And not just from the fierce Lions-Sydney Swans contests the pair have contested since Buchanan debuted in 2002.
They actually go back a little further.
“I played cricket with Browny when I was a kid in Geelong,” Buchanan said.
“I was a bit young but I knew Browny back then, so he was the main one (I knew when I came here).”
While being relatively unfamiliar with a lot of his new team-mates, the 27-year-old said he had fitted in nicely since coming north of the border.
After being an integral member of the Swans’ 2005 premiership side and their 2006 Grand Final run, the hard-nut onballer and small forward was restricted to just eight games with knee problems last season.
However, he is just a “week or so” from resuming full training and was excited about his new club.
Buchanan was moved to Brisbane after a complicated three-team deal during trade week.
He said while it was initially hard leaving the Swans - his only AFL club to date - coming to a club with a similar culture had made things easier.
“Once I made the decision to move it was a new opportunity and new challenge and I got excited about the new chapter,” he said.
“It’s a credit to Sydney. They’ve had an amazing culture over the last few years and it’s something they are very proud of. Hopefully I can bring something from Sydney up here, but Brisbane has a similar type of culture so it’s made it easy.”
Buchanan now has wife Cara and 16-month-old daughter Elke nicely settled in to their new city after he initially stayed with Lions team-mate Cheynee Stiller during the house-hunting phase.
Now with a house of their own, the man who finished top-10 in the Swans' Best & Fairest in their two Grand Final years said the trio were comfortable and eager to make their new start.
“Cara’s a Sydney girl through and through so it’s a big change for her, but it’s a good opportunity for her to meet new people and she loves the sunshine and is very excited.”
On the field he hopes to bring some experience to a group that made big inroads in Michael Voss’ first season in charge.
“There’s a really good feeling around the club."
“The amount of young talent that’s come through is really exciting and we’ve picked up some mature bodies like (Brendan) Fevola and with all the new players the expectations are really high."
“I bring a lot of experience from playing in a few finals so hopefully I’ve got a bit to offer the young blokes coming through.”
