‘A little devastated’: Kegs run dry and hearts break anew in Fitzroy
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The Fitzroy Lions, or what is left of them, is a club of triumph and heartbreak.
For many fans in Fitzroy, who had seen the club say goodbye to Melbourne and shift 1400 kilometres north, Saturday’s grand final loss to Collingwood was just the latest way their team found to break their hearts.
But all that heartbreak, it gives you perspective.
Lions supporters on edge at the Royal Derby Hotel in Fitzroy on Saturday.Credit: Luis Ascui
“You try not to be bitter about it. You try to bleed the colours and roar on the boys,” said Matthew Tribe. “And I’d like to think we could be back there next year.”
Tribe was one of many to don a faded maroon classic Fitzroy Lions jersey as they assembled, alongside Brisbane fans in their shinier modern counterparts, at the Royal Derby Hotel on Brunswick Street.
“As someone who’s supported Fitzroy before the merger, to have the suburb come alive like this, is something really special – to feel together once again, whether you’re a Brisbane or a Fitzroy fan,” said Tribe.
“It was just such a fantastic performance, on the biggest stage of all.”
The Royal Derby itself was resplendent in maroon, with a huge mural of Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown and Kevin Murray, Fitzroy’s1969 Brownlow Medallist, splashed across the walls.
The mural was the idea of the pub’s co-owners Kane and Hayley Tancredi – Murray even came for the unveiling.
“It was sensational,” Hayley said.
Heartbreak.Credit: Luis Ascui
The pub put 30 kegs of beer over the counter on Saturday – the most they’ll sell all year. By half-time the taps of Queensland-brewed Great Northern had run dry.
All that beer fuelled a crowd that roared and screamed until they couldn’t hear themselves think.
They cheered for Charlie Cameron and for Kiddy Coleman, they sang “Lionnssss Lionnnnnsss Lionnnnssss” when they were up, they hurled unprintable invective at Collingwood wunderkind Nick Daicos.
They celebrated together, and at the end of the game they mourned together.
Old school Fitzroy Lions supporters cheered alongside Brisbane fans.Credit: Luis Ascui
Jade Devlin couldn’t speak, turning away from questions, tears rolling down her cheek.
Her mother-in-law, Jennifer Nankervis, hugged her tight. “This is her first grand final. My whole family is Collingwood – except for Jade. I was totally divided – but I did not want to go home if Collingwood won.”
Even at their Melbourne outpost, the Brisbane fans found themselves in enemy territory.
A good portion of the crowd were Collingwood fans, who took every excuse to jeer at the losing Lions.
A Collingwood supporter celebrating at the Royal Derby.Credit: Luis Ascui
“I can’t understand it. These people have no loyalty to their state,” said Collingwood fan Catherine Frank. “Stop it.”
Out front, the pub’s bouncer did not miss a trick, flicking on a Collingwood scarf after the final siren.
Tony Proudfoot, wearing an old school Fitzroy Lions jersey, has supported the Lions since 1979, when he was just five years old.
“Part of me was devastated,” he said of the 1996 move north, merged with Brisbane.
Lions legends Jonathan Brown and Kevin Murray took pride of place on the hotel wall.Credit: Luis Ascui
“Part of me wanted to ditch it. But I’ve carried on. And I’m here today.”
And following a tragic team prepares you for tragedy.
After the final siren, Proudfoot was only “a little devastated”.
“There was a pretty dicey 50 against Jarrod Berry … well, it wasn’t dicey, it was there.
“To be fair, Collingwood had more scoring shots, more inside 50s. It was close. But not close enough.”
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