After knee injuries and a staph infection ruined the early part of his career, 23-year-old Leuenberger has not missed a match in the past two seasons and stamped himself among the elite in his position.
At 204cm and 102kg, he is the prototype ruckman of this generation, mixing great tap work with an ability to cover the ground and influence contests both forward and back.
Now entering his sixth pre-season and with 66 games under his belt, Leuenberger is entering his prime and the Lions have surrounded him with some experienced help.
Not only did they acquire former Adelaide and Western Bulldogs hard man Ben Hudson in the trade period, but the Lions also announced the appointment of club favourite Jamie Charman as the new ruck coach.
Hudson and Charman have 143 and 129 games respectively to their names, and the East Perth product believes they have plenty to offer his flourishing career.
"Ben Hudson is going to be really good to work with," Leuenberger said.
"He's an opposition player I played on for quite a while and struggled with at times, particularly early in my career. So I'm really looking forward to working with him.
"Ben plays a different style of ruck compared to me. He's very much at the contest and efficient there, and I think I can definitely learn from him. Once we ramp training up, it's going to be really handy to work with him week in and week out."
Although Charman has been at the club in a playing capacity since Leuenberger was taken with the no.4 pick in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, the Western Australian said he was excited about their new working relationship.
"He's a really good mate of mine," he said.
"I caught up with him on the weekend and spent most of Saturday with him and he went through a few ideas that he's got and I'm pretty excited.
"I worked with him for a bit last year and really valued what he had to say and I thought he coached really well in the couple of weeks I had him, so I’m excited to have him on board."
Leuenberger was speaking after completing a gruelling running and ball-work session of more than two hours in stifling Brisbane heat and humidity on Monday morning.
With five Lions leaders - Jonathan Brown, Daniel Merrett, Simon Black, Jed Adcock and Tom Rockliff - undertaking altitude training in Arizona, Leuenberger said he also wanted to take more responsibility in 2012.
"A few of my goals this year have been to drive my midfield area," he said. "I feel like I'm starting to establish myself in the role I play within the team, so there's a few things I want to incorporate, and work with the other mids and make sure our structures are in place.
"That's been my goal going into pre-season - to get a bit more leadership and direction going in my midfield group."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
