The Brisbane Lions had just stormed to their first AFL premiership in 2001, 132 games into the career of a then-28-year-old Craig McRae.
Days into the celebrations, McRae copped a phone call from his coach Leigh Matthews.
It was the last thing he was expecting.
Because Matthews was on his way round to McRae’s house to break the news that he wasn’t going to be offered another contract.
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