Almanac Book Review: ‘Merger’ (Part 2: Background)

 

The Merger Part 2

In my first piece, I examined the 1980s and what was happening at a national level. I also wrote an overview of changing VFL policies. And how the VFL adopted much more of a business approach.  As I wrote it, I realised that Neo-Liberal policies were not the only problems at Fitzroy. For all the effort taken by the VFL, to bring it out of bankruptcy. The VFL’s adoption of this new agenda, did not help Fitzroy. It only made issues already present for years at the club, worse. In no way, was I down-playing those difficulties such as a small supporter base, and lack of a home ground.

The 1980s would draw to a close, with three new interstate teams. In Western Australia and Queensland and of course, South Melbourne having re-located to Sydney in 1982.  Western Australia was already a well-established football state, so the West Coast Eagles had a good start. For years the VFL had been recruiting from Western Australia, many of them becoming champion players at Victorian clubs. The original theme song of the West Coast Eagles has a verse in reference to this. For years they took the best of us and claimed them for their own. It is a little theory I have, that the AFL omitted this line from the song because it is not the image they want to have. A little too close to the truth perhaps? I was in conversation with a relative at a Christmas once, he is quite a bit older than me, and he’d grown up in WA. He said it was always a dream for Western Australian footballers to play in Victoria. Stating that there was a sense of really having made it into the big-time, if recruited.

The Brisbane Bears had much more of a rough beginning, being based at the Gold Coast, and not in Brisbane. At the mercy of a rugby-dominated state, and the soon-to-be infamous Christopher Skase. The Brisbane Bears were set up because the Fitzroy board rejected sending the Lions to Brisbane in 1986. An ominous sign of things to come, if ever there was one.  Now, as I understand it, Mark Cuban, American businessman and Shark Tank USA panellist, owns a sports team. While I am not versed in business, by any measure, I do thoroughly understand why the AFL eventually rejected private ownership. This, I imagine, would form the backbone of conversation if I ever met Mark Cuban. The Sydney Swans were being mis-managed under Dr Geoffrey Edelsten and Christopher Skase didn’t have the money. A 4-million-dollar licensing fee for joining the VFL going amiss.

1989 was a very bad year for the Fitzroy Lions Football Club. By season’s end, they were faced with an ultimatum. The stark reality was this: go bankrupt or merge with Footscray. This was actually supported by the Fitzroy board, as the Lions’ identity would be kept intact. That of club colours, and staying in Victoria. Ross Oakley signed off on the deal, and the merger was done. The Footscray Bulldogs were to form a new team with the Fitzroy Lions, for the 1990 season. The brakes were applied to this merger, because of a court room decision, brought on by Footscray supporters. After a groundswell of fundraising by Footscray’s supporters, the merger was put to death. This left Fitzroy in a precarious position. Again, without options and mounting debts. And so, I leave my analysis heading into the 1990s, and where William Westerman’s book begins. This I will cover in my next piece.

 

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