Last Fitzroy Lion Chris Johnson recognised on famous Royal Derby Hotel mural on Brunswick St

After being honoured on the wall of the iconic Royal Derby Hotel in Fitzroy, the last Lion to play AFL — Chris Johnson — has given a rare insight into the demise of his former club.

As the last Fitzroy Lion to play football Chris Johnson still believes the AFL could have saved the club if it wasn’t so hellbent on a national agenda.

But for Johnson the spirit of Fitzroy was able to live on in the Brisbane Lions because club champions like Kevin “Bulldog” Murray embraced the merger with such grace and class.

Triple premiership Lion Johnson kept that flame alive in Brisbane as a devoted band of supporters in Melbourne’s inner north grew to love the merged club across the early 2000s.

This week that career – 59 games with Fitzroy, 205 with Brisbane – was recognised when he was added to the street-art mural that celebrates Murray and Lions great Jonathan Brown adorns the Royal Derby Hotel.

Brown grew up supporting Fitzroy and his father, Brian, played 50 games with the Lions, while 1969 Brownlow medallist Murray won nine best-and-fairests with the club.

Murray’s aunty was a barmaid at the Royal Derby and his father had a tailor shop not far from the pub, on the corner of Fitzroy’s Alexandra Parade and Brunswick St.

So for Johnson to join that esteemed company was a worthy honour.

Ex-AFL player Chris Johnson joins Fitzroy greats Kevin Murray and Jon Brown on the famous mural which was only completed on Friday. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It’s pretty significant. I was approached by the publican and the head of the Lions in Melbourne, Sam Lord, so I was pretty happy to be next to “Bulldog” and Browny,” he said.

“I was the last Fitzroy player to play in the AFL and to be on a wall in Brunswick St is a real privilege. The Fitzroy Reds still play at Brunswick St Oval so I was pretty chuffed to be asked.

“You always think where your life would be if the merger didn’t happen? You wonder if the AFL did everything possible it could to help Fitzroy. You look around the competition and see the debt at so many football clubs. Clearly the AFL is supporting them and it’s a different management to what it was back then. The AFL needed to expand the competition and Fitzroy happened to be the team they wanted to move on with a national platform.”

He remains in awe of Murray, a staple at those Brisbane family day celebrations of 2001-03 after the trio of flags as he helped bridged the gap between old and new.

Chris Johnson flies high for Fitzroy.

“He speaks so highly of the Lions and the (1996) merger. He was shattered we merged but you went with it or you didn’t. He brought the Fitzroy community along with the merger. It was disappointing for him to see a club that he represented as a kid in the streets of Fitzroy fold or merge but he took it on the chin and embraced the Brisbane Lions.”

Johnson watched on as the Lions came so close against Collingwood and yet after five consecutive years of top-four finishes he says the premiership window remains well and truly open.

“The window is open for a few years still. It’s a massive achievement to get there. I always say you need a bit of hurt before you make one and they are still young. We haven’t seen Hugh McCluggage’s best footy and Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher are just coming through.

“The growth of their academy has been fantastic so the model they have helps their depth. They have been competitive for four or five years but the next four or five years they will be even more competitive.”

Originally published as Last Fitzroy Lion Chris Johnson recognised on famous Royal Derby Hotel mural on Brunswick St