I didn’t think it would, but the old knee got me in the end. I thought I had it bluffed but it’s too good. I want to let our supporters know that I won’t be playing a farewell game. I could have tried to if I got through training this week but for me there is no guarantee that I would have got through a game. It’s a pretty big risk and one I’m not willing to take. It’s not fair on the club, the supporters, the playing group, and particularly myself.
I was also doing rehab last Thursday away from the group and I was walking back from my strides and watching the boys go about their business, and it dawned on me that the best thing for the Adelaide Football Club moving forward is for the old fella to join his two old mates in the back of the Hilux, and watch the future of our football club go around against the Saints.
Sad, yeah a little bit, but it has been a phenomenal journey that I have endeared, and at times fought with. I’m definitely one of the most blessed people going around, and it is hard to fathom sometimes. I guess who would have thought a snotty nosed young boy from the territory would make a half decent career from the game he loved playing with his family and friends, and was able to do it for 16 years. I certainly wouldn’t have predicted it.
Over that time there have been numerous people that have helped and walked alongside me every step, and I would like to recognise those people now. Firstly to my family, Rachael, Connor and Madison, who are my life. I thank you my babies for being my rock, my inspiration. I look forward to our future and the wonderful journey that awaits us. To my Dad, Mum, brother and sister and their families, plus the rest of my mob back home, I would like to acknowledge their love and support. To my Adelaide families and friends, and you guys know who you are, I would like to say thank you on behalf of my family, for providing me with strength and support.
To my Adelaide Football Club family, my second home for half of my life, I would like to acknowledge the people that have made it, and continue to make it, the best club in Australia. Without the guidance, encouragement and assistance from the people associated here, I would not have been able to achieve anything, and I thank you for making a dream come true.
To the supporters of the Adelaide Football Club, I thank you for sharing my journey and making it a most memorable one.
To all my coaches, I am eternally grateful for passing on your knowledge to make me a better player and a person. I would just like to thank Bill Sanders and Tim Johnson for recruiting me and giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I thank them dearly.
I would also like to thank Adidas for their continued support over the years for providing me with not only the best boots going around, but amazing wardrobe to go with it for me and my family. To Toyota, and in particular Andrew Phillips, Michael Beros and Felicity and all the crew down there, it has been an honour to be part of such an amazing team.
To all you guys, the media here today, I thank you too but I won’t miss any of you at all.
And finally to my teammates, past and present, without you guys, nothing I have achieved in footy would have been made possibly if it weren’t for all of you. Thanks for making it the most amazing journey, one I can only dream of.
Thanks guys."
