Central Districts veteran Yves Sibenaler may retire from football because of an ongoing hip injury

SEVEN-TIME Central District premiership player Yves Sibenaler is battling a hip injury and may have played his last match for the club.

SEVEN-TIME Central District premiership player Yves Sibenaler is struggling with a degenerative hip injury and may have played his last match for the club, coach Roy Laird concedes.

Laird said Sibenaler was still working hard on rehabilitating the injury but progress had been slow and it is now unlikely the champion fullback will play this season.

"He's struggling a bit with the hip and at the moment it is doubtful whether he will play a role this year," Laird said.
"I don't know a lot about the injury but it is a degenerative hip with a bit of arthritis."

Sibenaler has not played a match since Central's first semi final loss to North Adelaide last season. Laird conceded that if the defender did not play again this year it was unlikely he would go on next season.

Sibenaler first played in a premiership with Central in 2003. Along with Paul Thomas, he is the only active player from that side, which will gather later this year for a 10 year premiership reunion.

Sibenaler debuted as a forward in 2001, after being recruited from South Gawler, but quickly found his spot in defence, where he has become arguably the best fullback of his generation.