A DISCUSSION before the 2011 season with coach Michael Voss helped Andrew Raines find a new role and a more permanent place in the Brisbane Lions' set-up.
Raines came to the Lions from Richmond in the 2009 trade week period, but his first year in Brisbane ended up being his third straight injury-interrupted season.
The Southport product played just 15 games between 2008-2010 and was struggling to command a regular senior berth.
After making his name as a dashing half-back with the Tigers - he finished second in both their best and fairest and the Rising Star Award in 2006 - it was time to find a new role.
"I missed a lot of football and I wanted to get in the midfield eventually, even back at Richmond, I thought I could be a midfielder," Raines said.
"I went to Vossy two pre-seasons ago and said I'd like the opportunity to play on the opposition's best player in the midfield.
"And obviously the defensive skills of playing down back most of my career, I thought maybe a defensive midfielder was a good opportunity to play consistent football and get a spot after two or three years in the wilderness."
After playing 16 games last year and 17 this year, Raines will line up for his 100th career game against Port Adelaide on Saturday, now well established as the Lions' designated run-with player.
The 26-year-old has done a fine job on negating the opposition's best midfielder this season, and often found plenty of the ball himself.
In last weekend's upset win over Adelaide, Raines was moved from Scott Thompson to quieten the rampant Patrick Dangerfield after quarter-time.
Dangerfield had just nine disposals in the next two quarters as the Lions turned a 38-point quarter-time deficit into a win.
Raines has been in the AFL system for nine years and said there were times he felt the 100-game milestone would never happen.
"There's times there where you're lying on a hospital bed after an operation or on the couch watching the boys there [when you don't think it will happen]," he said.
"To reach 100 games is a good milestone. Perseverance and persistence is the big one for me."
Raines is in the final year of his three-year contract but said he was close to finalising a new deal.
"I'm currently in negotiations and will hopefully put pen to paper shortly.
"I'm back home and enjoying the football club. I love this football club and enjoy being back up in the warm climate."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
