Only three of those Premiership players will be pulling on the boots again for the 2013 AFL Season - Simon Black, Jonathan Brown and Ash McGrath - although you will find many more scattered across different local leagues around the country.
Almost 40% of the Lions’ Premiership players also remain intimately involved in the AFL as coaches or administrators, including Michael Voss (Lions), Brad Scott (North Melbourne) and Chris Scott (Geelong) who currently hold senior coaching positions.
Now, with the Club on the verge of celebrating 10 years since going Back to Back to Back, lions.com.au takes a look at where each of the Lions Premiership players find themselves a decade later…
Get your tickets to the Lions' Premiership Reunion event on Thursday 21 March
Akermanis, Jason (2001, 2002, 2003)
Akermanis’ 325-game AFL career ultimately came to an end in 2010 after spending his final four seasons with the Western Bulldogs. He continued to play on with various local competitions beyond 2010, including Glenorchy (in the Tasmanian State League) and Aberfeldie (in the Essendon Districts Football League). He remains actively involved in the media and has also dabbled in another of his passions - motorsport. Only recently, Akermanis was appointed playing/coach of North Albury in the Ovens and Murray League in 2013.
Ashcroft, Marcus (2001, 2002, 2003)
Upon announcing his retirement following the 2003 Premiership triumph, Ashcroft spent 12 months as Development Manager at Broadbeach before returning to the Lions as the Club’s Football Operations Manager between 2005-2008. In 2009, he joined new AFL franchise Gold Coast SUNS as their Football Manager where he remains to this day.
Black, Simon (2001, 2002, 2003)
Black is one of only three individuals from the historic Three-Peat who is still involved as a player today. Since playing in the 2003 Grand Final, he has piled on a further 188 senior matches to sit fourth on the Club’s all-time (including Fitzroy and Bears) games record list with 314. He will go around again in 2013 for a remarkable 16th season.
Bradshaw, Daniel (2001, 2003)
Bradshaw played nine matches and kicked 28 goals with the Swans after moving to Sydney in 2010, but was forced to announce his retirement midway through 2011 due to ongoing injury complaints. He joined Howlong in the Hume League at the beginning of 2012 and proceeded to kick over 100 goals and help lead the Spiders to the Semi Finals.
Brown, Jonathan (2001, 2002, 2003)
Brown remains an integral part of the Brisbane Lions’ playing list, and only recently became the merged Club’s greatest ever goal-kicker - passing Daniel Bradshaw’s previously held record of 496 goals in July 2011. He now boasts a career tally of 545 goals, which ranks him fourth on the Club’s all-time list (Fitzroy and Bears included) behind Alastair Lynch (633), Jack Moriarty (626), and Bernie Quinlan (576).
Caracella, Blake (2003)
Caracella’s two seasons at the Lions (2003-2004) were followed by two seasons with Collingwood (2005-2006). A serious neck injury forced him to eventually hang up the boots after 187 AFL games. He stayed with the Magpies for a further three years as an Assistant Coach (2007-2009) before moving to Geelong at the end of 2009. He remains a key member of the coaching staff that guided the Cats to the 2011 Premiership.
Charman, Jamie (2003)
An ongoing Achilles injury brought Charman’s 129-game career came to a premature end in 2011 - although his contribution to the Club was recognised by the Board who exercised their discretionary powers to award him with Life Membership. Following his retirement as a player, Charman was appointed to a newly created role within the Club, where he balanced duties both as a Business Development Executive and Ruck Coach. His new-found corporate nous coupled with his extensive football knowledge helped him quickly become a valuable member of the Lions’ off-field staff.
Copeland, Robert (2001, 2003)
Copeland’s eight-year tenure with the Club came to an end in 2008 after 143 games and 39 goals. He was promptly appointed as the inaugural Captain of the Aspley Hornets who had just entered the QAFL first division. ‘Bushy’ won the Hornets’ 2011 Best and Fairest award and is still making a significant impact on the local Queensland competition with Aspley, where he is the club’s games record holder.
Hadley, Richard (2003)
The 2003 Grand Final was just Hadley’s fourth senior AFL appearance, however consecutive knee reconstructions limited him to only 41 matches in seven seasons with the Club. He moved to Carlton in 2008 and played a further 25 matches in three years with the Blues before ultimately retiring aged 27. He moved back home to Western Australia at the end of 2010 and joined East Fremantle, and helped the Sharks reach their first WAFL Grand Final in over a decade last season.
Hart, Shaun (2001, 2002, 2003)
2001 Norm Smith Medallist Hart retired at the end of 2004 with 273 games, 177 goals, and three AFL Premierships to his name. Post-career, he supported the Christian-aligned Family First Party, and even stood as a candidate for the Senate in Queensland at the 2007 Australian Federal Election. He also worked as a radio commentator and spent a year (2007) back at the Lions in a part-time development/runner role. In 2009, Hart joined new AFL franchise Gold Coast as an Assistant Coach and remains a key member of the SUNS’ off-field staff.
Headland, Des (2002)
Headland’s final match for the Lions was the 2002 Grand Final, after which he returned home to Western Australia to join Fremantle. He played a further 114 matches in eight seasons with the Dockers before announcing his retirement at the end of 2010. He immediately joined Subiaco in the local WAFL competition, where he has played the past two seasons.
Johnson, Chris (2001, 2002, 2003)
Fitzroy’s last man standing, Johnson went on to play a total of 264 matches with Club until retiring as a player at the end of 2007. He remained with the Lions throughout the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a Development Coach, but moved back home to Melbourne in 2010 to take on a role as the AFL’s Engagement and Talent Coordinator. In 2011, Johnson was appointed Level One Coach of the AIS-AFL Academy. He is also still kicking around with Avondale Heights in the Essendon Districts Football League.
Keating, Clark (2001, 2002, 2003)
Grand Final hero Keating’s AFL career ultimately came to an end in 2006 after 11 seasons and 139 matches. He has since established himself firmly in the world of commercial property. Keating actually began working part-time at Kenham Group during his playing days with the Lions, but turned it into a full-time role since retiring. He always had an interest in finance and property, and now finds himself a successful property developer.
Lappin, Nigel (2001, 2002, 2003)
Lappin’s glittering 15-year playing career with the Lions came to an end in 2008 after 279 quality games. After weighing up his options post-retirement, he decided to pursue a coaching career and signed as an Assistant Coach with Geelong ahead of the 2009 season. He has since spent four seasons with the Cats, over which time he has played a valuable role in a further two Premierships (2009 and 2011).
Leppitsch, Justin (2001, 2002, 2003)
A chronic back injury forced Leppitsch to retire midway through 2006, with 227 games and 194 goals next to his name. He was immediately installed as an Assistant Coach at the Lions, and proved a valuable member of the off-field staff for a period of three years. He headed to Richmond at the end of 2009, and has spent the past three years as an Assistant Coach at Tigerland.
Lynch, Alastair (2001, 2002, 2003)
Lynch - the oldest member of the Premiership sides - retired at the end of 2004 after 306 matches and 633 goals with Fitzroy, the Bears, and Brisbane Lions. Post-retirement, Lynch absorbed himself in a multitude of business interests - including being named partner and General Manager of Velocity Sports marketing and management company. He also remains a highly regarded media commentator with Fox Sports, and sought after motivational speaker.
McDonald, Beau (2001, 2002)
McDonald’s AFL career came to a premature end in 2008, when ongoing injury concerns forced him to retire after just 91 senior games. He spent a further two seasons with the Club as an Assistant Coach before moving to Karratha (in his home state of Western Australia) for work reasons in 2011. In 2012, McDonald was appointed coach of the Karratha Falcons in the North Pilbara League.
McGrath, Ashley (2003)
Along with veterans Black and Brown, McGrath is one of only three players from the hat-trick of Premierships still involved as a player in the AFL. His career games tally has risen to 188 - which ranks him equal 17th on the Club’s games record list. He has also kicked the 15th most goals in the merged Club’s history (146), despite spending a great deal of his career in defence.
McRae, Craig (2001, 2002, 2003)
Clever forward McRae joined teammates Lynch and Hart in retirement at the end of 2004, after 195 games and 232 goals. His first two years out of the game were spent doing various broadcasting roles, while he was also involved in a sports administration business. In October 2006, he joined Richmond as their Development Coach where he thrived for three seasons. He returned to the Lions in 2010 in a similar role, but spent just one season with his former Club before moving back to Melbourne to take up a Head of Development position at Collingwood where he remains to this day. In 2012, he was named the AFLCA Development Coach of the year.
Michael, Mal (2001, 2002, 2003)
Michael controversially joined Essendon at the end of the 2006 season, and proceeded to play a further 37 matches with the Bombers. He eventually pulled the pin on his AFL playing days at the end of 2008, but continued to work with the Mal Michael Foundation and consultancy company M&M Synergy. He currently works with BME Capital - a company whose business hinges on technology-based entrepreneurship. He continues to stay involved in football, representing Nilma Darnum Bombers (Ellinbank and District Football League) in 2009, and coaching the Papua New Guinea national team. In 2012, he represented Aberfeldie in the Essendon Districts Football League.
Notting, Tim (2001, 2002)
Notting retired as an AFL player at the end of 2009 after 208 games, and commenced working in the building trade. He soon became a qualified carpenter and can currently be found building and restoring decks, and performing general house renovations around Queensland. Notting has also satisfied his passion for football by representing Labrador in the local NEAFL competition (since 2010), and occasionally commentating Lions games on radio.
Pike, Martin (2001, 2002, 2003)
Journeyman Pike ended up spending more time at the Lions (106 games) than he did at Fitzroy, North Melbourne and Melbourne - combining for a magnificent 247-game AFL career. Following his retirement in 2005, he has performed a multitude of local coaching roles at Hasting Football Club, the Northern Bullants Reserves, and more recently Power House Football Club in the VAFA. Pike also works with L.U. Simon builders.
Power, Luke (2001, 2002, 2003)
Power only officially hung up the playing boots at the end of the 2012 AFL season, after spending his final year at new franchise GWS Giants as a playing Assistant Coach. His 20 matches with the Giants took him to a career total of 302 games - 282 of which were with the Lions. His enormous contribution to the game - both on and off the field - was duly recognised when he received the 2012 AFL Players’ Association Madden Medal. Power’s role with GWS will continue beyond 2012 - albeit purely in a coaching and development capacity.
Scott, Brad (2001, 2002)
Brad Scott is one three members of the Lions’ Three-Peat of Premiership who now currently holds a Senior Coach position in the AFL. Scott’s playing days officially finished in 2006 when he announced his retirement after 168 matches (22 of which were with Hawthorn in 1997). Highly regarded for his game knowledge and football smarts, it came as no surprise to see Scott join Collingwood’s coaching staff in 2007 - and he spent three seasons under the tutelage of Mick Malthouse. Scott was ultimately appointed as North Melbourne’s Senior Coach at the end of 2009, and has sat at the helm for three seasons - the last of which saw the Kangaroos reach the Finals.
Scott, Chris (2001, 2002)
Chris Scott retired at the end of 2007 - one year after his twin brother Brad - having played 215 matches in 14 seasons with the Lions. Much like his brother, it wasn’t long before he was identified as a future Senior Coach, and immediately began his coaching apprenticeship with Fremantle. After spending three years as an Assistant Coach at the Dockers, Scott replaced Mark Thompson as Geelong’s Senior Coach at the end of 2010. He went on to lead the Cats to the 2011 AFL Premiership in his first year as coach - a remarkable achievement. To this day he is recognised as having one of the most astute minds in the modern game.
Shattock, Aaron (2002)
Shattock played a total of 57 games with the Lions from 2000-2004, before adding a further 11 matches in two seasons with Port Adelaide. When his AFL playing days came to an end in 2006, he returned to Queensland to play with local side Labrador in the QAFL. Shattock spent five seasons as the Tigers’ Captain before announcing his retirement at the end of 2011. However, he still remains involved at Labrador in a coaching role.
Voss, Michael (2001, 2002, 2003)
After 289 brilliant matches and 15 seasons with the Club, three-time Premiership Captain Michael Voss announced his retirement from football at the completion of the 2006 season. Following his retirement, Voss took on a role in the media with Channel 10 which involved commentating AFL games and also anchoring their weekday sports news. He combined his media commitments with additional business interest, and also coached the AIS-AFL U17 Academy Squad. The lure of coaching an AFL team eventually became too strong, and when Leigh Matthews announced his retirement at the end of the 2008 season, the Lions’ favourite son returned to succeed his former Premiership Coach and mentor. Voss led the Lions to their first Finals appearance in five years during his debut season, and looks set to become the fourth longest-serving coach in combined Club history in 2013.
White, Darryl (2001, 2002, 2003)
White’s highlight-filled AFL career reached its conclusion at the end of 2005 when he decided to hang up the boots after 268 games with the Club. Immediately after bidding farewell to the AFL, he played in a further three straight Premierships - first with Darwin Football Club in the 2005/06 NTFL season, then with Southern Districts in the 2006/07 NTFL season, before returning to Queensland in 2007 to play in yet another flag with Mt Gravatt in the QAFL. The evergreen White has since gone on to also represent Nyah-Nyah West in the Central Murray Football League in northern Victoria, and more recently St Mary's in the NTFL.
