Brodie Smith is back but Curtly Hampton retires from Adelaide
ADELAIDE utility Curtly Hampton has shocked the Crows by announcing his immediate retirement from AFL football as he battles the effects of vertigo, while defender Brodie Smith is set for a return to the field in the SANFL.
STAR defender Brodie Smith is back for Adelaide — just 10-and-a-half months after undergoing a knee reconstruction.
But in sad news, utility Curtly Hampton has pulled the pin on his AFL career at age 25.
Hampton told his teammates of his shock decision on Wednesday morning that he had lost the desire to train and perform at the highest level.
The former Giant played just 12 games in three seasons for Adelaide after 51 for GWS from 2012-15.
While 2014 All-Australian Smith will make his long-awaited comeback in the SANFL against Central District at Elizabeth on Saturday, Hampton will be taking an indefinite break from football, saying he had retired.
One of the Crows understood to be affected by the club’s controversial pre-season camp to the Gold Coast, Hampton had struggled to get his body right at Adelaide and in the past month has been diagnosed with vertigo.
“After eight years in the system and with multiple setbacks along the way, I’ve lost the passion, motivation and enjoyment for the game that you need perform at the highest level,” Hampton told the Crows website.
“The past few weeks have been particularly hard as I try to deal with the symptoms of vertigo.
“At times, it has been difficult to train and play but it has also affected my life away from football.
“In saying that I am confident of making a full recovery but I feel it is best to do that away from the pressures of the AFL industry.
“This is a good opportunity to focus on the other priorities in my life and I look forward to the next chapter.”
Adelaide coach Don Pyke said it was disappointing for Hampton and the club but that “everyone is understanding of the decision’’.
“To consistently perform at the highest level is challenging at the best of times let alone when you are confronted by physical setbacks,” Pyke said.
“We hope he can get back to full health as quickly as possible and we wish Curtly and his partner Emma all the best for the future.”
Smith, meanwhile, successfully completed Adelaide’s main training session at West Lakes on Wednesday morning to clear the final hurdle in his rehabilitation from the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he sustained in last year’s qualifying final win against GWS.
“I can’t wait, I’m super excited to be back,’’ said Smith, who is one of the finals-chasing Crows’ most important players.
“Obviously I’ve missed a lot of footy but I’ve trained my arse off now for a long time so to get the reward of playing, it’s really exciting.”
Smith is banking on Adelaide playing in the AFL finals and being a part of the action.
“I’m still confident we can get there (finals), that’s why I’ve still pushed to come back this week and put my hand up to get back as soon as possible,’’ he said.