This was further highlighted at the 2011 Club Champion dinner when the evergreen 32 year-old finished Runner-Up to Tom Rockliff in the race for the Lions’ top honour.
It was the ninth time in the past 11 seasons that Black has stood on stage as one of the three best performed Lions players in a season - missing out only in 2005 (when he finished =11th) and 2007 (when he finished =5th).
The former three-time Merrett-Murray Medallist has now finished Runner-Up five times - including each of the past four seasons - and third once.
His period of consistency has mirrored his good mate Luke Power, who unfortunately never won a Lions Club Champion award despite finishing in the top five over eight consecutive seasons from 2003-2010.
But also spare a thought for former Hawthorn champion and AFL games record-holder Michael Tuck who finished second in the Hawks’ Best & Fairest award seven times - and came third twice - without ever winning.
In his typically humble fashion, Black was thrilled to see his protégés Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden on the dais for the first time and acknowledged the Club’s wealth of young talent coming through the ranks.
“It’s been great to see the development of young guys like Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich and James Polkinghorne over the past couple of years,” Black said.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure playing with these guys and there has been some genuine improvement. Hopefully some more wins aren’t far away.”
Black also took an opportunity to formally farewell two of his best mates at the Lions who announced their retirement at season’s end - Jamie Charman and Luke Power.
“Charmo, I’m very proud to call you my friend. There hasn’t been a day that you haven’t made me laugh around the Club.”
“Luke, we arrived at the Club together 14 years ago and you’ve been more like a brother to me than a team-mate. I can think of no better person with more integrity. I hope our younger guys have learned a lot from Luke - not just from his on-field ability, but in the way he conducted himself off it. He’s a true champion and I’m really going to miss him.”
