It’s the tip of an period at Richmond with their finals run over and goalkicking nice Jack Riewoldt set to affix his triple-premiership-winning captain Trent Cotchin in retirement.
Riewoldt, who famously danced on the stage with The Killers after the epic 2017 premiership breakthrough, leaves as one of many Tigers all-time greats after 346 video games and a mammoth 786 objectives in black and yellow.
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Riewoldt reportedly instructed his teammates of his determination on Tuesday morning.
Only Kevin Bartlett has performed extra video games (403) for Richmond than Riewoldt and the 34-year-old sits thirteenth on the AFL’s all-time aim tally and is ready to complete simply in need of Matthew Richardson’s Richmond 800.
Riewoldt finishes as a three-time Coleman medallist because the AFL’s main goalkicker, a three-time All-Australian and two-time membership greatest and fairest. He additionally received Richmond’s goalkicking 11 instances and is on his option to a twelfth.
Riewoldt’s retirement comes after concussion points have pressured Sydney defender and former No. 1 draft choose Paddy McCartin into retirement for a second time, ending one of many AFL’s nice comeback tales.
Ongoing harm battles have additionally pressured West Coast star and former No. 2 draft choose Nic Naitanui into retirement on the age of 33 after 213 video games with the Eagles.
McCartin, 27, suffered the tenth concussion of his profession in spherical 4 towards Port Adelaide and hasn’t performed since. The blow got here after he had revived his profession in Sydney having managed simply 35 video games throughout 5 seasons with St Kilda as a consequence of repeated head knocks.
Having already determined to take a seat out the remainder of the 2023 amid ongoing discussions with docs, an impartial AFL medical concussion panel really helpful that McCartin stop participation involved sport and he subsequently made his determination.
“I am obviously disappointed that I’m no longer able to continue to do what I love, but I have to be guided by the specialists and I know that this is the right decision for me,” McCartin mentioned.
“I want to thank the Sydney Swans for the faith shown in me and the opportunity to pursue my dream of playing AFL football. It has been a privilege to play for this great club and I will remember this time fondly.
“I want to especially thank Lucy, my family, teammates, coaches and medical staff for their wonderful support through this challenging period – I’m very grateful.”
McCartin’s retirement ended a 63-game AFL profession that began with promise when he was taken as the primary choose within the 2014 draft.
He was delisted by St Kilda on the finish of the 2019 season to cope with concussion points and following a 12 months out of the sport, McCartin relocated to Sydney, the place his youthful brother Tom was taking part in for the Swans, in 2021 to play with the VFL facet.
Drafted as a key ahead to the Saints, McCartin made the transfer to defence for the second part of his profession and signed a rookie contract by the Swans for 2022.
Working as a dynamic duo, the McCartin brothers performed then an integral function within the Swans’ march to final 12 months’s grand remaining as key pillars within the backline.
But after simply 28 matches in crimson and white, and solely 4 this season, McCartin will hold up his boots.
Naitanui, a two-time West Coast greatest and fairest who was taken second choose within the 2008 draft, joins fellow Eagles veterans Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn in retirement, having not performed a single recreation in 2023.
A 3-time All-Australian, Naitanui has been battling an achilles harm that finally required surgical procedure a number of weeks in the past and mentioned his physique had instructed him it was time to stroll away.
“I feel like I have exhausted every avenue to work my way through my injury, but my body is sending a strong message that it is time,” Naitanui mentioned.
“You never want this day to come, but it always does and I’m content in the knowledge that I have given it everything.
“Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career, this injury was probably going to take that away from me.
“I am also looking at a lengthy rehabilitation from my latest surgery and there are no guarantees of making it back to AFL level even if everything goes to plan. I have given it a lot of thought in the last few weeks and this is the best decision for the club, myself and my family.
“I would also like to thank the club for the opportunity, the enormous amount of support I have received along the journey and the lifelong friendships that have been created.”
Source: www.news.com.au
