SYDNEY Swans forward Kurt Tippett says the forced retirement of his former Adelaide teammate Brent Reilly makes him thankful that he's fit and healthy enough to play the sport he loves.
The Crows defender has been advised to never play contact sport again and retired from the game, effective immediately, on Wednesday.
Reilly fractured his skull in a freak accident at training in February, and Tippett, who has had a host of knee issues over his career, says it's a timely reminder of how lucky the Swans forward is.
"It makes you appreciate every session you can get out, every game you can get out, because you never know when its going to be your last one, as it was in his case," Tippett said on Thursday.
"You cop a knock or an injury and sometimes you don't get back from that, so it makes you appreciate every time you can put on the boots."
"It's great to see 'Radar' back healthy – it's very sad news but he's had a fantastic career, over 200 games. He was a great teammate while I was at Adelaide so congratulations to him."
Tippett played just 24 games in his first two seasons at the Swans, thanks in part to an AFL-imposed suspension for salary cap breaches, but mainly due to ongoing knee issues.
Knee tendonitis has continually restricted the former Crow's training schedule in Sydney, but after a full pre-season, the power forward has assumed more of the Swans' ruck duties in 2015.
Tippett has played every game this year, mixing his time in the ruck and up forward, and produced his best performance of the season last week against Melbourne, when he kicked four goals from 15 possessions at the MCG.
"I haven't been able to put the start of the season together for a couple of years, so to be out there playing alongside the boys, and developing the ruck and forward role that I'm playing is pleasing," Tippett said.
"The momentum you build throughout a season and over the course of season put together is what helps you play at a consistent level, and that’s what I'm about.
"During the pre-season the coaches challenged us to play a number of roles, and that was the fit for me, to be able to play ruck and forward, to add that flexibility to the side."
Geelong's big men will pose a unique challenge for Tippett and Mike Pyke this week, with Rhys Stanley, Mark Blicavs, Mitch Clark and Tom Hawkins all providing the Cats with options in the ruck.