GREATER Western Sydney defender Joel Patfull has retired after 11 seasons in the competition.
Patfull told club officials this week that he'd decided against playing on, despite triggering a one-year contract extension earlier this year which would have taken him into the 2017 season.
The Giants and Patfull have come to a mutual agreement that will see the ex-Lion delisted by the Giants, before being re-selected at next month’s rookie draft, but he will not play for the club next year.
All the retirements and delistings
The move has been approved by the AFL, in the interest of fulfilling a required player payment and the club adhering to the Total Player Payment (TPP) obligations, and gives GWS some highly valuable salary cap relief.
Patfull, made 22 appearances for the Giants this year, including the club's two finals, and ends his career with 220 games for GWS and the Brisbane Lions.
The veteran started the 2016 season in the NEAFL, with co-captain Phil Davis, Caleb Marchbank, and Aidan Corr preferred to fill key defensive spots in coach Leon Cameron's side, but serious ankle injuries to the young GWS pair saw Patfull called upon for the rest of the year, and he was a strong contributor in defence.
A dual-best and fairest winner at the Lions before arriving in Sydney at the end of 2014, Patfull said he's looking forward to focusing on things outside of footy.
“I feel like the time is right to retire and I leave the game with no regrets,” he said.
“I’m very fortunate to have played at two clubs and gained the lifelong friendships I have.
“I never imagined playing over 200 games was possible, and I’d like to thank my family as well as everyone at the Giants and the Brisbane Lions for their support throughout my career.
“I leave the Giants knowing the club is heading in the right direction, and I hope to see this driven group achieve the ultimate success in the near future.”
GWS football manager Wayne Campbell paid tribute to the retiring defender.
“Joel (Patfull) was a no-fuss player that went about his business quietly, but was always highly rated by those inside the football clubs he played at, as highlighted by the two club champion awards he won,” he said.
“His maturity and ability to play on both tall and small forwards added great value to our young list.
“Joel helped shape the careers of a number of our young players and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his life.”
