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Farewell Champions: AFL's 2025 Retirement Class
A tribute to the AFL's 2025 retiring players acknowledges their significant contributions and celebrates their achievements across various clubs. We honour these players' careers, from one-club legends to those who found success across multiple teams.
• Matt Crouch: 11-season one-club player for Adelaide (164 games, 31 goals, 2017 All-Australian)
• Sam Docherty: Overcame adversity in 11 seasons at Carlton after starting at Brisbane (184 total games, Carlton co-captain 2019-2022)
• Nat Fyfe: Fremantle legend with two Brownlow Medals (2015, 2019) and three-time All-Australian
• Michael Walters: 16-season one-club player for Fremantle with 239 games and 365 goals
• Mitch Duncan: Geelong stalwart with 303 games and two premierships (2011, 2022)
• Callan Ward: GWS inaugural captain and games record holder (267 games) after starting at Western Bulldogs
• Luke Breust: Hawthorn star with 308 games, 553 goals and three premierships (2013-2015)
• Travis Boak: Port Adelaide games record holder with 387 games across 18 seasons as a one-club player
• Jeremy McGovern: Five-time All-Australian defender for West Coast Eagles
• Dom Sheed: 2018 premiership hero for West Coast Eagles with the clutch Grand Final goal
• Taylor Duryea: Two-time premiership player with Hawthorn who finished with 100 games at Western Bulldogs
Thank you to all these champions for their dedication to the game – your talent, perseverance through injuries, and commitment have made you stars regardless of premiership success.
Hello everyone, welcome back to another special episode. Let's get on with the show. Welcome, and this episode we're celebrating the 2025 retirement players from this great game, the AFL. Before we get into it, I would like to congratulate each and every one of you who has played in the sport AFL. Thank you for your competition, your effort, your wins and lose, your wins and losses, your highs and lows and your challenges. Without you, without Absolute, without you, you, you won't be stars with this game. So thank you. But this episode I'm going to be showing it's quite a few lesser players. To sit back and relax and enjoy it, because this is this is huge from a to w. I lay close to the western boarders, to whoever. I will announce that there will be. Some teams have not yet announced their players with retirement, but we'll keep your eye out. Keep your eye out there on the awards show. This is for now, to get this out and, as well, the awards night. So sit back, as I said, relax, enjoy the show.
Speaker 1:So we start with the LA Crows. Let's begin this and Matt Crouch, the all-rounder of the wild quarter call. He's mainly a midfielder, but he played forward, he played the fancy, not playing the rockman spot and for 11 years, 11 seasons, one club player this man has come from I actually enjoyed it since he was coming to the LA Crows. This man he was coming to the LA Crows. This man is the future for the LA Crows and I was right. But congratulations on your career at the LA Crows, matt Crouch, and wish you all the best in the future. Hold. Here's a little bit about Crouch's stats 40 stats. Played for one club, as I mentioned, for 11 seasons, 12 years, which is the LA Clubs player. A player played 164 games, 31 goals, one time All-Australian 2017. He had a Malcolm Blight back in 2017, one time 22 under 22 team 2017, one time All-Australian star nominee. Back in 2014. He was the number one 23 at the 2023 national draft. So tell me something that he would select to pay for the crows. Thank you for your time over the 11 seasons, including the 2017 afl grand final.
Speaker 1:So up. We move to the Brisbane Lions. There was no retirement players. Well, that's okay, let's just move on. And we have Colm Blues Now. This player has gone through so much in his career up and downs, but he was a one-club player after him leaving for another team. But, sam Dockley, congratulations on your staying career.
Speaker 1:Career stats, including playing for two clubs brisbane for one season, then moving back to melbourne where we played 2012 to 2013 at the brisbane lions. Then within 13 goal games and one goal, then moving trade to Carlton to play for 11 seasons from 2014 to 2025. With 171 games and 30 goals at the Carlton Blues. Sam Dockley, well done on your career. Footy career football's been in Carlton over 184 games and 31 goals. Dockley was drafted at the 2011 AFL Draft and picked number 12 and the main role was the defense, but he was also all-round. He can kick some amazing goals. Not a lot of goals in his career, but he got goals. But well done to Dockley. Also had award from his time of Dockley's career, such as the NEAFL, so that's part of. The Queensland Brisbane team won the partnership back in 2012,. Nab Cup 2013,. He also got selected to the under-22 team in 2016,. John Nektolos' medal 2016,. Australian 2017, david Pickett's medal two-time. Not too sure what year that was, but that's okay. I think it was two years for that 2017 and 2022, co-captain from 2019 to 2022 and the june styles community leadership award 2023. Well done again on a great career. Soon. Dock leads all the best wherever future holds in life with you and all the best.
Speaker 1:Next up is s and bombers. There's no retirement players. Keep your heads up, get some good players in the off season and see you in 2026. Financial dockers is up next now. There will be some players that now I have to now share that have absolutely announced their retirement. We will also include Nat 5, keaton Natkin and Michael Waters. What great stats for the financial docker. So we'll share these guys right now. So we start off with Keaton Neckar. Well done on your AFL career playing with Geelong, with 41 games, 18 goals Within 2017 to 2022,. They're moving to SA at Port Adelaide 16 games, 8 goals, then 3 until that's 2 goals, 1 goal. So for one season during the 2025, at 3 until until Nekan Kuntan.
Speaker 1:Nekala played 59 April games, 27 goals. So this is his stats right now as I share them. So amazing career. You know, born short from 60 games and I've got to say, like I, quetzalazan's on a AFL career. You know it was time. You know here he is and his achievements. So where can I say that? But Quetzalazan's on a sensational career. You've shown so much and I think it's amazing that what you do it's not what you do on the 40 fields off the field and playing for 340 clubs that trying to find in your career and yeah so quotes and on your, yeah, amazing career and you know all the best in the future holds. So thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Michael Waters comes in next and look, this man is a one-club player. He's played for Friantel from their ups and lows and just amazing, here he is. So Michael Waters included an All-Star 2020 one-game no-goals request of the same with the Indianapolis Ind. The Indigenous All-Star 2025, one game. He's currently played 239 games, I think, overall, with 365 goals From 2009 to 2025,.
Speaker 1:I see Michael Waters Waters one of the hardest tough players drafted from the Swan District Football Club. He was the number one Michael Waters because he 53 at the 2008 National Draft and he was directly at that Ford midfield and boy, he was ready to take on the amazing you know picked up at home base as well. He's a Michael Waters. It's also a five-time, three-and-tall leading goal kicker 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. One time All-Australian back in 2019. It also included to be the captain of the Indigenous All-Star 2025, 22 under-22 team 2013,. 3 and towards 25 since 1995 team, which is an incredible effort. 3 and towards life member 2019, and the WAFL WAFL afl partnership player 2010.
Speaker 1:So thank you for so much for your career. This is incredible, you know, and I can just see all on here. Like I said, 16 seasons it's incredible. And thank you for your you know your time at financial doctors and hopefully you will support the future. So the next up is Nat5. So Nat5 will retire at the end of the AFL season. He's announced he will retire and thank you for your time, for your career, for your time for your ups and downs and what you have chosen to play. And I'm going to give you right now he almost will play 250 games, I do not think, but I will just share his stats now, because the time of this he laid out that this. So I'll give you a bit of that.
Speaker 1:First, details of stats Pick 20, the 2009 National Draft he debuted for free and tall at the old Sevilla Oval against Richmond Tiger. His role was a midfield forward. He's picked to wear the number 7. All his career, his injuries, life amazing. He played in the 2013 Grand Finals or 2015, one of the years. So I'm going to give you his highlight status. That's what we hear. So he honoured the International Team honoured two games, one goal for Australia 2017. All-star 2020. He included the Friantle team role 2017-2022. Two-time Brand New Medallist 2015-2019. Two-time Lee Matthew Trophy 2014-2015. Three-time All-Australian team 2014- 2015. 2019 he was rolled announced as the captain. Three Douglas medal 2013-2014 2019. Dream SARS was he was rolled announced as the captain. Free douglas medal 2013 2014. 2019. Dream size medal 2017.
Speaker 1:Aflca best young player of the year 2011. And avril star nominee. Avril one star nominee 2010. Thank you for your time, thank you for playing, playing this for your best ability, and I thank you so much. So thank you.
Speaker 1:We'll now go up to next, which is the star he's also he will be announced his retirement and that is Mitch Duncan. My goodness, he's still playing for the Adelaide, for the Geelong Cats, and he's also announced his retirement at the Cullery. I hear something about him and something about this player from Mitch Duncan. Originally from Perth, he was hit as the 28th overall 2009, and he was picked to go to Geelong. A midfield forward, he also played a little bit of defence, but the number 22 stayed behind him. 2010 to 2025, he played 303 games and won 85 goals for Geelong.
Speaker 1:There's not much to say. He is a two-time apprenticeship player 2011 and 2022. 11 years later, he now notes that he was also nominated the 2011 AFL star nominee. So thank you, mitch Duncan, for your time, your effort and all of that. Without you, mate, there is no Geelong in the making. So congratulations on your career and all the best. Hopefully, a mother of our apprenticeship hero comes to your head, to your victory as a mother. A mother player has absolute form and you can't go past the amazed Khan War from the G-Dias Giants. You know he's also announced his retirement and I think he's officially retired overall. So play for the Western Bulldogs and GWS Giants are there. You're over all two teams. And there's a little bit about his career status.
Speaker 1:So Calvin Moore was picked up at the MUMMA 19 2007 National Draft. I was the home lead. I'm going to let you all know I was between 16 and 17 when he was drafted, so he's around my age group. So Callum Moore played his very first AFL game that year later, round 11 2008, against St Kilda at the Old Church of Dine Today it's Marble Stadium. His role was a midfielder, played 60 games, 33 goals for the Western Bulldogs from 2008 to 2011. Then he moved, drafted to the Great Western Sydney Giants, aimed to win their first apprenticeship in history in the seven or seven years years later against the Richmond Football Club.
Speaker 1:Cone War played for, like I said, great Western Sydney Giants 2012 to 2025. Played 267 games and 13 goals. That's a total of 327 games and 163 goals Incredible effort. 2011, he was honoured for the international team. Honoured for Australian. Played two games. So co-captain 2012-2019 at the Greenwich and Sydney Giants. He holds the most record games all time at the GWS Giants. He had the one medal, penn and Sheedy medal 2012. Robert Rose award 2018. Two time red hit medal 2014. One game 2017. Two goals at two games and he was also nominated the AFL Ryan star back in 2009. Congratulations on your career.
Speaker 1:Let's now move on to the next player, which is known for the board pocket magic, luke Bruce. My goodness, a mother player was a very, very good player and I think he continues on till he retires. So and he does he is still continuously to play to the end of his career. So thank you another one, luke Bruce, for your time. He was picked up number 47 at the 2009 booking draft and never looked back.
Speaker 1:There's a little bit about Luke Bruce for you. Round 8, 2011,. Hawthorne v St Kilda MCG. He is a role known for as the forward pocket play standard at 308 games, 553 goals. Also include play for the Team Honour 2020 All-Star 1 game 2 goals and also international Team Honours 2014-2015 for Australia.
Speaker 1:A three-time championship player 2013, 2014, 2015. Three times, that's a pretty good effort. Two All-Stars 2014-2018. Five-time league goal kicker 2018-2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Two-time under-22 team 2012 and 2013. So, luke Bruce, thank you so much, just honoured to play with a sensational career. He also included the Met Glingleyothby 2012-2013-2024. That's recent as well, thank you, you know. And my apprenticeship for Hawthorne 2012-2013. So, thank you so much. You know your career. Really, you know, really helped to help you all the best. You know we now move on to the Melbourne Demons no retirement players, but this is huge. We now move on to Port Adelaide Football Club and we have Rory Atkins, travis Bloke and Willie Roriolli Jr. So there are three AFL players I'm going to share with you all. First up is Rory Atkins. So Rory Atkins has officially done his time for his career, so I'm going to share right now your career mate. So pick 81 at 2012 National Draft.
Speaker 1:He debuted with the LA Crows against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval 2015. His role was a midfielder. Played from 2013 to 2020. Played for LA Crows 101 games, 47 goals. Rode on to 2021 to 2024 for Gold Coast 37 games, 5 goals. And then just for that one season for portale free goals 141 games, 52 goals.
Speaker 1:So thank you so much. Your career and your time playing at the golf car sons, it's been honored to play. And your achievement you know it's honored to play aside you. You know it's honoured to play alongside you. You know all the best, what holds you up. You know so really, really interesting to hire. Your career really interests so many people and your absolute, your career was that, you know, for the LA Crows. You know you did so well and I really thank you so much for your time and commitment during that time being on it. You know, 12 years in the making playing for Fleet Club pretty good effort. So congratulations to Rory Atkins. We now move on to Rillia Royalli from Port Adelaide.
Speaker 1:And something for this man to earn a job was Hyman. But it's life, it happens and you know the up and down done as a star. He is a star no matter what, but he's rich in you from Adelaide. He's played for Glenelg. He was picked the mum of 52 in the 2016 national draft. He to move the West Coast Eagles against the Western model round two. So that's a pretty good effort. He's a move for the West Coast Eagles against the Western Bulldogs Round two, so that's a pretty good effort. He was a forward. He played for West Coast for five seasons from 2017 to 2022. For 51 games 60 goals, and moving back home, 2023 to 2025, 58 games, 91 goals. So 109 games from 51, 151 goals. So he also was picked to play in the 2025 in the addition as all-stars one game winning one goal. He also was one-time partnership player for the West Coast Eagles. So a man played so well for his career and thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:But this why do we share this man to us? A one-club player, he played for 18 years in the making and he played for Victoria, originally from Victoria, originally from Geelong, and 2020, he came on that for Victoria 2014,. 2017 for Australia in the national team on it three games. This man played in the midfield and debut for Port Adelaide 2007 at Amy's Damien Fulmino's Football Park. So I would like to congratulate him. You know he also played for Geelong Falcons at the TAC Cup. He was number five in the 2006 national draft Incredible not winning maybe those partnership honors. The status will come and his career will come through in just a moment.
Speaker 1:Travis Bloke the man he suffered his career Thank you, the man it was. You, mate, your career. A one-club player, 2007 to 2025 for Port Adelaide 387 games, 215 goals Incredible career Captain for Port Adelaide for five seasons From 2013 to 2018. He wore two jersey numbers Number 10 and the number 1. Port Adelaide's game record-high holder. He also included jersey numbers number 10 and the number one Port Adelaide's game record held holder. He honestly included three or Australian included three time or Australian teams with his incredible career effort 2013, 2014, 2020. Two-time John Paul Harrell medal 2011 2019 three three-time showdown medal 2013, one game 2020-2021, one game three-time Peter Badcon VC medal 2014-2015-2019, and also was nominated at the 2007 AFL Rising Star.
Speaker 1:Thank you, travis, broke. Your career without you and for the Port Adelaide community at the Port Adelaide Football Club. Thank you and hopefully, all the very best what you do in your retirement. Enjoy it because you will earn it All. Right, this is it, ladies and gents. There's no retirement players from Richmond which it's quite interesting to note applying for that, but St Kilda's Jimmy Westbrook. Let's get on with him. Congratulations on your career. Maybe not a punishment around your neck, but that's okay.
Speaker 1:He picked up the 42 2011 National Draft to St Kilda. His role model is a defender and played 13 seasons at St Kilda, 180 games from four goals. So thank you for your achievements and nothing much, but thank you for your. You know your time and efforts at the St Kilda football club and all the very best what holds for you. But next one, we have Jlen Hunt, jen McGovern and Don Sheed from West Coast Eagles. Thank you for your time, your effort and what you do in your career. You know there's something about life and hurts and you know being an apprenticeship player and being West Coast the renders player to the West Coast family. Apprenticeship player and bring West Coast the renders player to the West Coast family. You know he's recently from I think from the Western Australia point of view, but picked up for MUMMA 57 at the National Drive 2013, national Drive, as I mentioned before.
Speaker 1:He debuted round four 2016 for the Melbourne Demons versus Conywood at the MCG. His role model was a defender but he was almost all-rounder, played Melbourne Demons eight seasons, 2014 to 2022. He played 114 games, 43 goals, including that apprenticeship play time. He also Jalen Hunt. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the player I meant to announce, but here we go. 2013, 2023.
Speaker 1:The 2025 west coast equals 58 games 15 goals, 172 games 58 goals. Congratulations on your highlight career. The heels. Jayden Hunt included a 2022 Under-22 team 2017 and Colo Bowl Memorial Trophy 2016. So, including that apprenticeship, as I mentioned. Apprenticeship player back at the Melbourne Demons. Thank you for your career and all of the very best.
Speaker 1:Coming up right now is the man that McGovern's a huge name in the AFL, but he is. Stay by, you know. Thank you for your memory. Thank you for your time. West Coast's last home game, or second to last home game, was against the LA Crows. The announcement that he did not play against the LA Crows was absolutely a very, very sad moment. He picked up at the MAMA 44 2011 Rocky Drive, the West Coast Eagles. Jim McGovern was a key defender and brought the MAMA 23's career From 2011 to 2025, with 171.97, gained 38 goals. Jim McGovern included a partnership player at 2018, or five-time All-Australian 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024. He included a client-run apprenticeship player in 2012, and John Walsh medal 2024. The amazing career and thank you for your time. I wish you all the best. And the final West Coast Eagles player before we move on to the final team amazing that players you know amaze each other.
Speaker 1:Conchie's medal achievement was picked up the number 11 at the 2013 National Draft and midfield rolled into a forward 2014-2025. 165 games from a 269 game. A goal played from 2014-2025 for West Coast Eagles. Played 165 games, kicked 69 goals. One-time apprenticeship player 2018. Afl Riding Star nominee 2015. Loop medal 2013. Western Australia under-18s captain 2013. Amazing achievement, amazing what you can do and thank you for your memories, john sheed. Thank you to everyone who's listening up today's show. But, ladies and gentlemen, we do come to the final team in the afl, which is the western bulldogs now.
Speaker 1:A player that we're going to share right now is tay la dun d from the western board of. This player was a former hawthorne player, which he debuted at grand free 2013 for hawthorne. Coningwood role model. Was a defender, picked up the 69 2009 national draft for hawthor and also came into the rookie draft back in 2024 for Mama 21,. Pete to the Western Board of Taylor Dante played eight seasons at Hawthorne, 2010 to 2018. Incredible career at Hawthorne 118 games in 2010. 21 goals and moved to the Western Board of 2019 to 2025 for the Western Bulldogs, played 100 goals, 100 games exactly from four goals. Total of 218 games. 25 goals. Two-time premiership player at Hawthorne 2014-2015, and BFL premiership player 2023. 2015 and VFL Financier Player 2023 2013.
Speaker 1:Thank you for your time and the player you are. Thank you for your time. Incredible career, 15 years for under two time Financier at Hawthorne and enjoy your time. You know almost 50-50, playing for both clubs For 15 years in the making mate. Thank you for your time, your efforts for 14 years playing in this sport. I wish you nothing but all the very best in your retirement Later.
Speaker 1:Noel, that's all, that is all for today's show. Thank you as we celebrate, as we celebrate the 2025, these amazing players, without you, your talent, is not impossible to know who you are. You are stars, no matter if you win or without apprenticeship. You are a champion at your football club, no matter how many clubs you've been picked up to play, if it's just one club player or just two. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Your efforts, win or lose, your highs and lows, your ups and downs, your injuries, your on and off, your push and your push to the final day of your AFL career. So thank you so much. I enjoyed your time playing. You're hard to play. As I'm an LA Coast supporter, you're always a hard player to play against and knowing that these players from the LA Coast know that you're a challenge. But later than all and mens, thank you so much for listening to that show I'm honoured to share with the talent of the making. Thank you all. We'll see you soon. Keep your eye out for some big, big episodes. All right, bye for now. Each I show that Woo.
