When Simon Black’s illustrious AFL career ultimately comes to an end, he will be one of few players who can comfortably leave the game without regret.

The most decorated player in Brisbane Lions history has succeeded in almost everything the game has to offer, and is the only person in VFL/AFL history to have achieved the ‘Big Four’ (being 300 senior games, the Brownlow Medal, a Premiership, and the Norm Smith Medal).

But Black’s overwhelming list of accomplishments has been no fluke.

It is through hard work, diligent preparation and ultimate professionalism that he will eventually be remembered as one of the best our game has ever seen.

Speaking candidly with LIONS TV, Black revealed that the thought of potentially harbouring regrets post-career motivated him to constantly improve.

“I think it would be pretty disappointing if you become a 50 or 60 year-old guy who sits back and says he could have been this, or could have been that,” Black told LIONS TV.

“That’s something that’s always driven me.”

Black has not once taken his football for granted and to this day still gets the same thrill from representing the Lions on match day.

“I still, after 300-plus games, get a lot of nervous energy,” Black said.

“You can always, as you walk up the top of the Gabba, start to smell the fertiliser and the grass. And whenever you get that smell, or that sensation, you know it’s game time and it’s time to perform.”