CARLTON stalwart Matthew Kreuzer has announced his retirement.

The highly respected ruckman told his Blues teammates on Thursday that he has played his last game for the club, following a season ravaged by injury after suffering a fractured foot in March.

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Blue blow as big man goes down

Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer in the hands of trainers after this clash in the ruck duel

Published on Mar 19, 2020

Kreuzer, the No.1 draft pick back in 2007, played 189 games for Carlton throughout a valued 13-year career at Ikon Park that was often hampered by a number of frustrating injury setbacks.

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He ruptured his ACL in 2010, dealt with a number of other knee and ankle injuries, while he also endured two serious foot injuries and missed a number of matches due to multiple elevated heartrate issues.

The 2007 NAB AFL Draft class (L-R): Jarrad Grant, Trent Cotchin, Matthew Kreuzer, Brad Ebert, Patrick Dangerfield, Chris Masten and Cale Morton. Picture: AFL Photos

Kreuzer, 31, enjoyed perhaps his best season in 2017, averaging 15.3 disposals and 31.7 hitouts per game in a campaign that culminated in a top-three finish in the club's best and fairest count and a place in the 40-man Virgin Australia AFL All Australian squad.

His retirement leaves Carlton with just two full-time ruckmen on its list, with off-season recruit Marc Pittonet and developing youngster Tom De Koning sharing the load in Kreuzer's absence this season.