Lions to pay guernsey tribute to the Roy boys in 2009

THE BRISBANE Lions will salute the club's southern heritage in 2009 by continuing to wear the Fitzroy-style jumper for all seven of its Victorian away games.

Club CEO Michael Bowers said on Thursday the Lions were encouraged to continue wearing the red and blue guernsey, featuring a gold Lion, after the support it received in 2008 from Victorian and Queensland fans alike. 

"We've got a great member and supporter base in Victoria and seeing the colours go around – the last colours for the last jersey for Fitzroy – people really appreciate it, so we're keen to lock it in for our Victorian games," Bowers said.

"The Queensland members understand about the history of the club. I think they like the look of the jersey as well, which is a good thing," he said.

Bowers said the club hoped to attract more support in Victoria after members and fans pledged to renew their membership in return for the gesture honouring the club's origins.

The team will wear its regular maroon Lions home guernsey with maroon shorts and maroon socks for all 11 home games. These include blockbusters against Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs as well as a round three clash with growing rivals the Sydney Swans.

For non-Victorian away games, the team will wear the maroon Lions home guernsey with white shorts and maroon socks. This will apply to four games in 2009, against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium, Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, Fremantle at Subiaco Oval and the Swans at the SCG.
 
The club will wear the Fitzroy-style guernsey with white shorts and red socks for any away matches in which the AFL deems a uniform clash.