In 2014, former Richmond utility Luke McGuane arrived at the Lions but much of his time in Brisbane was riddled with a troublesome knee injury.

On accepting a Recognition of Service Award at the 2015 Club Champion, McGuane expressed his frustration but said he thoroughly enjoyed his time here.

“Obviously it was a frustrating couple of years,” McGuane said.

“But in saying that, I loved my time up here and the two years I did get here to meet the boys and experience a different culture.”

Hailing from Broadbeach on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Luke McGuane was drafted to Richmond with Pick No.36 in the 2004 AFL National Draft.

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 was reunited with Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch who had also ‘returned home’ after a stint as an Assistant Coach at Punt Road.

“I can’t thank Lepp enough,” McGuane said.

“I was actually dirty on the Lions for not picking me up as a Gold Coast kid.

“Eventually I wanted to come home and I got my opportunity to come home and got my last two years here.”

“So thanks to Leppa for getting me up to Brisbane, back close to my family where I could enjoy the end of my career.”

After struggling with the troublesome knee and playing just three games in his first season at the Lions, McGuane and the Club ultimately decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and undergo surgery on his knee - even though it meant bringing an early end to his first year in Lions colours.

Fighting back from the series of knee injuries, McGuane played some of his best football in the 2015 season.

His best match came in Round 19 where he ended a frustrating 454-day spell on the sidelines by kicking three goals and collecting 12 possessions against the Suns.

Yet, the 28-year-old’s career came to an end after re-injuring his knee at training prior to the Lions’ Round 23 clash with the Western Bulldogs.

“I really want to thank my family for supporting me through my whole career.”

“I wasn’t the greatest player but I was always competitive and overly aggressive and that’s pretty much why I got a game.

“Leppa obviously saw that so gave me the opportunity to come up here.”

McGuane also thanked the fans for their support despite his absence from the field during much of the season.

“To the fans up here, you were great to me, especially when I wasn’t offering a whole heap in rehab."

“And thanks to all the guys in the physio rooms who put up with my negative attitude at times when I was getting injured, I really appreciate it.”