HUGH Greenwood has retired from the AFL after 121 senior games at three clubs.
Greenwood, a former professional basketballer, turned to football at the age of 23 and was signed by Adelaide at the end of the 2015 season.
He played 51 games in three seasons at the Crows, included their 2017 Grand Final loss to Richmond, before requesting a trade to Gold Coast at the end of 2019.
WHO'S CALLED IT QUITS 2024's retirements and delistings
He played 32 games in two seasons at the Suns, with his stint there impacted by a serious knee injury.
At the end of 2021, the Suns delisted Greenwood with the intention of re-drafting him. But while he was delisted, North Melbourne swooped in and signed him to a two-year deal in a move that shocked the competition.
He went on to play 38 senior games for the Kangaroos, including just three this season.
"For a basketballer that still can't run or still can't kick, to be sitting here almost 10 years on and over 100 AFL games later, fills me with such pride and gratitude," Greenwood said as he paid tribute to his teammates and his young family.
"I walk away knowing I squeezed absolutely everything out of myself on the field, and also hope I was able to impact the community in a positive and lasting way.
"Although my time in the AFL is over, I’m excited and ready for my next chapter in life."
North coach Alastair Clarkson praised Greenwood while acknowledging the 32-year-old's opportunities were limited this year as the club looks to get experience into its younger players.
"He's been a great stalwart of our footy club," Clarkson said.
"I think if you spoke to anyone at Adelaide, Gold Coast and certainly here ... he's a really, really strong character.
"He's got a beautiful wife, two beautiful little kids and he's been so good for the development of the young guys at the footy club.
"Where we're going at the club, he probably saw the writing on the wall a little bit that his opportunities were going to be a little bit limited on that basis so he's moving on to the next stage of his life.
"But we thank him enormously for the contribution he's made to this club and I'm sure Gold Coast and Adelaide would acknowledge the contribution he made to their clubs as well."
