Simon Black

[Grimreepah]

The 2008 Brownlow (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=498258):

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/9232/blackgq1.jpg

Round 1 West Coast - 2 votes
Round 2 Collingwood - 3 votes
Round 4 Port Adelaide - 3 votes
Round 6 Melbourne - 3 votes
Round 8 Carlton - 3 votes
Round 9 St Kilda - 1 vote
Round 10 North Melbourne - 2 votes
Round 11 Fremantle - 3 votes
Round 16 West Coast - 3 votes

Round 19
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Round 20
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Round 21
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Round 22
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http://i34.tinypic.com/2nw1yd3.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Black had 20 votes after round 11, but only managed 3 in the 2nd half of the season.

[Grimreepah]

These (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/top-10-matchwinning-performances-of-2008/2008/09/20/1221331278173.html?page=4) were the odds going into the count:

Gary Ablett $2.35
Jimmy Bartel $3.75
Brent Harvey $5
Adam Cooney $14
Nick Riewoldt $16
Chris Judd $23
Simon Black $26
Joel Corey $26
Joel Selwood $31
Matthew Richardson $41

It also says the Lions players invited were: Luke Power, Daniel Bradshaw, Michael Rischitelli, Joel Patfull, Jonathan Brown (captain). Was Black not there?

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,24388352-5016169,00.html)

Brisbane midfielder Black led the count for all but the final two rounds. Black won the Brownlow medal in 2002 but that was a premiership year and there has not been a player to have claimed football's highest honour from outside the top eight since Hawk Shane Crawford won in 1999. Last year Black came close. He led the votes at the half way point of the season but oesteitis pubis struck and he was unable to finish the season in the same manner as his blistering start.
Black polled in eight games and proved beyond doubt that when he plays well, Brisbane wins.
Black was judged best on ground in six of the first sixteen games. His efforts in Lions wins against Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Carlton, Fremantle and West Coast gained the attention of the whistleblowers.
He also received one vote for the round 9 win over St Kilda and two votes the following week against the Kangaroos.
But in an interview with host Stephen Quartermaine after the round 11 count, Black admitted he thought his race was won.
Brisbane won just three games from that point and Black surmised he would be lucky to poll another vote on the run home.
"I'm rapt to have gathered some votes early, but I always knew if I was going to get any it would be early," he said.
"I think I can just enjoy the rest of the night like the other boys are here."
However, the umpires thought differently, is best on ground against West Coast kept him in the lead until round 20.

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/796/black20cr0.jpg

[Tim the Toolman]

Still can't get over the fact that on top of being overlooked by the AA team, he wasn't featured in the promos for the Brownlow as one of the favourites - they had the Geelong trio, , Buddy, Harvey and Cooney. :mad: Makes you think there's something in that but Blacky should've been featured.

[Kochie 16]

Maybe next year?

[Tim the Toolman]

Black had 20 votes after round 11, but only managed 3 in the 2nd half of the season.

Is this the story of the Lions in 2008 or what?

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24391988-5016380,00.html)

Simon Black 'robbed' of Brownlow Medal: Brisbane Lions
Article from: http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/)
Andrew Hamilton
September 24, 2008 12:00am

"BLACKIE was robbed". That was the line being muttered among the Brisbane Lions contingent at Monday night's Brownlow Medal ceremony.
The Brisbane Lions co-skipper Simon Black was pipped at the post by young Bulldog Adam Cooney.
You can expect a degree of bias from Brisbane players and staff as well as the adjoining table of "Lethal Lions" who flew down to support the club's vote-winners - Black, Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.
But Cooney's victory also raised eyebrows among the football media who also vote on each AFL game.
Statistics suggested Black had a strong case for his second Brownlow Medal.
I wrote on Saturday that the umpires did a good job with the Brownlow and usually get it right.
That opinion hasn't changed, and Black certainly wasn't complaining. He mentioned mid-way through the count he thought he wouldn't poll many votes in the second half of the season. But he needed only one extra vote to tie with Cooney and there were games in which he could consider himself unlucky to have been overlooked.
Three matches stand out - in all of which Black was among the vote-getters in The Courier-Mail Brisbane Lions player of the year award and the Herald Sun player of the year award, which awards votes in descending order to the top five players on the ground.
The first was a Lions upset win over Cooney's Bulldogs at the Gabba. Jared Brennan was the difference in that game and deserved to poll three votes for his final-quarter heroics.
But Cooney polled two votes and Black missed out, while the Herald Sun's judges awarded Black two votes and Cooney one.
Black didn't have as much of the footy as usual that day with 22 disposals, but he did the hard work in the engine room, winning a game-high seven clearances and laying six tackles.
The following week was also a surprise. It was the loss to Carlton that ended Brisbane's finals hopes and cost Black the Brownlow Medal.
Black failed to poll a vote while Cooney got three for his efforts against Essendon, in a game where Mitch Hahn was the matchwinner with six goals.
The umpires were clearly influenced by Brisbane's meek final quarter when the Blues took control of the midfield to kick four unanswered goals and snatch a six-point victory.
Surprisingly, Black was rotated on the bench early in the last quarter, but he was clearly best on ground for three quarters. However, the umpires went with three Blues.
Again it was hard to argue with Chris Judd as best on ground, but it appears Cameron Cloke received votes because it was probably the best game of his career, not because he was among the best on the field.
The Herald Sun had Black second best in that game too. His four votes, if converted to the Brownlow's 3-2-1 system, would have equated to two votes.
He also polled three Herald Sun votes in the Lions' win against Adelaide in round 13, which would have equalled a Brownlow vote, but was overlooked by the umpires.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2953/blackwz5.jpg

[acuguy]

Black is an absolute gun and the most underrated player in the competition. He is equal of Greg Williams in my eyes minus the attitude.

[Tassie4ever]

Still can't get over the fact that on top of being overlooked by the AA team, he wasn't featured in the promos for the Brownlow as one of the favourites - they had the Geelong trio, , Buddy, Harvey and Cooney. :mad: Makes you think there's something in that but Blacky should've been featured.

As a former Tasmanian, I still can't get over how badly Queenslanders misunderstand the Melbourne thing. Get this straight- to Victorians, it's still really the VFL with a few interstate clubs thrown in for the sake of the bank balance. You only have to hark back to a few years ago when they all freaked out with no Victorian clubs in the finals.

I'll reinforce this point- Eddie still hasn't got over the Lions beating everyone's favourite team in 2 GF's- does anyone recall the classic "manufactured" line? No thought as to how great this was for the sake of the game. Personally, I hope Eddie does pick up Cousins- they deserve each other.

The ideal, from the VFL's viewpoint, would be for us all to go away and just give then the money [and the players, of course]

[Duritz]

The ideal, from the VFL's viewpoint, would be for us all to go away and just give then the money [and the players, of course]

It's more the media down here that do it. Wankers like Robert Walls (himself an ex Lions coach no less) who have a joint love in over blokes like Chris Judd, to the exclusion of all others.

Not one article in the Herald Sun, after the Brownlow, about Simon Black, says it all. And on SEN and other radio stations, they basically say, "Cooney was the winner, Richo - gee that would've been the fairytale, Ablett was stiff."

They don't even mention Blacky.

Tim the Toolman apparently rang KB on SEN and gave him a spray, would like to know what KB said in reply.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/afl/black-will-be-back-lappin/1281093.aspx)

Black will be back: Lappin
24/09/2008 12:00:00 AM

Back-to-back Brownlow bridesmaid Simon Black is in some of the best form of his glittering career. Just wait until he gets fully fit.
Black's Brisbane teammate Nigel Lappin issued the sobering warning to AFL rivals yesterday after revealing just how troubled Black had been by groin problems in the past two seasons.
Black chalked up a staggering 20 Brownlow Medal votes by the halfway point of the 2008 AFL season at Monday night's presentation.
The 2002 Brownlow medallist led the count for most of the night, only to fall one vote short of Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney.
It was the second straight year Black had finished runner-up.
But Lappin said the mind boggled at what the Lions champion could have achieved if he had been fully fit.
''He could so easily have three Brownlow medals. If not for the consistent groin problem, he would,'' Lappin said. ''He started the season behind because he had the groin problems last year.
''You try and play catch-up and do as much as you can, and while his body stood up for a while, once he got fatigued, those things pop up.
''As soon as he gets himself right, he'll be as good a player as he has ever been.''
Black polled just three votes in the second half of the season as injury and the Lions' poor form took their toll.

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2140/black35iz5.jpg

[Tassie4ever]

It's more the media down here that do it. Wankers like Robert Walls (himself an ex Lions coach no less) who have a joint love in over blokes like Chris Judd, to the exclusion of all others.

Not one article in the Herald Sun, after the Brownlow, about Simon Black, says it all. And on SEN and other radio stations, they basically say, "Cooney was the winner, Richo - gee that would've been the fairytale, Ablett was stiff."

They don't even mention Blacky.

Tim the Toolman apparently rang KB on SEN and gave him a spray, would like to know what KB said in reply.

The most prominent AFL Herald-Sun writer, Mike Sheehan, admits that he rarely makes interstate trips- I think the last was when he got a freebie on Richard Pratt's private jet to Sydney. How Melbourne-centric do you want? And how is he able to comment realistically on the game as a whole when he only sees a fraction of the games live?

Everyone knows that Melbourne has too many clubs- what has to happen is that a number of the broke Melbourne clubs have either got to relocate or go out of business. That won't happen while the Big D's bum points south [or north, in his case].

As a Tasmanian, and even as a part-time Hawks supporter, it breaks my heart to see the Tasmanian government pumping millions into the Hawthorn books while Tassie can't get support for a team of it's own.

Would love to get any report of Tim the Toolman's call to SEN if there is one.

[Tim the Toolman]

Guys not much to report. It was during the "get it off your chest" segment so I tried to make it succinct and to the point (it's a stretch for me, believe me!) and KB sent it on a tangent going on about how he just interviewed Scott Clayton and how he was possibly responsible for recruiting SB to the club. I wasn't able to say anymore and was cut off when he was talking about Clayton se he gave it the wide berth unfortunately.

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24393091-5016380,00.html)

Black and the rest of the Lions contingent were seen making the most of the after party at the Crown Casino's Studio 3, partying until after 3am.

"Simon was in pretty good spirits. He was thrilled to have gone that well," our insider said.

"Jonathan Brown was dancing, probably the funniest thing you've ever seen."

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3623/blackrv1.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://lions.com.au/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsid=68437)

Fellow co-captain Simon Black will prove stiff competition as he aims for a fourth Merrett-Murray Medal which would place him outright seventh on the Club’s all-time list of most Best and Fairest awards.

Black has regularly been among the Lions’ best players each week, averaging a career-best 25.7 disposals per game. The Lions’ prime ball extractor also led the Club in contested possessions and clearances this season.

The 29 year-old finished Runner-up in the Brownlow Medal for the second consecutive season which proves that he will be tough to beat.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2408/black48bt0.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68486)

Most Valuable Player: Honourable mention to Power and Brown, but Black’s brilliant performance in the Brownlow Medal foreshadowed what is likely to be a fourth Merrett-Murray Medal win. Consistently fighting a hard tag, Black still managed to average almost 26 possessions (more than 10 of them contested) and five clearances per game. Black is rarely fancy, but he's a true warrior.

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3061/black32op2.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,24431262-5016169,00.html)

Black tip for Lions award
Article from:http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/)
Andrew Hamilton
October 02, 2008 12:00am

BRISBANE'S gun onballer Simon Black, runner-up in this season's Brownlow Medal, is the hot tip to win his fourth Lions best and fairest award.

The Lions should lock away the key signature of their captain before Saturday's gala function.

Black had another stellar season for the Lions and was the Brownlow leader until he was pipped at the post by eventual winner Adam Cooney in the final round.

He will trail new coach and five-time winner Michael Voss by one Merrett-Murray Medal if he wins, having previously claimed the award in the premiership years of 2001 and '02, and again in 2006.

Black's strongest opposition is expected to come from co-captains Luke Power and Jonathan Brown, and gun forward Daniel Bradshaw.

Black's management group yesterday confirmed its client was happy with th e new deal, believed to be for two years, and expected to put pen to paper on Saturday.

Peter Blucher, from Velocity Sports, said the reason the deal hadn't been signed this week was because the Lions footy department, coach Michael Voss and football manager Graeme Allan, were in Canberra for the AFL draft camp.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4069/black46vo5.jpg

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://news.smh.com.au/sport/simon-black-set-for-new-lions-contract-20081003-4tbt.html)

Simon Black set for new Lions contract
October 3, 2008 - 3:08PM

Brownlow Medal runner-up Simon Black is poised to receive a double dose of consolation this weekend with a new Lions contract and a fourth Merrett-Murray Medal.
The Brisbane co-captain is a red-hot favourite to win the Lions' best-and-fairest award for the fourth time when the club champion dinner is held on Saturday night.
Black enjoyed a wonderful season for the Lions, who seemed set to make their first finals series in four years before crashing to 10th with seven losses in the last nine rounds.
The 2002 Brownlow Medallist led the league's best-and-fairest count until the penultimate round before eventual winner Adam Cooney snuck ahead by a point.
His form ensured new coach Michael Voss would renew his contract in one of his first acts as successor to Leigh Matthews.
Black has virtually agreed to all terms with the club and the contract, rumoured to be for two years, is expected to be signed as early as Saturday.
"I think we're pretty confident it will all happen (this weekend)," said Peter Blucher of Velocity Sports, Black's management group.
Blucher indicated Lions football manager Graeme Allan's attendance at the AFL draft camp in Canberra this week had prevented it from being signed off.
A victory at the club's presentation night - following Merrett-Murray medals in 2001, 2002 and 2006 - will put Black just one behind Voss's club record of five best-and-fairest awards.
The star midfielder has already had a big week after opening his second Bank of Queensland owner-manager branch on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6038/black14hg1.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

A victory at the club's presentation night - following Merrett-Murray medals in 2001, 2002 and 2006 - will put Black just one behind Voss's club record of five best-and-fairest awards.

Voss might trade him if he wins tomorrow night. ;)

[sblack20]

simon black has never got the credit he deserves even though his career is as decorated as any player to play the game. pisses me off:mad:

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68636)

Merrett-Murray Medal

Black, who also finished runner-up in the 2008 Brownlow Medal count, finished just 2.5 votes shy of securing his fourth Merrett-Murray Medal.

2008 Merrett-Murray Medal top ten:
1. Jonathan Brown - 53.5
2. Simon Black - 51
3. Luke Power - 46.5
4. Daniel Bradshaw - 43.5
5. Jared Brennan - 42
6. Michael Rischitelli - 41
7. Joel Patfull - 39.5
8. Joel Macdonald - 38.5
9. Travis Johnstone - 31.5
10. Jed Adcock - 29.

Best midfielder
Simon Black

The Courier Mail player of the year
Simon Black

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7983/black3kl0.jpg

2008 Merrett-Murray Thread (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=504720)

[MagpieGirl_13]

He's really missed out on it all this season; AA, Brownlow & now the B&F. Shame for Blacky, I thought he had a pretty good season imo. Should come back & have a good season next year though. :thumbsu:

[Grimreepah]

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9352/black50ks6.jpg
Simon Black at the 2008 Merrett-Murray medal

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8002/black51dh7.jpg
Simon Black and Catherine Chappell.

[Grimreepah]

2007 Review (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9436922&postcount=56)

2008 End of Season Review

Simon Black has been a consistently elite player for a number of years and 2008 was yet another stellar season from him. He finished 2nd in the league for clearances and 2nd for contested possessions. He also finished 2nd in the Brownlow and 2nd in the Merrett-Murray medal.

He started the season in blistering form and was one of the early favourites for the Brownlow. Unfortunately, much like last year, he starting having problems with OP. He missed the round 7 game against Geelong and the Dream Team game but played out the rest of the year. He had racked up 20 Brownlow votes by round 11, but his form tapered off a little in the 2nd half of the year. He was still a very good player for us (arguably our best) but he wasn't dominating like he had in the first half of the year.

Unfortunately for Black he is just not getting enough support and is having to shoulder the load in the midfield. This combined with the rock hard Gabba wicket is placing a lot of strain on his body and is in all likelihood shortening the number of years he has left in the game.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4364/blackpo1.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/2094txd.jpg

Kicks - 253 (2nd)
Handballs - 286 (1st)
Marks - 61 (15th)
Frees For - 35 (1st)
Tackles - 87 (6th)
Contested Possessions - 226 (1st, 2nd highest 180)
Clearances - 116 (1st, 2nd highest 76)
Inside 50s - 70 (4th)
Goal Assists - 16 (3rd)

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,24690036-5016169,00.html)

Lions' Simon Black vows to add to his leadership value
Article from:http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/sm_sundaymail.gif
Greg Davis
November 22, 2008 11:00pm

HE may not have the "c" next to his name any more, but Simon Black has vowed to be a leader every time he takes the field next season.
Black is the most decorated active player in the AFL with three premierships, three All-Australian selections and three club best-and-fairest gongs to go with his Brownlow and Norm Smith medals.
After two years of sharing captaincy duties between Black, Luke Power and Jonathan Brown, new coach Lions Michael Voss has decided to appoint Brown as the club's sole skipper.
Black couldn't care less.
"Vossy wants one captain and that's that. We move on under Browny," Black said.
"It won't change the way I play my footy or when I speak up, nor should it (change)."
Instead, Black will run out with the "v" of veteran next to his name in the AFL record.
Statistically, it is no surprise to see Black nominated as one of Brisbane's two veterans alongside forward Daniel Bradshaw after 11 seasons and 233 senior matches.
However, his outstanding form would suggest he is anything but in the twilight of his career.
His equal second place in this year's Brownlow count is testament to that.
"I don't feel like one (a veteran)," Black said.
"It's a bit strange.
''I wasn't aware of it until the other day when somebody at the club pointed it out.
"I suppose it is my 12th year of footy coming up so it has been a fair bit of footy.
''The premiership years seem a long time ago and in the last four years we haven't won as many games as we would have liked, but overall sometimes it feels like the time has just flown by."
Black turns 30 in April and says he feels physically and mentally ready for the challenge of helping lift the Lions back into finals football.
Brisbane has not seen September action since 2004 and Black said the club was primed to make amends for late-season fade-outs that have cost it top-eight berths.
"I'm really excited about this season because it is a new era at the club and we have plenty of talent at our disposal too which makes it even more exciting," he said.
"We know we have blown it the last couple of years when we had a chance to make the finals because we were not able to play high-level footy for long enough.
"This season it's all about being stronger for longer and giving ourselves the opportunity to win games so we can be in contention for the finals.
"Playing finals is why you play footy.
''Hopefully, that's the result of the hard work we do now and during the season."
Black, who shared his first Lions best-and-fairest award with Michael Voss in 2001, said Voss had already stamped his authority on the club and the winds of change had breathed new life into the Lions' den.
Black said Voss's input was most notable in the change of emphasis in pre-season training with more focus on skills and decision-making that will form the club's style of play in next year.
"It's been an exciting couple of weeks around the club with the new program in place and new staff as well so there is a real vibrancy," Black said.
"Vossy has probably had a thousand things going through his mind the last couple of months but he's handled things really well and everyone is responding to the new training.
"We have markers in place to see how we are improving and everyone is working hard to hit those markers."

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7210/blackgw0.jpg
RUNNING hard ... Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black may not be a club co-captain anymore but he has vowed to make his leadership on the field count next season.

[Tim the Toolman]

There is nothing in that article that surprises me at all regarding the way he's gone about football life after losing the captaincy except for one thing: "Black is the most decorated active player in the AFL with three premierships, three All-Australian selections and three club best-and-fairest gongs to go with his Brownlow and Norm Smith medals."

I never knew this and the the humility of this bloke means not a lot of others would've been aware either?

[Grimreepah]

Link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/afl/story/0,27046,24711634-5016169,00.html)

Lions' ball magnet Simon Black has surgery on tricky ankle
Article from:http://www.news.com.au/images/sources/h14_thecouriermail.gif (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/)
Andrew Hamilton
November 26, 2008 11:00pm

NEW Lions coach Michael Voss has suffered the first setback of his debut campaign with ball magnet Simon Black succumbing to an ankle injury.
The 2002 Brownlow medallist and last year's runner-up initially suffered the injury last year and had hoped off-season rest would solve the problem.

But the ankle has become sore during heavy November training and Black had to undergo minor surgery on Monday. He is expected to miss up to six weeks of running and will not be available to resume full training until the side re-convenes in January after a short break over Christmas.

It is the second year surgery has caused Black to miss a large chunk of the summer workload but, as he showed in his stellar 2008 season, he is capable of producing elite-level performances on limited preparation.

Black remains Brisbane's best midfielder and the key to their finals fortunes.

Spearheads Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw are both coming off superb seasons, but both rely on the hard ball Black routinely wins from the midfield.

Black recently told The Courier-Mail he had found the training regime under new coach Michael Voss as tough as any he had ever done, but was stimulated by some of the new exercises his former premiership-winning captain had introduced.

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7978/black18sd0.jpg

[TheBrownDog]

Shit.... its not easy to replace a ball magnet Brownlow and premiership winning midfielder.

If only there was one available in the draft for cheap....

[BigCat2]

Shit.... its not easy to replace a ball magnet Brownlow and premiership winning midfielder.

If only there was one available in the draft for cheap....

Geez TBD, we could talk about having cereal for breakfast and you could still manage to drag Benny into it somehow. :D

[TheBrownDog]

Geez TBD, we could talk about having cereal for breakfast and you could still manage to drag Benny into it somehow. :D

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/image.php?u=17216&dateline=1227610968http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/image.php?u=17216&dateline=1227610968http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/image.php?u=17216&dateline=1227610968http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/image.php?u=17216&dateline=1227610968

[Roos34]

i wouldnt worry that much about the champ, coz look wat blacky has done over his career and especially in 07 and 08 wen he had shoulder and ankle surgery but still shined as their best player, just a little setback and will come back fit and firing rnd 1 09