IT WAS almost the final play of the Brisbane Lions' 2011 season, and Amon Buchanan used it to send a timely message to coach Michael Voss.

Buchanan had endured a frustrating second season in Brisbane, playing just five games, and came on late as the substitute against the Sydney Swans - the club he won a premiership with in 2005.

With the Lions all but checked out and headed for their end-of-season trip late in a 50-point loss, Buchanan put a bone-jarring hit on former teammate Ryan O'Keefe.

O'Keefe crumpled to the ground holding his shoulder, but was later cleared to take his place in the Swans' finals campaign the following week.

"I didn't get a Christmas card off Pebbles (O'Keefe) this year," Buchanan said.

"That's all good, it's part of footy. It was good fun getting down there and playing that game against the old mob. There's no love lost there."

It showed the hard edge to the 29-year-old that convinced Voss to trade for him in the first place.

Despite starting in the seniors last year, Buchanan was quickly demoted to the reserves and struggled to get back into the team with Voss pushing a youth policy.

Buchanan, one of the Lions' most professional players, never dropped his bundle, starring in the reserves before getting his late season reprieve.

About to begin his 11th season, he knows this year is his most important.

"(It's the) last year coming up on the contract so it's got to be a big year for me," he said.

"I've had a good pre-season so hopefully I can get in early, play some good footy. I think success for the team is a big thing too. If you get in and the team's going well, that's the main thing, it makes it easy to play well.

"I've just got to get in and get my hands on the nut, win a bit of footy, kick a few goals; it's pretty simple."

Buchanan has done everything possible in the pre-season to put his name forward, running a personal best in the club's 3km time trial - no mean feat for someone so far into his career.

However, he said the NAB Cup was no more important for him than anyone else.

"I think it's putting what we're planning at the moment onto the field. We've been training for a long time now and trying to play a certain way, so it's more about that structure and getting that side of the game right," he said.

"I'm excited to go around again.

"It's great. I love it. There's no other job where you get to hang around your mates and come down here. It's always good getting down to training and getting around the boys."

Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting