The problem threatened to cut McLeod down in his prime during the Crows’ glory years of the late-1990s, but he learned how to better manage the complaint and went on to become one of the most durable players in the history of the game.
The club and indigenous-games record holder was closing in on the 350-game milestone when the knee injury, which hadn’t caused him to miss a game in more than two years, flared up.
The 34-year-old booked in for surgery over the mid-season break and returned to the field against Geelong in round 16, only to discover the procedure hadn’t worked.
He made a desperate bid to get back on the field late in the season, but on Monday said that his time in the game had run out.
“I didn’t think it would, but the old knee got me in the end. I thought I had it bluffed, but it was too good. It’s no secret that it hasn’t been right for six or seven years, but thanks to everyone at the club…I’ve been able to prolong my career,” McLeod said.
“I was talking to Craigy (coach Neil Craig) last night and he used the analogy of a tube of toothpaste. He said I’d rolled the tube up, sucked the toothpaste out and got as much as I could out of it. I suppose that’s what I’ve done with my knee.
“I tried to get the better of the injury and get on top of it, but unfortunately this year it got the better of me and it didn’t work out.
“It would be nice to have the fairytale [finish], but I couldn’t have asked for a better career or a better place to finish up.”
McLeod knocked back the chance to play a farewell game at half-fitness.
Instead, the dual premiership player and Norm Smith medallist will do a lap of honour alongside fellow retirees Simon Goodwin and Brett Burton prior to the club’s clash with St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
“I was doing rehab last Thursday away from the main group. I was walking back from my strides and watching the boys go about their business when it suddenly dawned on
me that the best thing for the Adelaide football club going forward was for the old fella to join his two other old mates in the back of a Hilux and watch the future of our football club go round against the Saints,” McLeod said.
“I’m really going to enjoy sharing the day with two great friends.”
Craig said McLeod’s selfless decision to make himself unavailable for selection this weekend was a testament to the decorated veteran’s character.
“If Andrew had said he was ready to go this week he would have played, I wouldn’t have second guessed it one little bit,” Craig said.
“He’s a 300-game player, which is exceptional in any era and he’s just one of the all-time greats, not just at our footy club but of the AFL. As a footy club we’ve been very lucky to have not just Andrew, but three other 300-game players.”
McLeod has already been approached about a role with the AFL’s indigenous foundation and will soon assume the job as coach of son Connor’s touch footy team.
The five-time All-Australian walks away from the game having achieved almost everything there is to achieve and, even though he faces the prospect of needing a knee replacement, said he would do it all again.
“Hopefully, I don’t need a knee replacement. They reckon the replacements they can give you aren’t that bad these days, but I’ve been able to deal with it for a long time now, so if I have to put up with a bit of arthritis it’s no big deal,” he said.
“It’s the price you pay for playing footy and I guess it’s a great reminder to have a little war wound that can trigger a few memories.”
