Brisbane coach Michael Voss says his own experience at overcoming a serious leg injury was part of the reason behind the Lions' surprise decision to give injury-plagued St Kilda defender Matt Maguire another chance to make it back from his own crippling leg problems.

Maguire was originally drafted by the Saints at pick 21 in the 2001 national draft and almost immediately established himself in the side as he became a key member of the team that reached the 2004 and 2005 preliminary finals.

But since sustaining one of the most serious broken leg injuries seen in the AFL against West Coast in round 18, 2006 - Maguire has played just 14 matches and was stranded on 99 career games throughout the 2009 season when he did not manage a single game.

However Maguire, who has been through an incredible 14 operations on a series of related leg and foot issues since the initial injury against West Coast, was at least fit and available for most of 2009 but simply could not break into the powerful Saints' line-up as he spent all season in the VFL.

But Voss, who himself came back from a similar injury in 1998 to captain the Lions to three successive premierships from 2001-03, is hoping Maguire will return to his best with the Lions after having finally just had the protective rod taken out of his leg.

Voss said Maguire was definitely worth a punt with what was the last live pick of Thursday night's draft at selection 91 overall with the only players called after that being players who had been upgraded from rookie status at their own clubs.

"To be able to get someone of Matty Maguire's presence with the last pick, hopefully he can add a fair bit to our defence and I know the guys will enjoy playing with him," Voss told _Sportal_.

"He has certainly got great character and of course he has gone through that broken leg and having been through that myself and knowing what that is like to get through and just how long it takes to get through - hopefully we can provide that opportunity for him."

Maguire has been training with Carlton but Voss has been impressed by what he has seen of Maguire from afar.

"He has only just had his rod out, I had mine out after 12 months where he has been two to three years and it does make a marked difference when that comes out."

"And he has played a lot of footy this year (in the VFL) so it's a matter of him getting out on the park and hopefully he can provide a little bit of presence for us at the same time.'

Voss said Maguire's experience would prove valuable to the young Lions' defence if he could regain the form and fitness that saw him the 25-year-old establish himself as one of the AFL's best key defenders in 2004/05.

"I don't mind having someone having a bit of assertiveness about them and he has got a little bit of presence and that is going to help our group," Voss said of Maguire.