As an avid Brisbane Lions supporter, Simon Black was always up there as the first person I would try and emulate when having a kick with my brothers in the backyard.

I was only a chubby 12-year-old when I watched Simon Black receive the Norm Smith Medal after a huge 39-disposal, nine-tackle performance in the Lions’ demolition of Collingwood.

As the players walked around the ground with the premiership cup, my brother and I scurried down to the fence to try and get a high five from the players.

Blacky, eyes wide with a Norm Smith and Premiership medal slung around his neck, ruffled our hair and thanked us for coming to the game.

It was an unforgettable moment for both of us.

We were only a couple of kids amongst tens of thousands of fans, so you wonder how many star struck kids had their day made by one of the most humble superstars in the AFL.

And he was a superstar.

Simon Black was one of those players that made you sit back and enjoy the fact that he played for your team.

It’s even a great feeling to know that he will be coaching the next crop of Lions coming through the ranks.

Tough and uncompromising, Blacky could be found at the bottom of the packs getting crunched by some of the toughest players to play the game, yet somehow almost always managed to get a handball out.

But what made him so exciting to watch was that at the next contest he would receive a handball on the outside of the pack and deliver a trademark silky left foot pass to a teammate.

He had it all and it didn’t go unrecognised.

Winning nearly every accolade there is to be won in the AFL, Simon Black is a proven champion and you’ll rarely hear opposition supporters speak ill of the Lions’ number 20 - He was simply too good to watch.

On the field, Blacky rarely missed his target; in my mind, he didn’t miss a beat in becoming one of the most loved Brisbane Lions’ players of all time.

And I think I speak for all Lions’ supporters when I say thanks for your contribution to the Club we love.

Lachlan Dyson is a regular contributor to lions.com.au. You can follow him on Twitter: @lachlandyson

SIMON BLACK TRIBUTE LUNCHEON

Limited tickets are still available for the Simon Black Tribute Luncheon to be held on Friday 14 February at the RACV Club in Melbourne's CBD.

With the entire Lions travelling team in attendance, it's the perfect occasion for Victorian-based fans to show how much they love Blacky.

View the full event details or download a booking form online.