Simon Black Biography

The AFL has announced its presenters for the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

Simon Black will present the premiership cup to the winning captain after being named as the cup ambassador, Byron Pickett will hand over the Norm Smith Medal to the Grand Final's best player, while AFL Legend Malcolm Blight will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach.

Simon Black is inducted into the AFL's Hall of Fame, an honour he was unable to accept in person in 2019 due to an appearance in reality TV show Survivor.

Black says it was his 21st game, where he accumulated 18 contested possessions among a total of 31, had 13 clearances, two goals, and eight inside 50s against North Melbourne, when he knew he belonged.

"If there was a game where I didn't feel out of place for probably the first time, that was the one," Black said.

"I got a crack as an inside mid for the whole game. It was a watershed moment. The penny dropped. I still had a lot of work to do after that, but the self-doubt started to dissipate."

Simon Black recounts the preliminary final against North Melbourne in 1999 when he was taken out of the game early after a sickening blow to the face from Roos full-back Mick Martyn.

"I see him at the Grand Final each year. He apologises every year. It took him a few years, though. I was pretty dirty on him," Black said.

"Even today, if I look quickly to my left, it goes blurry really quickly. At the time I was concerned how my sight was actually going to be, and for quite a few weeks it wasn't great around the eye socket and cheekbone."

Simon Black will present the 2019 Norm Smith medal to the player judged best afield in the 2019 Grand Final.

The Norm Smith Medal is traditionally presented by a previous winner in chronological order.

Following that, it's actually Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley's turn after his 2002 win but, as he is a chance of coaching on the last Saturday of September, Black will do the honours.

Sam Walsh, an exciting prospect who is eligible for the 2018 NAB AFL Draft, will be in Wellington playing for his country against a New Zealand side that includes one of his childhood heroes: former Brisbane Lions star Simon Black.

"It's going to be surreal. I barracked for Brisbane growing up so I watched a lot of him so it'll be awesome to be out there against him," Walsh said.

"I'll have to pinch myself a bit.

"But even just picking up the little things he does will be really valuable for me. Any time spent on a player of that calibre is pretty amazing for me."

Brisbane have assembled a five-person panel led by CEO Greg Swann to select their new coach, with club great Simon Black joined by the club's list manager and former Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab.

Consultant and psychologist Matti Clements, who was a member of the panel that selected St Kilda coach Alan Richardson, will join the panel, with the final spot to be filled by the incoming football manager.

Brisbane Lions assistant coach Simon Black will step away from his full-time position at the end of the season.

"I'm looking at stepping back from a full-time role at the club," Black said.

"I've set up an academy recently in the last 12 months. We're looking at expanding it a little bit, and when you've got your name attached to it, you've obviously got to have a degree of presence.

"Despite the win-loss ratio this year, I've really enjoyed the coaching role. It's been a really, really tough decision to get to this point."

Tom Bell says it has been exciting to work with midfield coach Simon Black after moving to Brisbane from Carlton.

"I've been working closely with Simon Black and we've had a few focuses I've had to nut out and a few negatives in my game I'm working on," Bell said.

"He constantly tells me to do the extras. You want to do one more (thing) than your opponent. Blacky's great like that."

The Brisbane Lions have retired the famed number 20 worn by club champion Simon Black for the 2014 season.

Simon Black already has a three-year deal to be an assistant coach at the Lions but several other clubs are also in the race for his services.

"He's indicated he'd like to stick around in Brisbane, but he's taken three weeks to retire, so it'll probably take him another three weeks to tell me he's going to be a coach as well," Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch joked.

"(A decision) by next week would be nice. At the moment it's an indication. I'm pretty sure there's eight or 10 clubs that have asked about his services as well.

"It's going to be up to Simon whether he wants to leave the state to chase his coaching dreams originally or have his first three years at the Lions."

Jonathan Brown says he, along with fellow veteran teammate Simon Black, are still undecided on whether to play on in 2014, particularly with the current uncertainty around the Lions' coaching position following Michael Voss' departure.

"We'd like to go around again, but we've got to work through that with the club and certainly with the new coach," Brown said.

"First and foremost, I want to tick the medical box. My operation's done and I got some good feedback from the surgeons going forward.

"I've still got the fire in the belly, but I want to make sure the body matches up with that and the coach's aspirations are the same."

Brisbane Lions Jed Adcock, Daniel Rich and Simon Black have all gone in for surgeries.

Adcock and vice-captain Rich have both had minor ankle operations but are expected to return for pre-season training with the rest of the playing group on November 4.

Black has had surgery on both his left and right groins and knees.

Simon Black is at least another week away from returning from a groin injury that has plagued him longer than the Brisbane Lions have expected.

Simon Black is subbed out of his club record-breaking 319th game in the 3rd quarter due to fatigue.

"He was battling physically," Lions coach Michael Voss said in the post-match press conference.

"From my understanding, the message came up that he actually nearly called it himself.

"Obviously I'll have to follow up with Blacky about what that was. But the message came up the line that he was struggling a bit.

Simon Black will break the Lions games record when he plays in his 319th match against Fremantle.

"For sixteen years the club has been such a big part of my life. I love the Brisbane Lions," Black said.

"(They're) so good for drafting me back in '98 so it's a real honour to become the games record holder for the club. It's something I'll cherish when I'm old and grey."

After playing three matches in the reserves, Simon Black is ready to return the Lions' senior side.

"We have to appreciate he hasn't completed a lot of the pre-season, so he's taken a lot of time to get going," Lions coach Michael Voss said about having Black returning via the reserves from off-season knee surgery.

"As part of his schedule he's had to play a couple of games … it's more just match fitness for him.

"We can't pull the trigger all guns blazing. He's had to work his way back into form and really show what Simon Black can do."

Simon Black says he believes he is still a few weeks from returning to the side after having knee surgery in the off-season.

Star Lion Simon Black is running out of time to be ready for round one with his recovery from a knee injury taking longer than expected.

"He's an outside chance but he's pushing it a little bit now. This week we'll have a look at Blacky and what his timeline looks like, but it's starting to drift a little bit," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"We're hoping to get him on the track very very soon, but we're now three weeks out and he's not training with the main group, so … it's going to be pretty tough for him to be able to get up."

Simon Black and Jonathan Brown leave their management company, Velocity Sports, following an investigation into the company's part in Tippett's scandalous side-agreement with Adelaide.

Simon Black undergoes minor surgery on his troublesome knee.

"Simon's knee issue from last season settled during the break, however, when the boys returned for pre-season training he felt a minor irritation return," Lions football manager Dean Warren said.

"To ensure that Simon was right for the commencement of the 2013 season it was decided that we get it cleaned up immediately."

As the Lions hit the track for the start of pre-season, Michael Voss says he is holding back veterans Jonathan Brown and Simon Black.

We've encouraged them to stay away at this point in time. Blacky is going to Arizona, he loves it, so he'll be climbing Mt Humphreys in about three days time and be the first up," Voss said.

"Our expectations with these guys is to keep it pretty low-key because they've had 15 pre-seasons, and it can be Groundhog Day after a while."

AFL great Simon Black reveals he tried to coach Israel Folau during a premiership game last season but the convert "had no idea".

"I remember playing against him earlier this year at the Gabba, we were up by 70 and I was confident we would win," Black recalled.

"The ball came into Izzy's forward line so I told him where to run. I said to Izzy 'mate, run over there and you will get the ball'. But he didn't. He just had no idea."

Brisbane Lions veteran Simon Black has agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with the club.

"It's fantastic to extend my career another year at the club and I'm excited and thrilled to be a part of the playing group going forward into next year," Black said.

"We're under no illusions as to how much further we've got to improve, but there's some good signs there and the group is really tight, united, and there's some really strong mateship."

Simon Black decides to play a 16th season with Brisbane Lions rather than pursue an assistant coaching career with Carlton.

Cameron Ling was also on the Blues' radar but will remain with Channel 7 in 2013.

Simon Black will play a 16th season with the Brisbane Lions with Michael Voss saying a deal was nearly complete.

"For 'Blacky' it's shorter efforts and longer rest," Voss said.

"That's what his pre-season will look like. We've just got to make sure mentally and physically he's ready to go. He knows what it takes to get to the line. His pre-season will take on a modified version in terms of how much he's here."

Jonathan Brown says success is right around the corner for the Lions and it is driving veterans like himself and Simon Black to play on.

"He loves playing footy. All indications at the moment are he's keen to keep playing," Brown said about Black.

"He's had a couple of issues with his body this year, but he's no different to most guys at the back end of their career. We'd love to see him keep playing, his form has been outstanding again."

Simon Black starts as a substitute against Richmond, in a move which Lions coach Michael Voss says should extend Black's career.

"The choice is that, or we don't play him at all and I'd rather have Blacky for a quarter-and-a-half than not at all," Voss said.

"Simon Black is a champion of the game. His value is unquestioned in our football team. Would I like to play him for four quarters? Yes I would. But we've also got to manage his body until the end of the season."

Jonathan Brown says he understands how hard it must be for Lions coach Michael Voss to make a call on Simon Black's future.

"It's hard for Vossy because he has been our captain and is a great mate of ours," Brown said.

"But he has got a job to do for the footy club and he has to be honest as a coach to us players about how we are going with our performance."

Lions midfielder Simon Black is using Michael Voss as a sounding board as he battles an injured knee.

"I had a good chat to Vossy about it the other day and being able to manage it throughout the week and as the weeks go along," Black said.

"He managed his knee for a number of years so he's certainly a good sounding board to bounce off in that regard."

Brisbane Lions veteran Simon Black will play his 300th game for the club against Geelong.

"It's flown by really, it's been an amazing journey. I'm fortunate to have had a lot of highlights throughout my 15 years at the club and have loved every part of the journey … it's been incredible," Black said.

Simon Black set to miss up to four weeks after fracturing his hand against Carlton in round 2 of 2012.

Veteran Simon Black says he is prepared to sit out matches to ensure he remains fresh for the entire season.

"When you're in season and the game rolls around you probably want to play every week and that's been the case in the past," Black said.

"But realistically you have to think about it and as you get older, having a week off from time to time, particularly if you're carrying niggles, it probably holds you in better stead at the back end of the season, so it's not a bad idea."

The Brisbane Lions have re-signed veteran champion Simon Black on a one-year deal that will likely see him finish his career as a one-club player.

"I've been here at the Lions for 14 years and I'm thrilled to get the chance to finish my career at the one club," Black said.

"This place is home to me, and I'm really looking forward to hopefully helping the club fight its way back up the ladder in 2012 and put a couple of disappointing years behind us."

Key senior Brisbane Lions players including captain Jonathan Brown, Daniel Merrett, Simon Black and Jed Adcock will head to Arizona in November for altitude training.

"They've been around for a while and we can monitor their loads and we can change the stimulus of their training and break up pre-season training for them," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"They're probably at a different stage to where a lot of our other guys are so we'll work them that way."

Brisbane midfielder Simon Black says he is remorseful after accepting a fine for abusing umpire Mathew Nicholls.

Black was incensed after the Lions lost by a point to North Melbourne because he was pinged for throwing the ball late in the game.

"It was very late in the game and I was still pretty annoyed with the call. Emotions got the better of me and you say things you regret later on," Black said.

"You probably shouldn't speak to the umpires like that and I like to think I generally treat the umpires with respect over my career."

Veteran Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black continues to struggle with a calf injury.

"The fluid has now got in his calf and it's hanging around, so it seems to be affecting the dynamics," Lions coach Michael Voss said.

"We'll make sure that he's fit and healthy before we put him out there. At this stage we're certainly not going to risk it ... we'll be more on the conservative side than necessarily the aggressive side with him."

Simon Black concedes that, at his age, his years as an AFL footballer may be numbered.

"Another couple of years would be great. Anything else would be an absolute bonus," Black said.

"I'd be disappointed if this was my last year but you never know once you pass 30.

"That's the reality of football but I'm not thinking it's my last year. I reckon I'll go at least one more after this one and then we'll see what happens."

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown won the club's best and fairest count by one vote from a fast-finishing Simon Black to claim his third straight club champion award for the club.

The Brisbane Lions will be missing five key players in their elimination final against Carlton.

Daniel Merrett (hamstring), Daniel Bradshaw (quad) and Jed Adcock (knee) will all be sidelined for at least another week, and are likely to be joined by Simon Black (hamstring) and Josh Drummond (quad) who were injured in their final regular season match against the Swans.

''All those players are probably registered down as 'test' but are fairly likely to be unlikely to play, so we've got to plan ahead without them there,'' Lions coach Michael Voss said.

''Normally I'd sit here and say they're 50:50 but they're probably less than that so there's no real point dragging out that process any longer than we need to. If they come up then good, but we're not expecting them to.''

Simon Black says the influence of Michael Voss cannot be underestimated after the rookie Brisbane coach guided the side to their first finals series since 2004.

"Vossy's style is really positive - a lot of the younger guys get a real kick out of him. He doesn't look for the negatives," Black said.

"He's the sort of guy that you get a real sense he's proud of the group. And you get a real kick out of it as a player.

"A lot of our younger guys are playing better footy this year because he's instilled that confidence in them. Hopefully it lasts for a while."

Simon Black will play his 250th game against Collingwood this week.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd play 250 games when I was drafted here," Black said.

"It is a bit surreal, it's been a fantastic journey and one [where] I've been very blessed to be drafted by the Brisbane Lions.

"When I was a kid growing up I thought AFL players were freaks on TV. When you get drafted you realise they're normal people, normal players, they work hard and give themselves a chance."

Brisbane's Simon Black has a simple piece of advice for Daniel Rich when he returns home to WA this weekend - turn your phone off.

"You're only there once a year. All your family and your friends want to catch up with you and you've got to focus on the job at hand," Black said.

"If you worry about dividing your time between what your focus is and your family and friends, you will lose your focus on the game."

Simon Black has praised Michael Voss's ability as coach of the Brisbane Lions.

"I know a lot of people have doubted whether he would be up for it because he hasn't coached before," Black said about Voss as coach.

"But his knowledge of the game, personal and communication skills allow him to do the job fantastically well.

"The guys sit on every word he says.

"He's got that pull with the playing group.

"From the oldest guy to the youngest guy, everyone is rapt with having him at the club."

Lion Simon Black and Power Matt Thomas have been cited by the match review panel for reckless contact with umpires.

Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss is looking forward to having Simon Black bolster his line-up against Carlton on Saturday night.

Brisbane Lion Simon Black says he is ready to make his return after a frustrating pre-season.

Midfielder Black, 30 next month, has had to overcome groin, ankle and back injuries, a broken wrist and a bout of gastroenteritis to push for round one selection.

Coach Michael Voss said Black would be given as much time as he needed to be right for the game.

Brisbane maestro Simon Black may not need to argue too hard to talk his way into playing the Lions' season-opener against West Coast.

Simon Black appears likely to miss the Lions season opener against West Coast after being struck down by gastroenteritis.

Brisbane Lions vice-captain Simon Black has warned it will take time before the club reaps the full dividends from blue-chip investment Daniel Rich.

The Brisbane Lions head into the 2008 AFL season with four players sharing the captaincy role including Jonathan Brown, Luke Power, Simon Black and Nigel Lappin.

"Prior to 2007 we decided that a multiple co-captains model would be preferred to the singular captaincy system and it worked really well in practice, so this model will continue in 2008," Lions coach Leigh Matthews said.