The Brisbane Lions’ Simon Black will today become the Brisbane AFL games record-holder when he lines up for his 319th senior AFL match against the Fremantle Dockers – surpassing Marcus Ashcroft’s previous feat for the Brisbane-based Lions and Bears of 318 games.
It will prove another significant honour for Black, who in Round 5, 2012 became the first player in VFL/AFL history to have played 300 games, won a Brownlow, been part of a Premiership, and won a Norm Smith Medal.
Black made his debut in Round 1, 1998 against the Bulldogs at the Gabba and in 1999 finished third in the AFL’s Rising Star Award behind behind Sydney’s Adam Goodes and Adelaide’s Brett Burton.
Born in Mt Isa in Queensland, Black’s family settled in Perth where he joined the East Fremantle Football Club. The Lions selected Black with Pick No. 31 in the 1997 National Draft.
In 2003 Black won the Norm Smith Medal in Brisbane’s 3rd successive Premiership, he finished the game with a career-best 39 possessions – the most ever recorded by any player in a Grand Final.
Season 2013 is Black’s 17th season of AFL football. Amazingly, he has polled in the top 10 of the Brisbane Lions’ Club Championships in 13 of those seasons.
The Brisbane Lions will celebrate Black’s outstanding milestone at their next home game at the Gabba, in Round 13 against Geelong.
Kevin Murray, a Brisbane Lions’ Hall of Fame Legend, holds the merged Club record of 333, set during his playing days at Fitzroy.
Brisbane AFL Games Records (Brisbane Bears / Brisbane Lions)
318* Simon Black (1998-)
318 Marcus Ashcroft (1989-2003)
289 Michael Voss (1992-2006)
282 Luke Power (1998-2011)
279 Nigel Lappin (1994-2008)
273 Shaun Hart (1990-2004)
268 Darryl White (1992-2005)
248 Jason Akermanis (1995-2006)
239* Jonathan Brown (2000-)
227 Justin Leppitsch (1993-2006)
