ADRIAN Fletcher's been around long enough to know many aspects of football are out of one's control.

But he also knows enough about the game to know that setting a goal, understanding what is needed to get there and then working towards it is the way to achieve results.

Four clubs as a player and three as an assistant coach shows he is prepared to travel and take on something new to stay in the game he loves.

So when deciding whether or not to stay at the Brisbane Lions after six seasons, he decided to see it in the first instance as an opportunity to move on and take his career in the direction he wanted to head.

"The sky is the limit," Fletcher told AFL.com.au.

His stint as assistant coach at the Lions began under Leigh Matthews and has seen him work with the midfield, in strategy and innovations and in 2013 as the ball movement coach.

The lows can be low but there are many highs. Near the end of 2010, Fletcher began pushing hard for Irish import Pearce Hanley to be played in the seniors. He could see the talent just needed a chance.

Since his debut in round 21, 2008, Hanley had been caught in between and played just four matches between then and round 14, 2010.

Fletcher saw what was needed and kept throwing his name forward. Hanley came back into the team in round 15, has missed two games since and signed a five-year deal at the end of this season.

Such instinct comes with the sort of experience Fletcher has gained.

After ending his playing career at Williamstown (he was best on the ground in his last game in the 2003 VFL Grand Final), he started in development at Collingwood under Mick Malthouse before a one-year stint at Geelong under Mark Thompson. He then went back to Collingwood.

In 2008 he headed off to the Brisbane Lions under Matthews then worked for the entirety of Michael Voss's senior coaching career.

Recently he has been keeping abreast of trends in recruiting, his combination of football and development smarts making him a natural fit for such a role if he does not become a senior assistant.

He's seen Mitch Golby evolve and Ryan Harwood too, with the doubters silenced.

He has made sure that he understands some of the complexities that might come with the football management roles.

"I have always been committed to study to make sure I knew how to do performance management and how to communicate in business. I'm always looking for opportunities to expand my skills," Fletcher said.

The 43-year-old is completing an MBA to complement his skills and experience and worked in the media during the season.

In some ways he is like he was as a player – 231 games with four clubs – a career that saw him co-captain Fremantle and win a best and fairest.

Fletcher is industrious and without any pretence but smart enough to read the game in an instant.

In football nothing looks obvious until it is happening. Witness key defender Daniel Merrett's move forward as an example. No-one could envisage it but the coaches saw the chance for him to support Jonathan Brown and do some ruckwork inside 50.

Often the best decisions in football are the bravest.

Now the changes at the Lions have given him an opportunity to consider what next and he is prepared to make the most of it.

Now the question comes – when and where will the right opportunity arise?

It is a question familiar to many quality football figures at this time of the year.

"After 12 years as an assistant coach, six at the Lions, I'm passionate about the club and the game and looking forward to the next challenge it will throw forward," Fletcher said.