At the end of 1997, a young skinny teenager from East Fremantle moved across to the other side of the country to embark on an AFL career in Brisbane.

The Lions had snapped him up with Pick No.31 at the 1997 AFL National Draft, and had high hopes that he could one day develop into a quality midfielder.

But the Club could never have predicted that the Bullcreek Leeming junior would go onto become one of the most decorated players in Club history.

16 seasons later and Simon Black’s journey continues...

Black has not only been a class act on the field, but a wonderful ambassador for the Club off it. He constantly inspires his teammates, is widely respected by opponents, and is simply adored by fans.

This Saturday 15 June 2013, he will surpass Marcus Ashcroft’s previous record of most games by a Brisbane player when he lines up for his 319th senior AFL match against Fremantle in his former home state of Western Australia.

It will be his latest in a long list of accomplishments.

Black currently stands alone as the only player in VFL/AFL history to have reached 300 AFL games, won a Brownlow Medal, played in a premiership, and received the Norm Smith Medal – widely considered the four absolute pinnacles of the game.

That’s not to mention the three Club Champion trophies, three All Australian selections, and countless other individual awards that he’s picked up along the way.

The ‘black label’ is synonymous with being of the absolute best and finest quality, so it’s a fitting tribute to the Lions’ favourite son that the Club honours him by producing a limited number of Simon Black tribute guernseys to celebrate his latest achievement.

The guernsey is predominantly black, with unique gunmetal and gold designs, and features replicas of Black’s three premiership medals from 2001-2003, along with his 2002 Brownlow Medal and 2003 Norm Smith Medal.

The KooGa guernsey has been designed to represent some the traits that Simon Black has embodied throughout his AFL career both on and off the field – silky, understated, accomplished, classy, and of the absolute highest quality.

View the limited edition Simon Black tribute guernsey at the Lions Shop