In a respectful acknowledgement that traces down its Aboriginal roots back 150 years, Brisbane has cultivated an overlooked piece of Fitzroy folklore to prosper growth that by chance is as much a feature of Queensland than the Lions roar heard at the Gabba.

However, it is not the club’s home ground that is benefitting from the historical reveal to honour the joint venture’s legacy, but its other home turf from transplanting half a dozen saplings from a single tree of cultural standing to the $80 million training hub.

“The Brisbane Lions were always very aware and have long celebrated, not only Sir Doug’s association with the football club, but what this tree was to Aboriginal people in the Fitzroy community,” Anson says.

To illustrate the enormity of his interstate debut, the first of his four matches wearing the Big V, Nicholls and the game was a quarter of a century ahead of rugby league and pioneer Lionel Morgan, who passed away last weekend, in representing Queensland.

Across four generations, his son Percy Johnson, maternal grandson Percy Cummings and great-grandsons Robert and Trent Cummings followed a remarkable path over 90 years.

“So, we are always looking for opportunities to acknowledge those contributions and celebrate our connections.”