Brisbane Lions veteran Simon Black to announce retirement after 322 AFL games Simon Black will retire from AFL football today. THREE-TIME Brisbane Lions AFL premiership player Simon Black will announce his retirement from AFL football this morning. The Lions have called a press conference for 9.15am (local time), to be attended by Black and new Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch, where the tough midfielder will call it a day. Black reached his decision only late yesterday after discussions with new Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch, and said his hand was forced by his body's inability to go on after 322 games. "I have agonised about it, it has taken a long time to reach this point because there is no going back," Black told The Courier-Mail last night. I stewed over it for weeks, I probably changed my mind numerous times. I have been so fortunate to have the career I have had, so it is hard to walk away. It came down to my body. I wasn't happy with the medical report, and there was just too much uncertainty about how I could perform. In a highly decorated 322-game career, Black won the Brownlow Medal in 2002 and the Norm Smith Medal in the 2003 grand final. He was a key part of the Lions side that won three consecutive premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and lost the 2004 grand final. SIMON BLACK'S MAGNIFICENT CAREER: Games: 322 (club record) Goals: 171 Premierships: 3 Brownlow medal: 2002 (runner-up 2007, 2008) Career Brownlow medal votes: 184 Norm Smith medal: 2003 Best and fairest: 2001, 2002, 2006 All-Australian: 2001, 2002, 2004 Club co-captain 2007-2008