West Coast champion Nic Naitanui has played his last game for the club.
The injured ruckman announced his retirement on Monday despite having a year to run on his contract.
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Naitanui has not played a game this year after battling an Achilles injury that required surgery several weeks ago.
The 33-year-old retires after 213 games across a glittering career than began when he was selected with pick No.2 in the 2008 draft.
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Despite dealing with multiple injuries, including two knee reconstructions, Naitanui was a three-time All-Australian and two-time best and fairest.
He missed out on the 2018 premiership due to injury.
Nic Naitanui has announced his retirement. Credit: Getty Images
In 2022, he signed a two-year contract extension until the end of 2024, but his latest injury cast a massive doubt over his ability to ever return to the field.
“I feel like I have exhausted every avenue to work my way through my injury, but my body is sending a strong message that it is time,” Naitanui said.
“You never want this day to come, but it always does and I’m content in the knowledge that I have given it everything.
“Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career this injury was probably going to take that away from me.
“I am also looking at a lengthy rehabilitation from my latest surgery and there are no guarantees of making it back to AFL level even if everything goes to plan. I have given it a lot of thought in the last few weeks and this is the best decision for the club, myself and my family.
“I would also like to thank the club for the opportunity, the enormous amount of support I have received along the journey and the lifelong friendships that have been created.”
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Naitanui is the third club champion to announce their retirement in the past two weeks, alongside Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey.
“Nic has been a legacy player for our football club and has been one of the most influential players of his generation,” coach Adam Simpson said.
“Sadly, he is the third club great to retire in the last three weeks.
“In some respects it is the end of an era and we will certainly miss Nic. In the last couple of years when he has been limited in the amount of games he has played his impact around the group has remained significant.
“There have been few ruckman in history to have a bigger impact on the game and he will always hold a special place in the history of the club.”
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