Martin Mattner Biography

Former Adelaide assistant coach Martin Mattner will be forced to scour the building industry for work after cutting ties with the Crows last week.

The Sydney premiership defender was the first high-profile assistant coach to lose his job amid the financial crunch that has forced clubs to slash costs in football department spending due to the suspension of the 2020 AFL season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Told he wouldn't be re-contracted for 2021, Mattner mulled over a range of possibilities presented to him by the Crows for the rest of this year before opting for a mutual agreement and compensation that leaves destiny in his own hands.

"It wasn't the decision I wanted to make, I didn't want to be in this position, but I believe for myself and my family that the decision I made was the best one going forward," Mattner said.

"I don't have anything to go to, but, the other thing was, I'm not going to have a job whenever this season ends.

"The decision in the end was, 'Do I leave now and have clarity for what my next few months look like?' And now I can move on, get on the front foot, and put my name out and try and find something else."

Marty Mattner leaves his position as an assistant coach at Adelaide as the Crows restructure their coaching ranks amid the suspension of the AFL 2020 season caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"These are challenging times which have brought about unfortunate decisions," Adelaide's head of football Adam Kelly said in a statement.

Retired premiership Swan Marty Mattner will move into a role within Sydney's development department while Jared Crouch will become the head of development.

Following his retirement, Martin Mattner will stay on at the Swans after signing on as an assistant coach.

"I'm really excited to be staying with the Swans and thankful for the opportunity to step into a coaching role," Mattner said.

"During the season when I was injured and retired, that time I spent with the reserves really opened my eyes and confirmed that I wanted to coach.

"It was a great opportunity to see the coaching side of the game, I was really happy with it all and thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the club's young players."

Martin Mattner calls an end to his career due to persistent hip injuries.

"It's both my hips," Mattner said.

"Six years ago I had surgery here on my left one and progressively my right one has been getting worse.

"I saw the surgeon at the end of last year with the idea of having surgery, but that didn't progress.

"In the off-season we did everything we could do try to get it right and that meant taking time off and having a restricted pre-season, but it just hasn't come good."

Marty Mattner has missed just one game since moving to the Swans and will play his 200th game against St Kilda.

"The opportunity they gave me at Adelaide I felt wasn't (the right) opportunity, so to come to Sydney and be given it again and to repay the club with 100 games has been great," Mattner said.

"I just sort of go about my week-to-week job and play my role in the team and do whatever I need to do to make the team better and to win the games."

Swans defender Marty Mattner says being able to play regularly in the finals has vindicated his decision to move to Sydney from Adelaide.

"The opportunity to play in finals, that's what you play footy for, and I've done that three out of the four seasons in Sydney," Mattner said.

"I wanted to play more footy and I wanted to play finals, so it's been great. It was a great decision to come up here."