Luke McGuane will end an infuriating 454-day wait between games when he returns to the Brisbane Lions side on Saturday for a 109th career outing that he refused to concede would never happen.
Sidelined by a recurring knee injury since 3 May last year and subjected to five operations in that period, the 28-year-old forward fully expects to relive the nerves of his youth when he runs out against the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba in Q-Clash #10.
“It’ll almost be like playing my first game all over again,” he said, having debuted for Richmond as a 19-year-old in May 2006.
“After being injured for virtually two years it’s really exciting not just to be able to play but to play at a level something like what I want to play at.
“The knee is not perfect – it’ll never be perfect – but I’m just looking forward to getting out there and making a contribution.”
McGuane, drafted from Broadbeach in 2004, played 105 games for Richmond from 2006-13 before joining the Lions as a free agent in October 2013.
He injured his knee in a practice match at Burpengary in February 2014 and although he played for the Lions in Rounds 5-6-7 he has been a recurring visitor to the surgeon’s table.
He was written off by a lot of people, but refused to contemplate retirement.
“I definitely wasn’t going to go out that way …. I had to at least have a crack at it,” he said.
“When I played last year I pretty much couldn’t walk until the Tuesday after a game but now things are feeling pretty good.
“The last operation was only six weeks ago but I’m feeling the best I have in a long time, and I’m getting better every week.”
McGuane, non-committal on plans beyond this year, will be chasing his first Lions win on Australian soil on Saturday. He lost twice in Brisbane colors at the Gabba last year but was part of the side that beat St.Kilda in Wellington, New Zealand, in Round 6.
