Ashley McGrath Biography

The last link to the Brisbane Lions premiership era is gone, with Ash McGrath announcing his retirement after battling a calf injury for much of the season.

"I've been thinking about it all year, but it wasn't until the last month that I sat down with Leppa and tried to work out some stuff," McGrath said.

"At the end of the day it was a pretty easy decision; the group's moving forward and I was just finding it a bit tough to back up week to week."

Out-of-contract veteran Ash McGrath is desperate to return from injury and prove he still has a place in the Brisbane Lions' future.

A recurring calf injury has kept McGrath sidelined for the entire season to date, but he is hopeful of making a comeback in round 12.

McGrath celebrated his 31st birthday on Tuesday and said the fire still burned to add to his 208 career games.

"I'm keen to play again," McGrath said.

"I'd like to finish my footy career how I want to finish it. Mentally I feel young, physically I still feel like I can contribute a few years to this footy club.

"If I can get back and contribute how the team wants me to, I feel good, and Leppa and the club want me to go again, I'll be more than happy to put pen to paper."

Ashley McGrath kicks the winning goal after the siren in his 200th game to complete the greatest comeback in Brisbane's history when the Lions rallied from 52 points late in the third quarter to defeat the Cats by 5 points.

It was the eighth biggest comeback in VFL/AFL history.

"You couldn't write a better script for your 200th game to mark the ball with seconds to go and kick a goal from outside 50," teammate Brent Moloney said.

"He's one of the most liked guys at the footy club. Everyone likes 'Boonji', everyone gets around him. It was great to see him kick the winning goal. It's a bit surreal.

"He probably shies away from the attention, but that's the kind of guy he is, he puts the team first and he's a great player to play with."

Jason McGrath, cousin of Lions' premiership player Ash McGrath, is reported to have told the Courier-Mail that six Brisbane players were heavy users of speed, ecstasy and marijuana between 2002 and 2009.

Jason McGrath also claims that he, as a drug dealer, had supplied speed to players during a Mad Monday celebration.

McGrath's allegations have been slammed by the Lions as unsubstantiated.

"These claims from a "self-confessed drug dealer" are completely unsubstantiated and do not deserve publicity," the club said in a statement.

"We have no reason to believe the word of a "self-confessed drug dealer" but if anyone, including the Courier-Mail, has any evidence with regards to this, or any other matter, it should be referred to either the AFL integrity unit or the Queensland Police."

Ash McGrath has resisted the lure of free agency and has accepted a new two-year deal at the Lions.

"The club has built such a great culture, and with the young talent that we have been able to expose to senior footy over the last two years, it's an exciting time to be at the club," McGrath said.

Brisbane's Ashley McGrath can accept a reprimand for his front-on bump in Saturday night's pre-season match.

Ashley McGrath will miss the 2008 NAB Cup after having knee surgery that will keep him sidelined for the next four weeks.

"I was getting a bit of irritation around there, but now I can run and do things I couldn't do before Christmas, so it's good," McGrath said.

"It's a bit unfortunate that it happened at this time of year. Now I'm looking forward to round one or two."