Introduction

Simon Black is a professional Australian Rules footballer with robust career achievements spanning over 12 years. He currently plays for Brisbane Lions with jersey number 20. He was born on 3rd April, 1979 at Mount Isa, Queensland before their family later moved and settled in Perth. He currently weighs about 82kg and has a height of about 1.86 metres. He made his debut into Australian Football League (AFL) in the first round of 1998. He was an exceptional sprinter in his early junior days where he ran in the 800 metres and 1500 metres categories. Simon competed several times as a sprinter at the national level. He later joined a football club in Western Australia named East Fremantle Football Club where he was able to represent Western Australia in U-18 championships. Simon Black got the highly coveted All-Australian honours during this championship.

Professional AFL Career

Simon Black was drafted by the Brisbane Lions in the 1997 National draft with selection number 31. The following season of 1998 was a good one for him as he was able to get a senior debut against the bulldogs at Lions home grounds. This was due to his impressive pre-season performances. He ended up playing about nine senior matches that year recording over 12 disposals and also got the award for the Best First Year Player. The following season of 1999 was a year where he was able to establish himself in the senior team where he was known for his ball winning skills in situations where there was a ball contest. He got an AFL Rising Star nomination that same year after finishing the season with 22 matches and an average of about 19 disposals. He also got Rookie of the year award and a Brownlow medal with nine votes. He was however injured in his last match of the tournament against North Melbourne with a fractured eye socket.

He had a good season in 2000 without much significant achievements, but he was able maintain his midfield position. He had an average of about 23.9 disposals that season. In 2001, he played every match from the beginning of the preparations for the season to the grand final. He won a car worth about $39,000 dollars as The Herald Sun Player of the Year Award among other several media awards that year. During the off season period, he represented Australia in the International Rules Series against Ireland that year. Black successfully established himself as a force to reckon with in his team after aiding the club to win another premiership consecutively which also was his 100th AFL match. He also won several medals this year including the Brownlow medal, and Merret-Murray medal.

Conclusion

Simon Black continued playing effectively in the years that followed having established himself as a player of repute with several honours and awards. He has been able to distinguish himself in not just his club but the entire AFL as one of the most decorated players that has won almost all the awards available in the AFL. Since his second year after his debut in the AFL, hardly has any season passed without him earning an award or a honour. He was inducted into the clubs lifetime membership after he had spent 10 consecutive seasons at the club. His team mates voted him Lions Player of the Year in 2009 in addition to several other awards he won that season. It is evident that this player who turned 32 years a few months ago will hardly have any more space left on his shelf now for trophies. He is one player Brisbane Lions will not regret spending their money on him; he has proved to be an asset to the team. All the honours, awards he won and performances he exhibited cannot be completely covered in this piece.