FREMANTLE champion David Mundy has announced he will retire at the end of the season, departing as the Dockers' games record holder and among the club's greatest players.
Mundy, who earlier this year moved into 10th on the all-time VFL/AFL games record list, told teammates and staff on Monday morning that he will call time on his career after 19 seasons.
The 37-year-old, who will leave the game while still performing at an excellent level, said he was looking forward to getting the most out of his last season as the Dockers prepare for a drought-breaking finals series.
He said he was proud of the person he'd been able to become and the role he had played in helping grow the Dockers as a club.
"I’ve been living my dream for 19 years now and I’ve loved every bit of it," Mundy said.
"Not all of it has been easy, there’s been quite a few, really hard and emotional bits to it, but I’ve been able to grow as a person and as a player throughout my time at Fremantle and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
"I feel I’ve grown from a skinny full-back who didn’t want to talk to anyone, to being a part of the leadership group for a number of years now.
"I’m proud of that growth and that journey and I’m looking to get the most out of this season and explore what’s next."
Mundy was recruited with pick No.19 in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft and has played 371 games, with the midfielder on track to replace Adam Goodes at No.9 on the all-time VFL/AFL games list by the end of the season.
The 2010 club champion and former club captain has played in the 200-game milestone of every Fremantle player to reach that mark and flown more than 900,000km for matches, more than double any player in the top 10 games played list.
"I’ve grown up at the Fremantle Football Club and I’ve spent more than half of my life in WA and associated with Fremantle," he said.
"The whole-club integration at the moment is the best it’s ever been, I love coming to work every day and it’s meant a lot to me."
Mundy has grown into an on-field coach for Justin Longmuir late in his career and is credited with playing a significant role in the development of the club's young midfielders, like Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
He is preparing to leave the game while still averaging 22.2 disposals, 4.7 clearances and 9.0 contested possessions, with the inside midfielder setting the standard for his younger teammates in several areas.
"We’ve seen his professionalism, not just to play the number of games but also his consistency of performance, and that comes from his diligence in his preparation," executive general manager of football Peter Bell said.
"He’s also been able to apply himself to his study and have some exceptional achievements in academia.
"While juggling all these things, he’s had so much time to give the players, particularly the young midfielders to help them develop.
"He’s been the definition of an all-round professional."
Bell said Mundy's influence on the group was "a big part of why we’re very confident for the remainder of this year and the future".
Mundy, who paid tribute to wife Sally and their family, will be celebrated at the round 22 Western Derby, which will be the Dockers' last home game for the home-and-away season.
The celebrated Docker shapes as a potential coach when the season is over, having been targeted by rival clubs when out-of-contract in the past.
Mundy had earlier this season expressed a desire to play on next season and started informal talks with the club for a 2023 contract.
