Researching Chris Lewis

Lewis was regarded as an aggressive lower-order batsman, fine fast-medium bowler and an able all-round fielder. He was regarded as a colourful player of the game, who never quite lived up to his early potential. He was later convicted of drug smuggling.

He became the third player from New Zealand to reach the finals of a Grand Slam singles title after the second player from New Zealand, Onny Parun, had reached the finals of a Grand Slam singles title ten years before at the Australian Open. Lewis is the last player from New Zealand to reach the finals of a Grand Slam tournament (as of 2021).

An indigenous Australian, Lewis is one of the sons of Irwin Lewis, a notable scholar, sportsman, public servant, and indigenous Australian artist. Like his father and older brothers Clayton and Cameron, he attended Christ Church Grammar School, one of the elite independent schools in Western Australia, for his secondary education, and later played Australian rules football for the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League.

At the time Lewis attended Christ Church, the school apparently did not allow Year 10 students to play in the First XVIII football team (which was reserved for Year 11 and 12 boys, for safety reasons). However, Lewis' ability meant that an exception was made in his case. He was also a very good cricketer whilst at Christ Church.

In 1990, he won the West Coast Eagles Club Champion Award. He was a member of the 1992 and 1994 WCE premiership teams, as well as the 1996 Claremont premiership team in the WAFL.

In 2006 Lewis was named as half forward flanker in the Eagles' 20th anniversary team.

As a player, Lewis was considered a highly skilled player - his passing skills were amongst the best in the AFL. The main criticism of Lewis was his frequent suspensions. However, fans felt that he was given particularly unfair treatment from both umpires and the tribunal. Lewis played much of his early football career prior to the AFL taking action against racial abuse, and thus racial taunts from opposition players were a frequent source of provocation.

Lewis has been known for many unusual suspensions, including biting Todd Viney's finger in 1991, poking Stephen MacPherson's eye in 1992 and then pushing Peter Worsfold head first into the fence in 1993, just back from suspension. Another time he repeatedly kept on touching Glenn Freeborn on his back while Freeborn was whacking it away.