Veteran Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black is set to return to the AFL. Picture: Peter Wallis. Source: The Courier-Mail
BRISBANE Lions great Alastair Lynch says Simon Black must be thrown to the Eagles from the start in his AFL comeback at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon.
Off-season knee surgery has kept the champion midfielder out for six rounds.
Conscious of the need to look after the Lions' premier distributor, coach Michael Voss would not reveal how he planned to reintroduce Black against West Coast.
Voss was criticised for handing the Brownlow medallist the lime substitute vest in round 19 last year, when Richmond inflicted a 48-point thumping on the Lions at the Gabba.
Fox Footy commentator Lynch expects his premiership teammate to be given a chance to stamp his authority from the opening bounce.
"He's had three games back (in the reserves) and he ran 14km in his first full game," Lynch said.
"The miles are in his legs, albeit at a different tempo."
Black will be named in the Lions' team tonight, provided there are no further problems with his repaired knee after training yesterday.
"All things being equal you would expect him to play," Voss said.
"We've been fairly rigid on making sure we introduce him right.
"The advantage Blacky's got, not only has he played numerous seasons but there's numerous pre-seasons under his belt.
"It's more just match fitness that he's got to get.
"We have to keep in mind though that we can't pull the trigger all guns blazing."
Choosing a substitute, and when to unleash him, is one of the few wildcards available to coaches in the heavily structured modern game.
Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley nailed it last month when he injected Robbie Gray at the end of the third term against West Coast.
Gray swung the match with 12 quick disposals.
Voss has used Josh Green to great effect as a sub, but Black is an accumulator rather than an impact man.
"Simon's not your typical burst player," Lynch said.
"He'd be prepared to play a full game.
"Aerobic capacity has never been an issue."
The pain of being without Daniel Rich could be soothed for the Brisbane Lions if his layoff results in a new deal.
Rich (shoulder) will be out of action for at least another month, but the break will allow him to closely consider the Lions' bid to re-sign him.
"It (contract negotiation) is under way. I love the boys and I've made that clear," he said.
"I could have maybe gone somewhere else (last time) but chose to stay here.
"I don't see why (this deal) should be different."
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