FREE agent Luke McGuane has decided to leave Richmond in the hope of joining former Tigers assistant Justin Leppitsch at the Brisbane Lions.
McGuane, 26, played 105 games in nine seasons with the Tigers, but told AFL.com.au on Friday he felt he needed a fresh start to make the most out of the four or five years he believes he has left in the game.
The Queenslander said he was prepared to go anywhere to extend his AFL career, but his preference was to return home and play under newly appointed Lions coach Leppitsch at the Gabba.
"Brisbane is my first preference due to their interest and also the fact I grew up in Queensland and my family are there," McGuane, an unrestricted free agent, said.
"It also helps that I get along with 'Leppa' really well on and off the field.
"He's been great with me the whole time he's been at Richmond, so when he went up there I saw a lot of positives in exploring a move there."
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McGuane confirmed he knocked back a mid-season contract offer from Richmond and another recently as he worked out his football future.
The key-position player said it was tough to leave Richmond and his teammates after nine seasons, but had decided he needed to get out of his comfort zone to revitalise his career.
"It was a tough conversation to have with the Tigers, I've got a lot of close friends there and I get along with the coaching staff and the players as well as I could ask for," McGuane said.
"It will be a big step for me considering I was 17 when I came to the Tigers, but I think it's the right decision for me.
"Being a lot being closer to my family, I think I will enjoy football a lot more."
McGuane spent most of his first seven seasons at the Tigers in defence, but shifted forward midway through the 2012 season with immediate success.
In the final nine games that year McGuane kicked 15.10, while he backed that up with 20.10 from 12 games this season.
But the former Broadbeach player's 2013 could have been even better.
He started the year on fire, kicking 11 goals from his first five games and flying to take regular pack marks.
However, after playing the Tigers' first nine games, McGuane's season was disrupted by illness and a broken hand.
He returned for the 41-point win over Hawthorn in round 19, but would ultimately miss Richmond's first finals campaign since 2001 after suffering a minor meniscus tear in his knee in round 21.
McGuane says the Lions are looking for him to continue playing in attack.
"I was drafted as a forward but after playing down back for so long I suppose you become accustomed to playing down back," McGuane said.
"But my last 18 months playing as a forward I've really, really enjoyed. I feel like I'm only getting better as a forward and getting more and more comfortable.
"I think that's probably the biggest thing for me, the longer I'm playing up forward the better I'm going to get."
McGuane said other clubs had expressed interest in him but his focus was on reaching a deal with the Lions.
"I don't expect the Lions to ring me this afternoon and say it's a done deal, but I'd like to see it done earlier rather than later."
