Simon Black

[Grimreepah]

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When Sharks came before Lions
By Simon Black
1:45 AM Sat 21 June, 2008

MY FAVOURITE Saturday place as a kid growing up in Perth was Beasley Park, home of the mighty Bullcreek Leeming Sharks.

It was where I first learned to love footy, and was the breeding ground for Ben Cousins, Jon Hay, Josh and Matt Carr, Rhys Palmer, Garrick Ibbotson and Chris Masten.

It's so good that a couple of years back it was voted the country's best grassroots club. No wonder I’ve got so many terrific memories of the place.

Named after Simon Beasley, the ex-Footscray full-forward, it was where I spent countless Saturday mornings.

A massive open space with big, wide wings, it's a typical Perth ground.

I first played there when I was nine, having beaten off Dad’s efforts to have me play rugby union. He’s a Kiwi, my old man, and although he moved to Australia as a teenager, he was a fair player as a kid and was keen for me to play rugby.

For a couple of early years I played both codes, but the lure of playing footy with my school mates was too strong.

So Beasley Oval it was. A couple of afternoons a week for training, and Saturday mornings to kick the dew off the grass. And if we were really lucky, sometimes we’d get to play up a grade if the older boys were short.

There are dressing rooms in the red-brick clubhouse, which is a buzz for young kids, and I can still remember hearing the opposition teams yelling one to 10 as they did their warm-up next door.

There’s also a great canteen where Mum would do her turn on the duty roster and I would get a weekly fix of a soft drink and a Mars Bar after each game.

In the finals they’d deck the place out in streamers, and we’d have a run-through. It was about a metre wide, so it was single file but still a big thrill.

It’s all still there. I was back at the club a couple of years ago, taking some local kids for training, including Rhys Palmer. He was 16 then and they told me he was going to be a star. They weren’t wrong.

We were so strong we had two teams in most age groups. I played with the Sharks and we wore navy and light blue jumpers in the Essendon/Richmond style, with a light blue sash across the front.

I always wore number 14 and played wherever the ball was.

The other team in my age-group was the Tigers. Don’t worry about the Eagles-Dockers rivalry – when the Sharks played the Tigers at Beasley Oval it was much bigger than any WA derby.

Our coach for a lot of years was Richard Wolski. Dicko was a terrific junior coach and I still remember his speech after we went undefeated to win the under-13 flag.

The grand final was at East Fremantle Oval and it was very big deal for a bunch of kids.

Dicko kept things pretty simple and always said to us ‘you’ve got to be able to hit a target’.

He always gave the less talented kids a crack and made sure we had plenty of fun. And while he shook his head a bit, I can never remember him yelling at us.

I had another good coach with my school team, Corpus Christi College. His name was Peter Frusher and we won a couple of premierships with him.

In my first year with East Fremantle colts I was coached by Kerry Coates, who was another beauty. Sadly, he passed away not so long ago.

Junior coaches can have such a massive influence on young players and there was one other for me - Mark Neates. He’s a specialist sprints coach and still works with some Eagles boys today.

I needed all the help I could get with pace but he was terrific to me and gave me a chance to get drafted.

But for all that, I’m a Bullcreek Leeming boy. A Shark.

It’s why my Dream Team on the AFL website is called Blacky’s Sharks.

And I’ll be forever grateful of all those fantastic Saturday mornings at what, for a lot of years, was my second home.

[Grimreepah]

Link

No Brownlow grey area, Black's right in it
Article from:
Alastair Lynch
June 22, 2008 12:00am

IT doesn't matter who is eligible for this year's Brownlow Medal and who is not eligible ¿ Lions midfield ace Simon Black is going to be right in the mix. Again. Black has played better this year than last, when he was runner-up to Jimmy Bartel, and probably better than in 2002, when he won the medal.
And the furore over eligibility, which followed the disqualification of Hawthorn's Lance Franklin, won't worry him in the slightest because he's the fairest player I've ever seen.
Black, third-favourite for the medal behind Gary Ablett and Adam Cooney heading into Round 13, would have been among the leaders regardless of the exclusions because his form has been nothing short of exquisite.
Some Brisbane players reckon he could have as many as five or even six best afield ratings already. That is despite missing the Round 7 game against Geelong through injury. And statistically it's hard to argue.
Only once has he had fewer than 24 possessions – 16 against Sydney in Round 3. He's averaged 28 touches and five clearances.
More significantly, he's featured among the Lions' best in wins over Port Adelaide, Melbourne, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Fremantle, and should get two or three votes in the Round 1 loss to West Coast.
In fact there's only the Round 3 against Sydney and the Round 7 Geelong game where you'd say he definitely will not get votes.
Even against the Bulldogs last week he was one of the few Lions to beat his opponent man-on-man although you'd expect the votes to go to the victors.
Black has proved himself a vote-winner. He's always under the nose of the umpires, never argues, never steps over the mark with opponents and always gets plenty of the football.
In a remarkable display of consistency, the 2003 Norm Smith Medallist and three-times Brisbane club champion has polled double-figure tallies six times in the past seven years, only missing out in 2005. Three times he's finished top 10.
This year he's getting more of the ball and, if it's possible to improve on his 2007 levels, his hands are cleaner and he's hitting targets with an even higher degree of efficiency.
His ability to spot a leading forward with a perfectly weighted pass has had a lot to do with the sparkling form of Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw. So how do you improve at 29 in your 11th season?
Maybe an injury has proved a blessing in disguise. Black is one of the hardest-working trainers I've seen. If anything he is prone to over-training. I know – I've watched him go about his work through a lot of summers.
Last summer he had no option but to rest and I suspect it has freshened him up. He's still got a fantastic fitness base but he's just that little bit sharper.
Sure, Brown and Bradshaw will have grabbed some votes but there won't be too many other Lions taking many off him. I'll be staggered if he's not in the top group again on Brownlow night.

[dlanod]

Only once has he had fewer than 24 possessions – 16 against Sydney in Round 3.

Twice...

[Gabbatoir]

I don't think next weeks game against Melbourne a forgone conclusion by any means, but after re-watching Saturday night's game, the commentators mentioned Black was struggling with his groin. Do people think we should look at resting Simon to give him the two weeks off? (With the second week of the split round being our bye)

[TheBrownDog]

Originally Posted by Gabbatoir

I don't think next weeks game against Melbourne a forgone conclusion by any means, but after re-watching Saturday night's game, the commentators mentioned Black was struggling with his groin. Do people think we should look at resting Simon to give him the two weeks off? (With the second week of the split round being our bye)

Yup, seems the smart thing to do.

[Roos34]

Blacky played more minutes than Power sat nite im pretty sure, i rekon he was just suffering from a close tag from shirley, he had his usual breaks in btw quarters and ran all night but i think he will be doing OK

[kimp]

Rest him. Clearly injured.

[TheBrownDog]

Originally Posted by Roos34

Blacky played more minutes than Power sat nite im pretty sure, i rekon he was just suffering from a close tag from shirley, he had his usual breaks in btw quarters and ran all night but i think he will be doing OK

We sit right near the Lions interchange, and it was clear that Blacky's groin was being problematic. There were quite a few doctors huddled around him looking concerned.

[awesome_assassin]

I googled Simon Black and Jonathan Brown( with the SAFE mode off). It had footy pix of players with no shirts on, thats not the scary part. Under the pix there was a link called GayFooty.com.au ( i kid you not) This website by the sounds of it is set up, so that gay men( i assume) can look at shirtless footy players with rippling bodies.
I just thought this might be of interest for all our female lions fans.
P.S you can thank me later.

[Ruse]

Originally Posted by awesome_assassin

I googled Simon Black and Jonathan Brown( with the SAFE mode off). It had footy pix of players with no shirts on, thats not the scary part. Under the pix there was a link called GayFooty.com.au ( i kid you not) This website by the sounds of it is set up, so that gay men( i assume) can look at shirtless footy players with rippling bodies.
I just thought this might be of interest for all our female lions fans.
P.S you can thank me later.

yeah i heard that it's the secret site with the training reports the mods and a few posters here set up.

[awesome_assassin]

Originally Posted by Ruse

yeah i heard that it's the secret site with the training reports the mods and a few posters here set up.

Haha yeah.Its allvery tame,but some of our female posters will enjoy no doubt

[Grimreepah]

Link

Gabba surface a threat to Black
By Marco Monteverde
July 09, 2008

SIMON Black's lingering osteitis pubis problem shouldn't stop him playing out the rest of the season, but the Brisbane Lions star admits his career could be cut short because of his non-stop running on the rock-hard Gabba wicket square. The Lions co-captain is confident that with ongoing "maintenance" and physiotherapy, his troublesome groin would not stand in the way of him playing a key role in Brisbane's bid for a first finals appearance since 2004.
However, the 29-year-old on-baller said a decade of toil on the unforgiving and controversial pitch square at the Gabba might end his stellar career earlier than planned.
"It could possibly work out that way," Black said. "I've been around that pitch for 10 years and it probably does knock your body around.
"I'm not sure if it's the only reason that I've had this groin problem but it may be a contributing factor."
Black thinks he has at least three years left in him and is currently pushing for a deal - via manager Peter Blucher - of that length, with his contract up at the end of the season.
Despite interest from Victorian clubs, the 2002 Brownlow medallist wants to end his career in Brisbane.
"I don't want to leave, but I'm in no real rush to finalise a deal. Before the end of the year would be good," he said.
Black's priority is getting the Lions' top-eight hopes back on track on Saturday night at Telstra Dome against Essendon following their last-start shock loss to cellar-dwellers Melbourne.
"We haven't played finals for a few years so we need to keep improving and keep getting better," he said.
"That's why games like last week's against Melbourne are so disappointing because we went backwards in that regard.
"We just got shown up by them. They were a bit more desperate on the day.
"I don't know if it was complacency, but what I do know is that their attack on the footy and their attack on us was greater than what ours was."
Black's own performance against the Demons was well short of the high standard he has set throughout the season.
"It wasn't a particularly great game for me. When I had the ball, I didn't kick it well. You have those games sometimes," he said.

[Grimreepah]

Link

Simon Black to have scans on shoulder
Article from:
Andrew Hamilton
July 14, 2008 12:00am

BRISBANE co-captain Simon Black will have scans on a busted shoulder that could force him into off-season surgery. The Lions are hopeful Black can play out the rest of the season with the assistance of pain-killing injections, but will not know until later today just how serious the injury to the AC joint is. Black was crunched by Essendon ruckman David Hille in a second quarter incident in Saturday's 37-point loss, which highlighted the courage and eyes only for the ball approach of the two players.
The former Brownlow medallist battled on bravely as expected, but was clearly playing with considerable pain.
It is the second consecutive season Black, a runner-up in last year's Brownlow Medal, will be play out the home stretch under duress.
Last year he battled oesteitis pubis, and although the condition has continued to trouble him this season, both player and club are confident it can be managed.

[Grimreepah]

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Black passes brutal 'Lappin test'
July 18, 2008 - 5:21PM

Spearhead Jonathan Brown has been cleared to play West Coast and Simon Black is set to join him after passing a famed Brisbane fitness test.
In a massive boost to the wavering Lions, coach Leigh Matthews declared co-captains Brown and Black both fit to line up against a green Eagles outfit at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Brown stretched out confidently at training to dispel concerns about his hip but Black was put through a torrid "Nigel Lappin" test at the end of the session.
Assistant coach Chris Johnson lined up and pummelled Black for up to 10 minutes to test his injured shoulder much in the same way Lappin was belted by Aaron Shattock before the 2003 grand final win against Collingwood.
Black spoke with Matthews and club medics for several minutes after the test in a sign he was touch and go but Matthews was confident the three-time club champion would play.
"We always thought Jonathan would play and he trained today and he's okay," the Lions coach said.
"We didn't think Blacky would play to be honest but he seemed to be okay during the session, so he'll probably start off the field because we planned the game without him and we won't alter that but it's good to have him in our 22."
Pressed whether Black was able to bounce back after copping a nasty knock in the 37-point loss to Essendon at Telstra Dome, Matthews played down concerns.
"He's been given the all clear unless he pulls up badly," he said.

[bears2lions]

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...-10389,00.html

Lions stunned by Black's recovery
Article from:

Andrew Hamilton
July 19, 2008 12:00am

SIMON Black has stunned Brisbane with his recovery from a shoulder injury and could take his place against the Eagles at the Gabba tonight.

Coach Leigh Matthews spares no man when it comes to selection and Black was forced to prove his ability to absorb punishment in a gruelling physical examination at the hands of former teammate Chris Johnson.

For 10 solid minutes Black was made to gather a ball at ground level while Johnson barged into him at full pace, targeting his shoulder, before Matthews was satisfied. It was a scene reminiscent of the brutal and now legendary fitness test triple premiership-hero Nigel Lappin was put through by teammate Aaron Shattock on the eve of the 2003 grand final.

Key forward Jonathan Brown had also been in doubt but breezed through a 90-minute session to receive the all-clear from Matthews.

"We always thought Jonathan would play and he trained today and he's OK," Matthews said.

"We didn't think Blacky would play to be honest but he seemed to be OK during the session so he'll probably start off the field because we planned the game without him and we won't alter that but it's good to have him in our 22."

But Black didn't look totally convincing yesterday and Matthews admits he may still be a late withdrawal.

"It was sore last week but if you finish the game OK most of the time you start the following week's game the same and he did that last week," Matthews said.

"He's been given the all clear unless he pulls up badly from what he did today."

Simon Black at Brisbane Lions' training at the Gabba. Pic: David/Kapernick