The relative anonymity afforded to AFL footballers in Brisbane was part of the city's appeal for Lachie Neale.
But two years on from his shock departure from Fremantle, the freshly crowned Brownlow medallist has welcomed the increasing attention on himself and his Lions teammates.
It comes as a package deal with the competition's top individual honour, a team on the rise and a growing game as the Queensland sporting public takes a keener interest in Australian Rules football.
"When I first got here I could walk around everywhere and no one would say anything and it's just gradually grown and grown," Neale said.
"It's really good for the game here and really good for the footy club.
"It's not just me, it's the whole footy club and the way that they've gone about it.
"Even Gold Coast, credit to them, they're starting to come and they're building something down the road."
The spotlight would have intensified further this week if Brisbane had reached the grand final, to be played on their home deck at the Gabba for the first time.
Neale said the preliminary final loss to Geelong will burn and spur the Lions' flag push next season.
"I won't dwell on it and feel sorry myself," Neale said.
"We didn't deserve to win that game with the way that we played, we weren't good enough.
"It will certainly drive me and I'll think about it for a bit, but I won't be sad about it.
"I'll move on with my life pretty quick and it will drive me to hopefully win a prelim next year and get into the big dance because that's what we play for.
"I feel like we've got the group at the moment that are hungry and talented enough, we've just got to do the hard work again to put ourselves in that position."
Neale plans to celebrate his success in his tiny hometown, Kybybolite, but there won't be any street parade on the South Australia-Victoria border.
"I wouldn't have thought so ... it would be a very quick parade. It wouldn't take very long," Neale said.
Australian Associated Press
