Simon Black's substitute role bamboozles Alastair Lynch

LIONS legend Alastair Lynch labelled Simon Black's relegation to the sub role in Brisbane's 48-point loss to Richmond as "staggering".

Simon Black

BRISBANE Lions legend Alastair Lynch labelled Simon Black's relegation to the substitute's role in last night's 48-point loss to Richmond at the Gabba as "staggering".

With Black forced to sit on the interchange bench for two and a half quarters wearing the lime green vest, the Tigers led by as much as 45 points late in the third quarter but survived a Black-inspired Brisbane rally to claim the battle of the big cats.

Two weeks ago, Lions coach Michael Voss pre-empted Black moving into the substitute role in 2013 but when the team lists were released an hour before the first bounce last night, it sent shockwaves around the Gabba.

At 33-years-old and lining up for his 310th game, the sub's role was particularly startling given the impact role does not suit the veteran, who relentlessly wears down his direct opponent over the full journey.

Since being introduced last season, the substitute is normally a young, quick player who is injected into the game in the fourth quarter to run the tiring opposition off their feet.

Black was introduced into the game midway through the third term at the expense of Patrick Karnezis with the home side trailing by 39 points and immediately sparked the Lions with six touches and one clearance before three-quarter time.

Black was a prime mover in Brisbane's last quarter comeback that closed the margin to 14 points.

The Lions were desperate in defence but the Tigers survived numerous nervous moments to snap their three-game losing streak.

Lynch, a former premiership teammate and current manager of Black, said it was a "staggering" decision from the Lions to put the Brownlow medallist on the pine for so long.

"It is a puzzling one," Lynch said in his role as a Fox Footy commentator.

"(Black's) one of the greatest Brisbane Lions of all-time.

"He's had some injury problems, that's for sure but he's still one of their most important players.

"He is not one of those burst players that comes on late and is going to tear the game open. He is more the player that's going to grind his opponent into the ground. That is certainly a strange selection ... he needs to be there. It's a major issue."