Brisbane Lions premiership great Simon Black on the back-to-back pitfall Chris Fagan’s side must avoid

Only two clubs have gone back-to-back since Brisbane Lions’ historic threepeat. Simon Black reveals how Chris Fagan’s side can buck that trend and return to the AFL summit again in 2025.

Brisbane Lions legend and 2003 Norm Smith medallist Simon Black has urged this year’s playing group not to get caught up in talk of going back-to-back and stick to the processes that took them to the premiership last season.

Black will join three-peat premiership teammates Alastair Lynch, Chris Johnson, Jason Akermanis and their inspirational coach Leigh Matthews in unfurling the club’s 2024 premiership flag ahead of Sunday’s clash with West Coast at the Gabba.

In a poignant coming together of the past and present, Black and his all-conquering peers from Brisbane’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 grand final triumphs will ring in the celebrations of the 2024 side’s drought breaking success of last September.

“It will be brilliant – a great day for the fans,” Black told the Courier-Mail.

“They made history. We get to stop and reflect on that. It was a pretty challenging 20 years post our last (premiership) and the club had some pretty tough times in that period, so to be able to get back there like they did was fantastic.

“When you have the ultimate team success together there is a real tight bond and connection that is formed in the background which makes it even more special.”

Under Matthews, the Lions formed an early-2000s dynasty that to this day is considered one of the most talented and fearsome teams of the modern AFL era.

And some believe Chris Fagan’s side has an opportunity to emulate those feats, given the incredible depth of talent and age profile of many of their star players.

Black’s read is that a fully-fit Lions side has the weapons to go back-to-back this year but warned the worst thing they could do was get ahead of themselves.

“It can never be about the end result. As Leigh used to say to us, all the work you put in to get that end result is what it’s all about,” Black said.

“You just have to apply yourself every single day to get better and that was our focus as a group, individually and as a collective.

“I think that would be the similar message that Chris Fagan is driving with his group.

“All you’re doing is qualifying, up until grand final day. It’s a long season. If you’re thinking about the result three to six months away, that is pointless. You have to earn the right and get yourself in a good qualifying position to have a chance.”

After going agonisingly close in 2023, losing to Collingwood by four points in that year’s decider, Fagan’s Lions made good on their potential with a devastating 60-point thumping of Sydney last September.

That premiership triumph was just desserts after a stunning six-year run that included two grand final appearances, two preliminary final appearances and more home and away wins than any other club in the competition.

Brisbane Lions are looking to go back to the summit this year.

“Leigh would say to us ‘it is important to make hay while you have a good group, take your opportunity. You don’t want to look back and have regrets’,” Black recalled.

“And that is the great thing about this Lions group. They’ve been pretty close in recent years and it would have been disappointing had they not been able to win at least one (premiership).

“It is heartwarming for them as players and for fans as well. We would all be disappointed if they didn’t win one in this era. It is testament to the work they have done and the team they have had. It is a great story.”

After a false start for Opening Round thanks to Cyclone Alfred, the Lions began their premiership defence last weekend with a gutsy four-point victory over the Swans at the SCG.

A midday mauling of the Eagles at the Gabba on Sunday would be a welcome way to celebrate the success of last season and underline their premiership credentials for 2025.

Black believes if the Brisbane coaching staff can get the forward mix right following the retirement of Joe Daniher, the club is well-placed to contend again.

Simon Black knows what it takes to go back-to-back. The Lions great is pictured with Jason Akermanis during the 2002 Grand Final.

“The challenge is up front and how they work around the absence of Joe Daniher, but they have such great depth of talent and experience now that I can’t see them dropping away,” he said.

“They’re going to be thereabouts again I would have thought. If they have the right attitude to improve and get better individually – and with a bit of injury luck – they will be a real chance.

“There are still some guys to come back from injury and if they can stay healthy, it is going to be very interesting watching what they do at the selection table each week.”

Originally published as Brisbane Lions premiership great Simon Black on the back-to-back pitfall Chris Fagan’s side must avoid