But in Black’s absence last Sunday, Jack Redden stepped up to prove that he is a more than capable replacement adhesive.
It comes as no surprise considering Redden has been an established member of the Lions’ engine room for more than 12 months now, and only last year finished third in the Club Champion award.
Together with team-mates Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich, he has helped keep supporters comforted in the knowledge that the Lions’ midfield will be in safe hands once the inevitable time comes for Black to hang up the boots.
Against the Eagles, the terrific trio all played critical roles in helping lift the team to one of their most memorable modern-day victories.
They filled Black’s shoes with aplomb, averaging 23.3 disposals (11 contested), six marks and 5.3 clearances between them.
Although Redden might not share the same profile as his fellow young midfield stars, he has arguably shone the brightest for the Lions so far in 2012.
The 21 year-old’s healthy appetite for the contest has been best reflected in the Club’s statistics which show him leading the way in tackles (65) and centre clearances (50).
In fact, Redden has developed a strong reputation as one of the competition’s fiercest tacklers.
It was further enhanced on Sunday when he laid a career-high 15 tackles, which elevated him to fourth overall in the AFL - behind only Ben Howlett (Essendon), Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide) and Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide).
Such is his dominance in that area, that Redden has laid 19 more tackles than any other Lions player.
At the Club, he also ranks second in disposals (242), third in marks (51), third in contested possessions (101) and equal fifth in goal assists (4).
