Will Thursfield Biography

Will Thursfield's manager Anthony McConville says his Thursfield retired from AFL football to focus on his landscaping business.

"He was pretty keen to hang them up and say, 'I am satisfied. I am going to move on and go out on my terms happy with what I have achieved'," McConville said.

"He has been working at his landscape gardening business for the last 18 months to two years and he was eager to take those opportunities and go into the next phase."

Will Thursfield has retired from AFL football at just 25 years of age and after 77 games with Richmond.

"There are some other avenues in my life I'm keen to pursue, and I just felt the time was right to step away from AFL football," Thursfield said in a statement released by Richmond.

"I'm proud to have played the game at the highest level over the past seven seasons, and have enjoyed my involvement at Richmond, but I'm now looking forward to taking up these opportunities."

Will Thursfield wasn't far from finding a new home in last year's trade period but now wants to be a Tiger for life.

"I was reasonably close (to leaving) without going into too many details. Then when I went back that first day after trade week, my key to enter the front door didn't work and I thought they might have locked me out," he joked.

"But once you are there six days a week it all becomes pretty normal again."

Richmond defender Will Thursfield says the new coaching regime at the Tigers, including Justin Leppitsch in particular, is teaching the backline invaluable lessons on defence.

"Big Leppa - he knows a lot about defending, which is good for us, because in the past we've been taught more how to attack," Thursfield said.

"He's teaching us a lot about spoiling, the positioning of the body and things like that. He's a good teacher, and he enjoys doing it as well, so he's a pretty valuable addition."