Patrick Karnezis Biography

Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff says the Lions failed as a club when they let five first-round draft picks go at the end of 2013.

Jared Polec (Port Adelaide), Elliot Yeo (West Coast), Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood), Billy Longer (St Kilda) and Sam Docherty (Carlton) all asked to leave the club and were traded following the 2013 season.

"Obviously we lost a lot of high draft picks, which is probably our own fault looking back," Rockliff said.

"They all left for different reasons, but if you're a good organisation, a good club, you keep players like that."

Patrick Karnezis retires, citing a desire to pursue interests outside football.

Karnezis, 23, played 21 games for the Brisbane Lions before asking for a trade to Collingwood at the end of 2013.

The No.25 pick in the 2010 AFL draft managed just four games for the Magpies, the club he supported as a child, in two seasons.

He made his Collingwood debut in round three this season and added three more games before being dropped after the club's loss to Richmond in round seven.

Injuries plagued Karnezis in his first year on the Magpies' list and he failed to play a game in 2014.

"After five years in the AFL system, it is the right time for me to step away and pursue other interests in my life such as my studies, overseas travel and opportunities in our family businesses," Karnezis said.

"I want to thank Collingwood and Brisbane for the opportunity to play at the elite level, the experiences I've had at both clubs has helped shape the person I am today."

Jobe Watson joins Demon Jimmy Toumpas, Magpie Patrick Karnezis, Giant Stephen Coniglio, and Lin Jong from the Western Bulldogs as new multicultural ambassadors in 2014 to help grow the game alongside existing ambassadors Nic Naitanui, Bachar Houli, Karmichael Hunt, Majak Daw, and Alipate Carlile.

"Since the introduction of the AFL multicultural ambassador program in 2012, we are delighted by the enthusiasm, insight and cultural guidance the ambassadors have provided to communities and the AFL industry," AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said.

"In 2014, we are excited to have Jobe, Jimmy, Patrick, Stephen and Lin as part of this important program and look forward to the 10 ambassadors playing a lead role in encouraging individuals and communities to unite through their passion for Australia's game."

Collingwood are confident new recruit Patrick Karnezis will develop into a very good midfielder over the next two years.

"We would really like to bring him in and develop him through the midfield. That's the goal," Collingwood recruiting manager David Hine said.

"Hopefully, we're going to be able to develop him into that 191cm utility that can really provide us with a little bit of height through there."

Patrick Karnezis has been traded from the Brisbane Lions to Collingwood in exchange for forward Jackson Paine in a straight swap.

Out-of-contract Brisbane Lions midfielder Patrick Karnezis is being courted by both Collingwood and North Melbourne.

After missing out on the side for the first four rounds, a bulked-up Pat Karnezis returned to the Lions team in round five.

"That's what happens in football," Karnezis said about struggling to make the side.

"You've got to learn from those things and I just tried to keep improving and not focus on anything else apart from working on my game, and that's reality."

Brisbane Lions youngster Patrick Karnezis has somehow escaped a nasty training accident with only cuts and bruises after crashing into a fence while attempting to mark at full flight.

Patrick Karnezis makes his AFL debut for Brisbane at the Gabba with 6 disposals (5 kicks and a handball), 4 marks, a tackle and 2 goals in a 31-point loss to Richmond.