Veteran defender Matt Maguire announced his retirement from the AFL in June and was recognised for his service to the Brisbane Lions at the Club Champion Awards in September.
Maguire’s story is a remarkable one, showing an amazing resilience and ability to never give up – he signed six one-year contracts at the Lions.
The 31-year-old, who played 170 senior games at St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions, made the decision to retire after experiencing persistent symptoms relating to concussion (Maguire was concussed in a NEAFL game against Ainslie at Coorparoo on April 25).
“I’d like to thank Leppa and the coaches over the last couple of years, but in particular a guy by the name of Michael Voss who took a chance on me from St Kilda after I broke my leg,” Maguire said.
“He gave me an opportunity to try and fulfil my career and I was very thankful for that – being able to spend six great years up here and to be surrounded by terrific people.
“I was very fortunate that Simon Black took me under his wing when I first came up here and being able to play alongside blokes like Browny and be coached by greats of the Club like Justin and Vossy.
“As my second club, to be embraced and to find good friends who are still at the footy club like Rodge (Dan Merrett) and Sez (wife Sarah) Merrett have been with me every step of the way. You see guys go like Rainsey (Andrew Raines) and Joey Patfull, even Amon Buchanan and big Jonny (Jonathan Brown) last year as well.
“We still get a good laugh when we tell a Browny story every now and then at the Club, it gets the boys up and it’s good to see him on the footy shows these days telling the same stories we’ve all heard a thousand times before,” he laughed.
“I’d like to thank the fans and the members and those who make it possible for players’ to do what we love every day.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to go to work and enjoy the company of my good friends every day for the last 14 years and now I get to go on into the next phase of my life together with my beautiful partner and our beautiful daughter Cleo,” Maguire said.
“It’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
