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Callum Godde

Brownlow winner Lions' pick to present premiership cup

Brisbane legend Simon Black will present the AFL premiership cup if the Lions win on Saturday. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

A superstar from Brisbane's early 2000s three-peat side will present the AFL premiership cup if the current crop of Lions can match the feat.

Simon Black will be the cup presenter to Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and co-captains Harris Andrews, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage if the Lions triumph over Fremantle in Saturday's AFL grand final.

The three-time premiership hero and 2002 Brownlow medallist said he was genuinely humbled when the club called and the moment would mean a great deal to him and his family.

AFL
Simon Black was a fan favourite through his time dominating with the Lions in the AFL. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)

"The Lions have been such a big part of my life, I have enormous respect for 'Fages' and the team and I know how much work goes into earning a place on the stage on grand final day," Black said.

"If the opportunity comes, it would be incredibly special to hand the cup to this team and share that moment with our players."

Black boasts an imposing record across his 322 AFL games for the Lions from 1998 to 2013.

The former co-captain claimed the Norm Smith Medal in the 2003 grand final, won the club best and fairest award three times, and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

AFL
Brisbane's Simon Black was a silky and determined player who reached great heights in the game. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

"Simon Black is one of the greatest Lions to ever pull on the jumper and his impact on our football club is still felt today," Lions chief executive Sam Graham said.

"For our fans, Blacky remains a symbol of the Lions’ premiership legacy and the standards that continue to drive our club.

"We're thrilled he has accepted, as it is a fitting recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the Brisbane Lions and to our game in Queensland."

Black's former coach Leigh Matthews and teammate Jonathan Brown presented the cup to the Lions in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Fremantle have named inaugural player Shaun McManus as their premiership cup presenter if the Dockers break through for a maiden flag.

McManus and Black have a shared history, both drafted out of East Fremantle in the 1990s after attending Corpus Christi College in Bateman.

Former Docker Shaun McManus
Inaugural Docker Shaun McManus will present the trophy to Fremantle if they win the grand final. (Bohdan Warchomij/AAP PHOTOS)

"To be able to share it with Simon is a big deal and it's a big deal for our families," McManus said of the cup honour.

"We're tight with the Blacks, we know them well. I followed Simon's career, we went to the same school.

"To be able to walk out on the MCG together is going to be amazing."

McManus, 50, recalled Black, who is three years his junior, beating him in a 1500m race at school.

"He took it out really hard ... I failed to get him on the line and I was absolutely spewing," he said.

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