Retiring Greater Western Sydney GIANTS co-captain Luke Power today spoke of the privilege of playing AFL in a speech to the AFL Grand Final Lunch before the game at the MCG.

Power, who played 15 seasons for the Brisbane Lions and GWS GIANTS, thanked the AFL public for their support of the players.

“On behalf of all the retirees’ thank you for your support. Like them, I feel blessed to have been a small part of the greatest game of all,” said Power.

“Win or lose, footy gives you a lifetime of memories and wonderful friendships.

“This has been without doubt the most important and cherished part of my journey.”

The 300-gamer, who lost part of a finger in a childhood accident paid tribute to the players about to take part in the grand final.

“For the 44 players who run out on to the MCG today it is the culmination of 12 months of hard work and sacrifice,” said Power.

“For all of them it’s the dream of a lifetime.

“As someone whose been privileged to play in four grand finals I’d almost give another finger away to run out with them today.”

Read the full transcript:

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a great honour to be asked by the AFL commission to speak today on behalf of the retiring players and reflect on my journey as an AFL footballer.

For those of you who don’t know me my name is Luke Power and I played 14 seasons with the Brisbane Lions from 1998-2011. This included three Premierships in 2001, 2 and 3 before I finished my career this year with the AFL’s newest club the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

But perhaps what I am better known for amongst those who know me well is that I was the guy that played 15 seasons with 9 and ½ fingers.  Something that not only brings great amusement to my teammates but was also something I was constantly reminded of at every school, auskick or junior football clinic I ever went to. When I asked if anyone had any questions thinking they’d quiz me on football related matters, funnily enough it would always be what happened to your finger?  At least parents were happy when I warned their children against the dangers of playing with fans.

Yes I chopped the tip of my left index finger off in a swimming pool fan when I was 18 months old. The one lasting memory I do have from the ordeal was that mum and dad (obviously feeling a touch guilty) gave me my first sherrin football  (made in Australia) whilst I was in hospital for one of the many operations I had to repair my finger. My love for the game was born.

As a kid I used to do everything my older brother did. So when he went to play for Balwyn Football Club I used to follow and hang out outside the rooms for an opportunity just in case they were one short.  A great tactic that paid dividends when my brother was playing in the little league one Friday night at the MCG. I told mum and dad that I was just going to stand on the sideline in the uniform and support my brother so they couldn’t believe their eyes when in the second half the coach put me on the ground and I kicked the winning goal. 

My first game of club football was played when the mighty Surry Hills football club (a struggling team in the local competition) were short on numbers so they used to get players from the neighboring Balwyn Footy Club, including my brother to top up.  My persistence paid off.  Surry Hills were always one short so as a five year old I made my debut in the under 10’s sporting a skivvy under my Surry Hills jumper. I was told by the coach that I would be lining up on the wing.  My parents still talk about my energy when I ran out of the rooms, with a grin from ear to ear.  They were quite amused when I then proceeded to ask where is the wing?  So my dad grabbed me by the hand and walked me out to the wing and said, “just play around here”.

My earliest memories of the AFL were running around the stands at Fitzroy games with my brothers in our Lions jumpers, short, socks and boots (I was surprised mum didn’t make me wear my mouth guard).  My love for the Lions was a byproduct of my dad living around the corner from Brunswick street oval when he was a kid. Even though his father Jack played for Melbourne and Collingwood in the 30’s wearing the famous number 31 at Melbourne passing the number on to Ron Barrassi senior.  Jack played ruck but my key position dreams were dashed when he married my grandmother, she was four foot nothing.

My dad, brothers and I were one eyed Fitzroy – my older brother Ben had no 3 for Garry Pert, my younger brother Sam had 17 for Paul Broderick and I had no 1 for Paul Roos.  My older brother even coined the rhyme Pert and Roos, Pert and Roos they don’t make the Lions lose.  The other players must have been pretty bad because Fitzroy used to lose a fair bit.   We never had anything to brag about at school on a Monday – a true test of our loyalty.  After the match I always had a competitive game of kick to kick with my brothers on the ground.  This was one of the great thrills for kids after a game and the competition from my brothers was pretty strong. 

My brother Sam went on to play 123 games for North Melbourne and the Bulldogs.  I even played on him a couple of times when I was at the Lions – or I should say he played on me. My older brother Ben didn’t play AFL but was probably the best of the three of us. That’s what he reckons anyway.

In my last year at school the mighty Fitzroy Lions merged with the Brisbane Bears and became the Brisbane Lions.  I didn’t really follow the football that closely that year as year 12 was too hard and all my extra energy went into playing for my school, Trinity Grammar, and Oakleigh Chargers in the under 18 competition.  Three times a week mum used to pick me up from school in Kew and drive me to Oakleigh and dad would pick me up and drive me home after training.  You only ever really appreciate the sacrifices your family makes for you later on. Would I have achieved what I have without their unconditional support? The answer is no. 

It’s why Jobe Watson spoke so well after winning the Brownlow when he said his win would make his family happy and as a result that made him happy.  That really resonated with me.

I was drafted to the Lions in 1997.  I remember sitting my year 12 English exam and walking out to be told by my younger brother Sam that I would be going to Brisbane.  It was a bitter sweet day for my family as I now had an opportunity to live my dream to play footy at the highest level for a team I kind of supported as a kid.

The other side was that I would be leaving home at 17 and my close family (my mother in particular who apparently used to get pretty emotional but never displayed it in front of me) would have a son living at the other end of the country.  We had told Brisbane I probably wouldn’t go but the club called our bluff and they called my name.  Andy Ireland the Lions CEO and now CEO of the Swans was caught in the middle, as he knew my father well after rooming with him whilst playing for the Victorian Amateurs.  Dad told the club if Andy wants Luke he can bloody well live with him.  My great mate Simon Black was also drafted from East Fremantle that year and I was privileged to play the next 14 seasons with him.

It’s not easy living with the CEO when 40 other players are getting into you daily about preferential treatment but Andy was a great influence and sounding board for me over many years.  My first call of duty was an Ansett Cup game against Fremantle in Capetown, South Africa. In the game I tackled my teammate Ben Robbins (as he was about to have a shot on goal), thinking he was an opposition player). Leigh Mathews was commentating the game and quipped ‘at least he’s keen.  Poor Benny Robbins was not so complimentary he said ‘What are you doing!!?!’ (that was the edited version). 

Little did I know at the time that 12 months later Leigh would become my coach. He is a winner and brought with him the winning mentality but more importantly he didn’t just talk about winning, he put systems and the right people in place to make sure it happened.  He managed egos, gave people roles and had the amazing ability to make difficult concepts understandable to all.

I don’t think he saw me in his plans early days and I knew that I would have to work hard to win him over. He thought I was too small and light.  This was made evident when I had my first meeting with him and he said, “Your not real tall, how tall are you?”  Being a cheeky little fella I replied “About the same height as you”.  He just shook his head.

At the end of Leigh’s first season in which we were beaten in the Preliminary Final by the eventual premiers, the Kangaroos, I had played in 16 games including three finals.  I was out of contract and had the option of returning to Melbourne. On a walk from the change rooms to the bus after the game I told my parents that I thought the club was going places and I wanted to re-sign. I didn’t realize at the time how prophetic my words would be.  I was enjoying life under Leigh as a Lion and I had also just met a girl, Anita, who would later become my wife.  I also had the honor of kicking the last ever goal at Victoria Park (remember that one for your trivia nights).

2001 would be an historic year for the club when we won our first premiership. A defining moment came early in the season when we were beaten by over 100 points by Carlton at Optus Oval. Leigh was fuming but controlled as always and explained to us the importance of playing roles in a team and not playing as individuals.  From that day on everyone had a role and we knew if we carried out those roles more likely than not we would be successful.  2001, 2002 and 2003 proved just that.  It was a great honor to be part of arguably the greatest team of the modern era.

I still remember after the 2003 premiership when the team arrived at our official post match function.  With the entire team crammed into a service lift Justin Leppitsch turned to Leigh Mathews and said “you know what Leigh you’d be nothing without us” all the boys giggled but Leigh calmly nodded his head and hit back “you’re right Justin without you guys I’d only be the greatest player of all time”.

Footy has also given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people and travel around Australia and the world.  I’ll never forget playing soccer against Robbie Williams and his roadies at the Gabba. Afterwards I presented him with a Lions jumper and asked him to wear it in concert in Brisbane that night, which he duly did. I reckon even Sheeds would have been impressed by my marketing genius.

I went on a camping trip to the top end of Australia with my Indigenous mate Xavier Clarke and his family along with Simon Black and Jamie Charman.  We hunted, fished, ran clinics in local communities, saw crocs, dolphins, turtles, wild boars and ate goose stew.

 It’s one of the beauties of our game – no matter who you are and where you come from, people are united by their love of the game.  Everyone has a story, an opinion, and these can often differ, but one thing that is agreed on is that it is a great game, the people’s game.

2011 was my last year at the Lions.  I had my first child that year, a baby girl named Mae. Funnily enough this led to me being a late withdrawal from the first round game. Mae was only two weeks old and I slipped a disc in my back lifting her baby bath the night before the game.  Michael Voss was now the coach of the Lions and as you could imagine our phone conversation had plenty of laughter, as I lay on my kitchen floor unable to move. 

That year as President of the AFL Players Association I also had the honor of representing the players in a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the AFL.  I’ve always felt privileged to work under the conditions we experience as a player, better than any other sport in our country, and I’m quite proud both parties committed to the development of a world class retirement scheme, improved benefits for injured players and extra development and wellbeing services.  What parent wouldn’t want their son playing AFL.

At the end of 2011 I left the Lions and joined the AFL’s newest club the Greater Western Sydney Giants as a playing coach.  People often ask if I have any regrets not finishing up as a one-club player when the lions encouraged me to retire.  I don’t.  As soon as my career at the lions was over my responsibility was to my family and not the club. 

I have nothing but praise for the Lions. They were honest with me and that’s all you can ask. I have many lifelong friends there and after spending almost my entire adult life there they are a huge part of who I am. 

The Giants had offered me a great opportunity to continue to play and learn to coach. The challenge of starting a new culture and working with the most talented young players in the country under the guidance of Kevin Sheedy was an opportunity too good to pass up. 

It was a tough season but the club is on the right track, the players are happy and even though the scoreboard might tell you otherwise their development as players has been massive.  History tells us that any great side has a number of players around the same age who come through the ranks together.  Watch out when these boys get 3 or 4 seasons behind them.  It will have it’s challenges but the players and staff take great pride in helping to grow the game in Western Sydney just like we did in Brisbane when I started.

It doesn’t matter what team you play for or barrack for, the great thing about football is its power to bring people together.  We are all part of one big family. You only had to witness the outpouring of emotion last month when John McCarthy passed away to realize this.  You could tell how much John meant to those who knew him and how his story has touched not only the AFL community but also the wider community.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and his partner Dani.

For the 44 players who run out on to the MCG today it is the culmination of 12 months of hard work and sacrifice. For all of them it’s the dream of a lifetime.  As someone whose been privileged to play in four grand finals I’d almost give another finger away to run out with them today.

But win or lose, footy also gives you a lifetime of memories and wonderful friendships. This has been without doubt the most important and cherished part of my journey.

So on behalf of all the retirees’ thank you for your support. Like them, I feel blessed to have been a small part of the greatest game of all.