Veteran ruckman Sam Jacobs says he’s leaving Adelaide Crows with a “heavy heart” to join another AFL club.

The 31-year-old is widely expected to join GWS.

Jacobs has told the Crows he’ll depart when the free agency trade period opens on October 4.

“After a couple of weeks of really open discussions with the club, I have decided it would be best for my family and career to exercise my free agent options,” Jacobs said in a statement on Friday.

“I do this with a heavy heart as I love the club. It was an extremely difficult decision to make.”

After making his AFL debut at Carlton in 2009, Jacobs was traded to Adelaide at the end of 2010.

He played just five AFL games this season, suffering a knee injury in round two and then falling behind novice Reilly O’Brien as the Crows’ preferred ruck.

In July, Adelaide extended O’Brien’s contract until the end of 2021 which prompted Jacobs to explore his options.

The Giants are understood to have offered Jacobs a two-year contract while his former club Carlton is also believed to have shown interest.

Jacobs played 17 AFL games for the Blues and a further 184 for the Crows.