, a crucial long-term issue that will define the future of the competition into the next century came down to a matter of six to 10 players who may not be around in five years time.

“In the end, like an exasperated bidder at the auction who had its heart set on the house of their dreams only to see a bid from nowhere gazump them, (North) threw in a bid of 44 at the death. But it was all too late.

“The Bears already had the agent on side. And the sold sticker was up even before the Kangaroos decided to withdraw.”

Once the AFL Commission told North that the Brisbane bid was preferred, there was only one contender. And so the Brisbane Lions were born.

“It is the biggest steal since Carlton came from 44 points behind at half time to deny Collingwood the 1970 premiership.

“North did nothing wrong. It was the pro-active force in the move to effect football’s first merger, but its negotiating group fell victim to a perception that North simply would take over Fitzroy and become a superpower.

“Brisbane read the scene perfectly. The Bears…settled for a far more acceptable player list of 44 in the first year.” – Mike Sheahan, Herald Sun

So despite the AFL Commission claiming in public that Fitzroy’s only option was to merge with North, behind the scenes it was a much different story – all starting when the creditors made their appearance.

“From the moment administrator Michael Brennan was appointed on behalf of Fitzroy’s creditors, Brisbane’s hopes of merging with the Lions were revived.

“Despite the AFL Commission announcing that Fitzroy come to a merger agreement with North or fold, Brisbane approached Brennan to make him an offer. It was told it must have AFL approval to discuss a new merger.

“At 8:20am on Wednesday (July 3), AFL operations manager Ian Collins told Brennan by phone that the commission was happy for Brisbane to negotiate. Ten minutes later the Bears’ officials arrived at the Fitzroy Football Club offices.

“While those talks were going on, the AFL is believed to have told North Melbourne officials the Roos were likely to be thwarted because the clubs would not accept a deal which gave the merged club a senior list of 50-54 players.

“Back at Fitzroy, Brisbane had offered a merger deal to Brennan which in dollars terms was $1 million better than North’s and instead of a player list of 50-54 was happy to take just eight from the Lions for a total of 44.

“All too late North declared it would kick in an extra $1 million to match Brisbane and also would agree to a standard player list (44), but Brennan saw Brisbane as the best option for his creditors.” – Michael Horan, Herald Sun

Somewhat ironically, one decade after Fitzroy almost relocated the club to Brisbane; it was part of a merger with the Bears.

The Roos detailed their thoughts on the issue to the supporter base in their mid-season edition of ‘North News’.

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To sign off to the media, Miller offered a thought which would turn out to be prophetic for Melbourne and Hawthorn fans.

“North Melbourne chief executive Greg Miller warned there may never be a merger between Melbourne clubs.”

However, The Age’s Patrick Smith was even more accurate.

“Back North for the premiership. The ‘them against us’ feeling is overwhelming.”