Simon Black in the brown and gold?
Well, it could have happened.
The Brisbane Lions champion, who was on Tuesday night inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, admits Hawthorn was the club that showed the most interest during his draft year back in 1997.
A product of WAFL side East Fremantle, Black spoke with the West Coast Eagles and also the Hawks, before he eventually became a Lion having slipped to pick 31.
He explained how it all came about on SEN Breakfast.
“Leg speed was such a thing particularly in the mid-to-late 90s. I remember back then all the recruiters were trying to almost turn athletes into footballers, somewhat,” Black said.
“I was never quick, I guess my athletic strength was just covering the ground, the endurance side of it.
“I was a Perth boy, West Coast was my team growing up and I was really keen and they showed a little bit of interest. I did a 40-metre speed test through the gates and they were after a certain time and I knew I was never going to get it.
“They said, ‘Look mate, if you are there later in the draft we might consider you’.
“I actually thought Hawthorn was the club, if I had to pick one, that showed the most interest.
“Ken Judge was the coach of the Hawks at the time and he was a former East Fremantle coach, where I played. I met with him and he showed bit of interest but it was Kinnear Beatson and the Lions in the end.”
Black admits he was never fully confident of making it at the elite level having grown up with some obstacles in his way but a show of faith from Lions coach Leigh Matthews in 1999 allowed him to flourish.
“I was one of those kids that never thought I’d play in the AFL because I thought it would be beyond me,” he added.
“You watched them on television, the big strong guys and I was just a skinny kid. I also missed 12 months of sport when I was about 16-17 with a back issue. I didn’t know how long it was going to last at the time so I sort of had a bit of self doubt then.
“Even when I was playing footy I was one of those guys that was always very, very nervous pre-game. The fear of failure drove me a lot and that was something that was a healthy thing in some respects and it spurs you on.
“I certainly wasn’t one that ever thought I’d be a walk-up start. Even when I got drafted I thought if I could play a few games and then get sent back on my way to East Fremantle I’d sort of be happy.
“But you quickly realise that if you work hard, then I got an opportunity from Leigh to play as an inside midfielder in my second year and was able to gain a bit of confidence.”
Black would go on to play 322 games, win a Brownlow Medal, make three All-Australian teams, claim three best and fairests, win three premierships, a Norm Smith Medal and captain the Lions.
He was inducted into Australian Football's Hall of Fame alongside Brisbane teammate Jonathan Brown.