Luke McGuane has announced his retirement from football after suffering another knee injury at training yesterday afternoon.
Queenslander McGuane played 112 games over an 11-years AFL career – 105 of those for Richmond – after being selected at No.36 in the 2004 National Draft by the Tigers from Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
The 28-year-old forward has played the best football of his career at the Brisbane Lions over the past month after fighting back from a series of left knee problems since joining the Club at the start of 2014.
He had kicked 7 goals in four games this year and was keen to play on next season before the training mishap that left him with damage to his “good” right knee. He is meeting with a surgeon this afternoon.
“I wanted to play on next year until this injury at training yesterday snuffed out any thought of that,” said McGuane.
“My body has given up on me and as much as I’d love to continue to play on it's clear my body won't deal with it.
“I’m obviously really disappointed – getting back out there and playing the last 4 games has been incredibly enjoyable, and something I wasn’t sure was going to happen after all the injuries I've had over the last few years.
“I’ll have very fond memories of my career and be happy to have got to play so long in the AFL system… I feel blessed to have had such a long career in the AFL.”
McGuane made his senior debut against Sydney in Round 7 of 2006, but managed just two games for the season. He became a more regular fixture for the Tigers from 2007, primarily holding down a third-tall position down back.
In 2012, he was swung forward and kicked 15 goals from nine games. He continued his promising form in attack in 2013, when he kicked a career-best 20 goals from 12 games - which included three in a half against the Brisbane Lions in Round 20 at the MCG.
After nine seasons and 105 games with Richmond, McGuane exercised his right as a free agent to return home to Queensland and join the Lions.
He eventually worked himself back in time for the team's second NAB Challenge match against Gold Coast, and made an immediate impression with three first quarter goals - including a 'goal of the year' contender from the boundary.
He was prominent again in his second pre-season outing against Sydney at Burpengary, however his knee pulled up sore and forced him to spend a further stint on the sidelines.
McGuane was eventually named to make his Lions debut in the team's Easter Thursday night blockbuster, which happened to be against his old side, Richmond.
He went on to play three consecutive games, but continued to struggle with his injury.
McGuane’s injured his troublesome left knee again in the 2015 preseason that kept him off the field until the back half of the season, when he was able to break back into the Senior side and make an impact including 3 goals in a narrow loss to the Golf Coast and two majors in the Gabba win over Carlton.
“The players and coaches at Richmond early in my career, I couldn’t thank them enough, I had an amazing time in my decade at Richmond, and then to finish off my career in Brisbane with my family and new teammates was also really good for me,” said McGuane.
“It’s been hard too because I’ve been injured for 90% of my time here but it was great to finish off my career up here with my family around me.
“To play over 100 games of AFL, I couldn’t be happier, and then being able to share memories with so many mates at both Richmond and Brisbane.”