Saturday 27 September 2003. Simon Black delivered arguably the best AFL grand final performance in history … a record 39 possessions, 25 contested, nine tackles, nine clearances and a goal to win the Norm Smith Medal as the Brisbane Lions completed an extraordinary AFL premiership hat-trick.

It was a day that confirmed his team’s standing as perhaps the best of all-time, and a day that etched the name ‘Black’ into football history. A great among the greats. And now a Legend in the Lions Hall of Fame after tonight’s Hall of Fame / 20-Year Premiership Reunion Dinner.

For 16 years and a Brisbane record 322 games, Black was a superstar. A match-winner who found a way when others couldn’t. Who won the football in the toughest contest. Who had an uncanny sense of the moment, a rare vision and an ability to hit a target on his trusty left foot like very few. And a team player first and always.

Born in Mt.Isa, raised in Perth and a Queenslander since 1998, Simon Black did it all in football.

He won the Brownlow Medal in 2002, was second in 2007-08, fourth in 2009 and sixth in 2005, and polled 178 career votes – most ever by a Lion and 15^th all-time.

Forever a member of the leadership group, co-captain in 2007-08, he won the Merrett/Murray Medal in 2001-02-06, was runner-up in 2003-08-09-10-11, third in 2004 and fifth in 2007. All-Australian in 2001-02-04, he was a member of the famous ‘Fab Four’ – Voss, Black, Lappin and Akermanis. They had it all.

The numbers don’t lie. He had 7580 possessions all-time – most for the Lions by a long way and 16^th in the AFL all-time. He had 30 possessions in a game 59 times in an era when 30 was like the modern 40. He kicked 171 goals, played in 20 finals and a club record 174 wins. A star to the very end … two Brownlow votes in his last game.

In retirement he was a Lions assistant-coach in the AFL and AFLW programs, became an insightful media commentator, and has established his own Football Academy to provide a pathway that combines football and education.

A father of three, humble beyond humble, it’s been one accolade after another … WA Sports Star of the Year in 2002, Queensland Sport Hall of Fame 2016, WA Football Hall of Fame in 2017, Lions Hall of Fame officially in 2019, when his induction was deferred, the AFL Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Queensland Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Having postponed his induction into the Lions Hall of Fame three years due to filming commitments overseas with ‘Australian Survivor’, Black was formally inducted tonight and sent straight to the legend status that is so befitting of him.

He was the fifth Legend in the Lions Hall Fame behind Kevin Murray, Haydn Bunton, Michael Voss and Garry Wilson, and ahead of Jonathan Brown, who was also elevated to Legend status tonight.