Ex-Brisbane captain Jed Adcock knows AFL finals can be a rare occasion for a footballer.

Despite playing 213 games in his career, Adcock featured in just one final – a 2009 semi-final defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

Playing alongside him that day for the Lions was Daniel Rich, then a first-year player who hasn’t tasted September football since.

On Saturday, Rich will finally play the third finals match of his career when the Lions host Richmond at the Gabba.

It will also be the first final for 14 Lions players including 32-year-old ruckman Stefan Martin, who has played 180 games for Melbourne and Brisbane without a taste of September footy.

Adcock, now part of the Lions coaching staff, will be making sure Brisbane’s players don’t take the occasion for granted.

“I know Hodgey’s (Luke Hodge) probably playing his 30th or something like that now but they’re pretty hard to come by,” Adcock said.

“It’s been a long wait for Richy. From his first year, now to his 10th year – and it’s probably nearly his best year of footy to date isn’t it?

“They’re hard to come by so you’ve got to cherish the moments that you’re in and you might not be able to get the ultimate goal but this is what you play footy for.”

While Adcock appreciates the Lions have to make the most of the here and now, he’s also hopeful the club’s position means youngsters like Cam Rayner, Hugh McCluggage and Alex Witherden don’t have to wait a decade between finals campaigns.

“They’ll have a million emotions going through their head, especially when it gets to about 7.30pm tomorrow night,” he said.

“You just try and keep them relaxed and hopefully for a lot of the young guys out there this is only the first of many for them.

“We’re trying to build this club for sustained success. Hopefully, as I said, it’s the first of many finals and in years to come this is a regular occurrence for us.”