Martin Pike

Brisbane Lions 2001-2005

The Brisbane Lions recruited Pike in the 2000 draft after impressing coach Leigh Matthews in an interview, although Pike's reputation was poor enough for Matthews to consult his leading players before committing to the wayward footballer. Pike quickly proved himself at his fourth club, playing 22 games as the club won its first premiership in 2001. Now with family commitments, Pike was a reformed character, with increased professionalism and none of the poor off-field behaviour that had marred his career at his previous clubs.

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The Brisbane Lions won their second successive premiership in 2002, with Pike playing a wide variety of roles. He again played a key role in many of the games won in 2003, including kicking three goals in the final quarter of the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans to get the team into its third successive winning grand final.

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The Lions reached their fourth successive grand final in 2004, but with injuries to a few key players, lost to Port Adelaide in the grand final. Pike was disappointed with his performance in that match, and was reportedly involved in a altercation with a club official in the early hours of the morning on return to Brisbane, the first and only display of the behaviour which caused him problems before signing with the Lions. Despite resulting speculation that his contract would not be renewed he accepted a one-year contract for 2005. However Pike's season was heavily disrupted by injury and he was unable to add more than a handful of games to his career tally before announcing his retirement on 2 August 2005 with four matches remaining in the regular season.

Related Topics:
Brisbane - 2 August - 2005

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