Other meanings of Brisbane Bears
Australian rules football
The Brisbane Bears were a professional Australian rules football club that competed in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1987 to 1996. Based at Carrara on the Gold Coast, the club was one of two expansion teams introduced in 1987, alongside the West Coast Eagles. After a decade of financial and on-field struggles, the Bears merged with the Fitzroy Lions at the end of 1996 to form the Brisbane Lions.
The Brisbane Bears were admitted to the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1986 as part of the league's national expansion, with the club playing its first season in 1987. The club was based at Carrara on the Gold Coast, a decision driven by the Queensland government's desire to promote the code in the state's tourist heartland. The Bears' first coach was Peter Knights, and their inaugural captain was Mark Mickan. The club's early years were marked by heavy defeats, including a 164-point loss to Essendon in 1988, and by chronic financial instability. Despite the on-field struggles, the Bears developed a loyal following in Queensland, and their establishment helped pave the way for the later success of the Brisbane Lions.
In 1991, the Bears relocated from Carrara to the Brisbane Cricket Ground (the Gabba), a move that significantly increased their supporter base and corporate support. Under coach Robert Walls, the team improved steadily, and in 1995 the Bears qualified for the finals for the first time, finishing seventh. The 1995 season was a breakthrough: the club won 12 games, and its young list, including future stars like Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis, began to gel. The Bears' first finals appearance was a loss to Carlton, but the club's progress was evident. In 1996, the Bears again made the finals, but the season was overshadowed by merger talks with the financially troubled Fitzroy Lions.
At the end of the 1996 season, the Brisbane Bears merged with the Fitzroy Lions to form the Brisbane Lions, a new entity that inherited the Bears' AFL license and the Lions' history and traditions. The merger was driven by the AFL's desire to maintain a presence in Queensland while preserving Fitzroy's heritage. The Brisbane Lions went on to win three consecutive premierships from 2001 to 2003, a success that many attribute to the foundation laid by the Bears. The Bears' colours (maroon, gold, and blue) were incorporated into the Lions' guernsey, and the club's legacy is remembered through the Brisbane Lions' history and the continued growth of Australian rules football in Queensland.
The Brisbane Bears were the first AFL club to be based in Queensland, and their early games were played at a ground that was originally a greyhound racing track. The club's first-ever game was against the West Coast Eagles in 1987, and the Bears won that match by 45 points, a rare early highlight. The Bears also hold the record for the longest losing streak in VFL/AFL history, losing 27 consecutive games from 1988 to 1989. The club's theme song, 'The Bears Are Back', was written by Mike Brady, who also composed the famous 'Up There Cazaly'. The Bears' mascot, a bear named 'Brisbane', was a popular figure at games. The club's final game was a loss to the Sydney Swans in the 1996 qualifying final, and the merger was formally completed on 4 October 1996.
The Brisbane Bears' legacy lives on in the Brisbane Lions, who continue to represent Queensland in the AFL.
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