When the Brisbane Lions decided against re-contracting Andrew Raines for 2015, the negating midfielder may have decided to put his cue in the rack and turn his mind to the next phase of his life.
After 123 games across two clubs and 11 seasons, the 28-year-old had every right to ponder the direction of his life. Not many clubs throw a lifeline to a footballer whose role is to stop the opposition’s best player.
But, the Gold Coast SUNS list management team identified a need to recruit a mature-aged tagger to the club’s onball division, to help protect the blossoming group of ball winning midfielders. And Raines is thrilled the SUNS came calling.
“(I’m) 29 next year I feel like I’ve still got a couple of good years my body’s great. There’s obviously that element where you think it might be over but first discussions with the SUNS and now being a SUN it’s all worked out well,” Raines told SUNS TV on Wednesday.
“Obviously you do think that (your career may be over after being delisted). I was in the initial stages of Brisbane telling me the news that I wasn’t getting my contract renewed.
“I had a good second half of the year in the reserves just to think about where I wanted to go, whether I wanted to hang them up or whether I wanted to keep going.”
Raines had been training with the SUNS for a few weeks in the lead up to the rookie draft and had been told that the club would select him if everything went to plan on the day.
The Southport product has carved out a reputation as one of the game’s most professional competitors and he revealed it was exciting to be confirmed as a Gold Coast SUN.
“I got told the news when I was actually training. Rocket came over to me and congratulated me. There wasn’t too many nerves, I think everything was sort of set in place for the rookie draft, everything’s worked out well. I’m elated, so very excited,” Raines said.
“I started my career here (on the Gold Coast), to end up back here and finish my career here I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m just really excited to now obviously officially call Gold Coast home.”
The veteran became the SUNS' fifth most experienced player (in terms of games played) on Wednesday and explained he is eyeing an opportunity to transition into a development coaching role for life after his playing career.
“Coming off the rookie list, if my form's good Rocket said there’s definitely opportunity there, so if that’s playing senior football then so be it. That’s where I want to continue my football,” Raines said.
“But not only that, sort of transition off-field and make some really big roles and some lines of communication and leadership with the younger group which is really exciting. There’s an on-field/off-field role there.”
Raines will wear the #29 guernsey for the Gold Coast SUNS in 2015.
