Lucas said his return to the south-west this season centred around his desire to be closer to his family.

“All of my family is here and I grew up in Camperdown, so pretty much it was that lure of home and the opportunity to play with my brothers, which is something I have done already,” the Magpies assistant coach said.

“My family was the biggest lure, but you also miss out on a lot of things that happen off-field at footy clubs, such as what happens with your friends and family, so it was a matter of finding a way to come back home.

“It has worked out well for me in the end as it gives me a chance to see my parents, my brothers, my sister and also to see my mates every weekend.”

Lucas spent five years studying and working in Melbourne while spending his weekends playing for Ovens and Murray Football League club Myrtleford.

Upon reflection of his three years (2015-17) with Myrtleford, Lucas said he had enjoyed one year the most.

“My second year with the Saints in 2016 was really good, we finished fourth and got knocked out in the finals,” he said.

“Myrtleford are a lot like Camperdown in size and they had been through a pretty tough period just before I got there and they were coming out onto the other side where their group of players had got some experience and they were starting to reap the rewards of that.

“In that season they were able to break into the finals for the first time in nearly a decade and it was probably one of the best years of footy I have played and it was really good to be a part of it.”

Lucas said it had been good to be part of the Magpies’ stunning unbeaten start to the year, but said there was still more work to do.

“It's been a positive start to be undefeated to this part of the season, but in that regard there is still a lot we can improve on as the season progresses,” he said.

“I think a number of sides are in a similar boat in the sense that they haven't played their best footy yet and we will see over the next six weeks where sides start to stand out and put in those four-quarter performances together and we are no exception to that.

“I think the matter for us over the upcoming period is for us to try and put together as many four-quarter performances as possible and build on our good start.”

Lucas was rewarded for his strong early season form in the Magpies’ back line with selection in Jonathan Brown’s initial Hampden senior interleague squad.

He said he was pleased with how his season had panned out and that he was happy to be considered a player capable of playing at the next level.