Simon Black, Jonathan Brown and Ash McGrath might be only current day AFL players remaining from the Brisbane Lions’ premiership era, but a number of their former teammates have continued to ‘kick on’ in other leagues.

In fact, nine of the 28 players who were involved in the Club’s hat-trick of premierships between 2001 and 2003 are still pulling the boots on each week.

The list includes two-time Club Champion and Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis, who is midway through his first season as playing coach of North Albury in the Ovens & Murray Football League.

Akermanis, 36, has been joined at the ‘Hoppers’ in 2013 by former Lions teammate Jason Gram.

After finishing last in 2012, North Albury have already benefited from the big-name off-season signings by moving into 5^th place on the ladder with three wins from their first five games.

The 2001 Brownlow Medallist is also set to make his long-awaited on-field return in Queensland with a special appearance with the Bribie Island Bulldogs who compete in Division Four of the SEQFL.

Akermanis will be reunited with former Lions Player Development Manager Shane Johnson – now Bribie Island’s head coach – for this one-off event on Saturday 25 May.

Brisbane-based Lions fans keen to witness what could be Aker’s final match in Queensland can head along to First Avenue in Bribie Island and watch for FREE.

Daniel Bradshaw, meanwhile, continues to prove a force in front of the big sticks with Dederang Mt Beauty Football Club in the Hume Football League.

After moving across from Howlong at the end of 2012, Bradshaw is one of the competition’s leading goal-kickers with bags of 14 and 11 to his name against Yackandandah and Beechworth respectively.

Over in the WAFL, Richard Hadley has been a valuable addition to East Fremantle since announcing his retirement from AFL at the end of 2010.

Hadley was part of the Sharks’ losing Grand Final side last year, and has helped them to 4^th position on the WAFL ladder after eight rounds.

Des Headland had previously competed against former teammate Hadley with Subiaco in the WAFL, but now represents the Broome Saints in the West Kimberley Football League.

Closer to home, Lions fans can still see both Robert Copeland and Tim Notting plying their trade in the local Queensland competitions.

Copeland has been one of the key drivers behind Aspley’s rise up the ranks of the NEAFL competition, while Notting has only recently left Labrador to join the Yeronga Devils in Division Two of the SEQFL.

It’s also worth mentioning that fellow premiership defenders Chris Johnson (Avondale Heights) and Mal Michael (Aberfeldie) only hung up the boots from their post-career playing days in Victoria’s EDFL at the end of last year.