COLLINGWOOD premiership defender Heritier Lumumba made a cryptic farewell speech at the Copeland Trophy function on Friday night, saying the club played a significant role in making him the person he is today.

Lumumba, who finished fourth in the best-and-fairest, has requested a trade to Melbourne after a successful but at times controversial 10-season, 199-game career with the Magpies.

“Collingwood has allowed me to define my character and also to find the true meaning of my true name ... which means the prince, the one who will have the last laugh, and (who) is gifted,” Lumumba said.

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The 27-year-old said Collingwood had helped to define his character since 2005, saying Nathan Buckley and Nick Maxwell had played key roles in his early football development.

“The thing that I hold greatest to my heart are my values, which are also congruent with the values of the Collingwood Football Club, and the number one most important value that this football club has is community.

“Back in the Great Depression, the Collingwood Football Club opened up its doors to the poorest of people; it gave them hope; it gave them shelter; it gave them food.

media_camera Lumumba is keen to join Melbourne next season. Picture: Michael Klein

“Now, in 2014, we find ourselves in a very interesting time, not only for the football club, but (for) this whole world.

“The landscape is changing and I know that if the Collingwood Football Club is to go to the next level ... it must stand on the right side of history.

“One thing I have learnt on my journey is that ... I know what side of history I stand on.”

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said Lumumba would always be welcome back at the club, but said: “sometimes we need to have a break away from each other.”

Injured midfielder Brent Macaffer got one of the biggest roars of the evening when he stated his intention was to be back playing again for Round 1 next year, despite undergoing a knee reconstruction in August.

Macaffer, who finished fifth in the Copeland Trophy, had been expected to miss a large chunk of next season.

“It feels really good, (I’m) five weeks post-surgery,” Macaffer said. “I meet with the surgeon in three weeks, and hopefully I will be right for Round 1.”

While Collingwood won’t rush Macaffer back, the late start to next football season has given him some hope he could be right to go from the outset.

“If he says it, then it’s realistic,” Copeland winner Scott Pendlebury said of Macaffer’s will power. “If he wants Round 1, then he will get Round 1.”

“He knows what he has to deal with. He knows what to expect. I’ve seen him working in the gym and working really hard.”