At the conclusion of the 2006 AFL season, hard-running Richmond defender Andrew Raines was widely considered one of the most exciting young players in the competition.

After managing just seven senior matches in his first two seasons with the Club, the Southport recruit went on to play in every senior match with the Tigers and average 18 disposals per game. His exciting drive from defence earned him second place behind Kane Johnson in Richmond’s Best and Fairest award - the Jack Dyer Medal.

He was also Runner-up to Port Adelaide’s Danyle Pearce in the esteemed AFL Rising Star Award - finishing ahead of fellow young guns Heath Shaw (Collingwood), Marc Murphy (Cartlon), Grant Birchall (Hawthorn) and Dale Thomas (Collingwood).

With a seemingly long and successful AFL career ahead of him, the Tigers had no hesitation in signing Raines to a new three-year deal at the conclusion of his breakthrough 2006 season.

He played every match for the Tigers in 2007 and averaged a career-high 19.4 disposals per game before injuries limited him to just five matches in the following two seasons.

“My left knee kept me out for most of 2008 and I missed pretty much the first half of 2009 with cartilage damage in the same knee,” Raines said.

He returned to the field midway through 2009 but after being starved of opportunities in Richmond’s senior side, decided to change clubs in order to resurrect his AFL career.

The former Queenslander - whose father Geoff played 59 matches with the Bears from 1987-89 - nominated the Lions as his preferred destination and was granted his wish during the off-season trade period.

“I went to Richmond at the end of the season and told them that Brisbane was my preferred destination,” Raines said. “It worked out really well.”

“I saw it as a good opportunity to come up here and play under Michael Voss.”

“The whole structure up here was the most exciting thing for me and the development of my career,” he said.

“I’m just really looking forward to a fresh start in 2010.”

Raines now hopes to remain injury free and recapture that same confidence from two seasons ago.

“You lose your confidence for sure, but it’s more confidence in your body, not really in your ability,” he said.

“I feel like I have gotten some of that confidence back after playing half of last year in the VFL. It certainly helped give me back some continuity in my football.”

“I’ve just got to focus on strengthening the knee up and I will be alright.”

While the speedy half-back hasn’t been given a specific role from new Senior Coach Michael Voss as yet, he believes new opportunities could present themselves at the Lions.

“I probably see myself playing more across half-back and maybe pushing into the midfield - which would be a great opportunity,” he said.