Hawthorn
premiership midfielder Chance Bateman has announced his retirement after 177 games.
"The last couple of years have been a little bit frustrating. Last year I had trouble with a calf and ankle, this year I had AC surgery," Bateman said.
"As you get older these sort of injuries and surgery get harder and harder to get over and it's something all footballers go through.
"If you can just look back and be proud of what you have accomplished over the journey, it makes it a little bit easier to say goodbye."
Bateman is the first indigenous player to reach 100 games in the brown and gold and to be awarded life membership of the club.
"We didn't have a very good history of indigenous players so it was a little bit tough being the only one early on," Bateman said.
"So to accomplish some of things I have, playing 100 and 150 games and being the first indigenous player to captain the side ... that sort of stuff fills me with a lot of pride.
"They are really special milestones for me and now our club has embraced indigenous players just as good as any club."