Tough utility Ashley McGrath, the last remaining link to the Brisbane Lions’ 2001-03 triple premiership era, will play his last AFL match on Sunday against Fremantle.

McGrath announced his impending retirement on Thursday, ending a career spanning 214 games and 14 seasons.

The West Australian made his senior debut in 2001 and was a member of Brisbane’s 2003 premiership team.

He also kicked the winning goal after the siren in last year’s remarkable win over Geelong, when the Lions’ came back from a club-record 52-point deficit.

Lions football operations general manager Dean Warren paid tribute to McGrath on Thursday.

“He came to Brisbane as a 17-year-old and has grown up here,” said Warren.

“Ash’s longevity in the game is a testament to him as both a player and a person.

“To have someone with that sort of experience at your club is invaluable.”

Former skipper Jonathan Brown was the only other man on Brisbane’s 2014 list to have played in any of the 2001-03 premiership teams and he retired midway through the season due to injury.