Luke McGuane Biography

Luke McGuane has retired after suffering another knee injury at training.

McGuane had a wretched run with injuries since coming to Brisbane at the start of 2014, but had played his best football in the past month, kicking seven goals in four games.

"My body has given up on me and as much as I’d love to continue to play on, it's clear my body won't deal with it," McGuane said.

"I’m obviously really disappointed – getting back out there and playing the last four games has been incredibly enjoyable, and something I wasn’t sure was going to happen after all the injuries I've had over the last few years.

"I’ll have very fond memories of my career and am happy to have got to play so long in the AFL system… I feel blessed to have had such a long career in the AFL.

"It’s been hard too, because I’ve been injured for 90 per cent of my time here, but it was great to finish off my career up here with my family around me."

Sam Lonergan retires after 81 games with both Essendon and Richmond while Luke McGuane, Robin Nahas, Tom Derickx and rookie Steven Verrier are told they will not be offered contracts for 2014.

Luke McGuane quits the Tigers an expresses an interest to join former Tigers assistant coach and now Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch at the Lions.

"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."

Luke McGuane says he is enjoying his new role up forward for the Tigers, crediting former Melbourne development coach Mark Williams for the move.

"I think I did need change, definitely, and I did start as a forward, and Mark Williams came along and said, 'Well, let's get you back up forward'," McGuane said.

"Damien [Hardwick] was really good about it and just said, 'Yeah, let's put you up forward'. Initially, it was [for] forward pressure and that type of thing because I like to compete, so he put me up there and I've enjoyed it and now I'm starting to get some rewards on the end of it.

"It has come later in the career but I've enjoyed the change. I had eight years down back - I got drafted as a forward so it was good to get back up there."

Luke McGuane, Tom Derickx and Matt White have signed new one-year deals to stay at Richmond.

Despite being unsigned, Luke McGuane's manager believes his client is set to remain at the Tigers.

"He is a required player at Richmond and he will be there next year," Robbie D'Orazio of RCM Sports Management said.

"We're expecting to reach an agreement."

St Kilda star Brendon Goddard heads the list of six restricted free agents released by the AFL which also includes Essendon's Angus Monfries, Melbourne's Brent Moloney, Port Adelaide duo Danyle Pearce and Troy Chaplin and Richmond's Luke McGuane.

Luke McGuane has been offered a new contract to remain at Richmond despite rumours that he would be delisted or traded.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick says suspended players Daniel Connors, Luke McGuane, Dean Polo and Ben Cousins have let him down after indulging in rowdy drunken antics at the team hotel in Sydney.

"I think all four have let me down. Dan needs to take some responsibility for his actions," Hardwick said.

"I just don't think they handled the situation well enough though. If someone actually had the balls to stand up and say 'Listen Dan, enough's enough, go to bed' [then] none of that would have happened."

Yound Tiger defender Daniel Connors is hit with an eight-week suspension, including a six-week ban from training with the club, after being intoxicated and engaging in unruly behaviour at the team hotel following the club's loss to the Swans in Sydney.

Ben Cousins, Luke McGuane and Dean Polo were also suspended for a match for their involvement in the incident.