SCOTT Gumbleton has announced his retirement, effective immediately.

 

The 26-year-old key forward had yet another injury-ravaged season in his first year at Fremantle where he failed to play a game.

 

Gumbleton released a statement on Monday saying it was time to move on from the AFL.

 

"It was basically that I had eight good years playing footy and I found out that it wasn't working for me, so I've decided to move on with my life and try something new," Gumbleton said.

 

"But that's all right, I'm happy with that.

 

"It's disappointing that footy didn't work out the way I wanted it to. But I can't fault myself for having a crack.

 

"I gave it all I had, it just didn't work out."

 

Gumbleton was traded to the Dockers at the end of last season for pick No.55 in the 2013 NAB AFL draft after playing 35 matches with Essendon over seven seasons.

 

The second pick in the 2006 NAB AFL draft signed a one-year deal with the Dockers and had the option of a second.

 

Following a good pre-season, Gumbleton ripped his hamstring in the first quarter of the Dockers' second NAB Challenge match in February.

 

He returned after a 12-week lay-off to play six matches with Peel Thunder in the WAFL only to re-injure his hamstring.

 

Gumbleton said he really enjoyed his time at Fremantle despite failing to represent them during the season.

 

"It's a fantastic club that's fantastically run and I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to contribute as much as I would have liked to," Gumbleton said.

 

"There's a fantastic coaching staff here and it's a club that's very dedicated to the cause of winning a premiership.

 

"You can tell by the way that all the players plan, prepare and train that they're so dedicated to getting to that final step."