West Coast skipper Darren Glass admits he probably played on one season too long after announcing his AFL retirement on Thursday.
Nagging hip and ankle injuries forced Glass to call time on his 270-game career, effective immediately, with Eagles officials unsuccessful in their bid to talk the 33-year-old into a farewell game.
Glass has played eight of 11 games this season, and his form was solid.
But he was struggling to recover from week to week, and he had been in close contact with coach Adam Simpson over the previous five weeks as he pondered his future.
“I have been struggling to string a couple of games together this season and I feel like it’s time I step aside and let someone else come in,” Glass said with his teammates and family looking on.
“I’m not confident of playing any decent and good, consistent footy in the back half of the year, so it’s all over.
“With hindsight I’ve probably played a year too long. At the end of last season I was really confident I could play this year, but it hasn’t panned out that way.”
When Glass was unable to get up for Dean Cox’s club record 277th game against Geelong in May, he knew he was in trouble.
“We had some players out injured, and Coxy was breaking Jacko’s (Glen Jakovich) record. It was a tough away trip and I would have really loved to have been there,” Glass said.
“But physically I knew I wouldn’t be able to get ready to play, so it’s been a slow realisation for me.”
The Eagles sit in 11th spot on the table with a 4-7 record, but Glass is confident the club is headed towards a bright future.
“I think there’s plenty of depth in the backline,” Glass said.
“There’s plenty of talent and character in this group to go forward.
“Clearly we’re not playing our best football at the moment, but I’m confident this group can go on and play finals this year and turn into a great team.”
Glass ends his career with 270 games, four All-Australian jumpers, three best and fairest awards and one premiership to his name.
The way he helped transform the culture of the group after Ben Cousins’ departure in 2007 will perhaps be the most important legacy he leaves behind.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson said he would look to rotate the captaincy for the remainder of the year, with a full-time appointment expected to be made after the season.
Vice-captains Scott Selwood and Josh Kennedy are the early frontrunners to take over from Glass on a permanent basis.
Glass will be remembered as one of the best key defenders of the past decade, along with Fremantle’s Luke McPharlin and Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett.