Brisbane's Allen Christensen has revealed how close he had come to pulling the pin on his AFL career after a string of shoulder injuries.
The midfield-forward has made a strong comeback this season to the Lions' team, playing every game and earning a one-year contract extension.
Christensen didn't play last year after collarbone injuries that first plagued him since midway through the 2016 season.
The 2011 Geelong premiership player opened up on the physical and mental toll of being in rehabilitation for about 18 months.
"There were definitely times where I was thinking 'I don't know if I can do this (play AFL) anymore'," Christensen told SEN radio.
"I was thinking 'is this going to hold up to the rigours of AFL footy'?
"But thankfully, I had a strong rehab team and Sel Griffith, our rehab guy, he's one of my closest friends now. He made sure I kept my head up and kept working."
Christensen, 27, said helping out the Lions' AFL and NEAFL coaches helped him stay on track during his time off the field.
"If I didn't have that, I don't know what I would've done," Christensen said.
"I could've just done my work and disappeared into the wilderness.
"That's where I think a lot of the mental issues (in football) come in if you have nothing, so the coaching side kept me connected to the club."
Christensen, heading to the Gabba from Geelong during the 2014 trade period, has taken his career games tally to 110.
The Lions, who sit 17th on the ladder, will look for just their second win of the season on Saturday when they host Greater Western Sydney.
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