Edwards has been one of the club’s most consistent performers since being drafted as 19-year-old in 1995.
The star onballer played every game last season and finished eighth in the club’s best and fairest award, but has struggled to reproduce his brilliant best in the opening nine rounds of 2010.
On Friday Edwards gave a frank assessment of his current form, saying he knew the game had got him.
“It (retirement) is always in the back of your mind the longer you play and you keep getting reminded by you guys and all the young guys that I play with remind me that I’ve got no hair and that I’m bald, fat and slow,” Edwards said.
“In each game this season there were things I was thinking about and I thought to myself, normally I don’t have to think about this. Normally, it just happens for me.
“At some stage you’ve just got to realise that the game has got you and as much as you try and beat it and fight it you can’t.”
Edwards’ decision to hang up the boots was prompted by his omission from the team to take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The 320-game veteran will have a rare Saturday off this weekend after deciding not to line up with SANFL side West Adelaide.
The clash with the Saints will be just the sixth game the durable midfielder has missed in 11 years.
He will play a farewell game against Fremantle at AAMI Stadium next weekend and said he was determined to end his career on a high note.
“I’ll probably do a bit of training tomorrow and get ready to go again next week. I’ll watch the game tomorrow night. I’ll watch the boys sing the song at the end of the game and prepare to win three games in a row next week,” he said.
“I really just want to enjoy it and soak it all in. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way and I still want to perform and have that last crack at the game.”
Edwards’ announcement came just two days after fellow club champion Simon Goodwin stunned the football world by declaring this season would also be his last.
Edwards, Goodwin, games record holder Andrew McLeod and retired former skipper Mark Ricciuto have often been referred to as the Crows’ ‘fab four’
Edwards, who has never taken out an individual award, is the lowest-profile of the decorated quartet but said he would be happy just being thought of in the same light as Ricciuto, Goodwin and McLeod.
“It (the lack of accolades) hasn’t really bothered me and it’s probably suited my personality a little bit. I don’t look for all that,” he said.
“You get those rewards along the way if you’re good enough and you deserve them. I’ve been happy to be associated with those guys. They’re fantastic players and it’s good to be making the same calibre as them.”
Edwards is likely to follow in the footsteps of Ricciuto and hand his No.9 jumper down to a young player at the club, but said he wasn’t ready to part with it just yet.
“I did think about passing my jumper on the other night. It would be nice to do that for someone if someone really wanted my number … but not yet. I’ll keep it just for one more game.”
