Former No. 1 draft pick Tom Scully has retired from AFL effective immediately

Former No. 1 draft pick Tom Scully has retired from AFL effective immediately. Find out why he is going and what it means for the Hawks.

Tom Scully has retired. Picture: AAP Images

Tom Scully has retired from AFL effective immediately after admitting he had lost the passion to continue at the highest level.

The former No. 1 overall pick for Melbourne was once described as the hardest two-way runner the game had seen by GWS coach Leon Cameron in an 11-year career that included 187 games.

But as Scully battled a longstanding ankle injury and personal issues away from the game, he decided against pushing his mind and body for one more season.

Scully played two years at Hawthorn after his shock trade from GWS and while he played 35 games in that time he never reached the heights of his Giants days.

It will leave the Hawks with a vacancy for their summer rookie program, with the Hawks fully supportive of his decision.

Hawthorn did not have a vacant list spot but can now trial a player, and could create more room by putting James Sicily on the long-term injury list.

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Tom Scully celebrates a goal while playing for the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

The club will have to work through the salary cap implications of his departure, with the 29-year-old in the final season of his three-year deal.

Scully was once one of football’s most maligned figures after he left Melbourne for a six million dollar deal, with his father then becoming a recruiting staffer at the fledgling club.

But he won respect around the league for his punishing style of play, which saw him making surging runs up and back as an elite wingman.

In a season where hard-running wingmen will come to the fore given new rules which make the man on the mark a stationary figure, he would have been a critical element for the Hawks as an overlap runner.

The Hawks will now need to find that run elsewhere after Isaac Smith left for the Cats and Ricky Henderson also retired.

It means the club’s off-season recruitment of Pies wingman Tom Phillips looks an even more canny acquisition.

“This has been an incredibly difficult decision for me to make as football has been such a big part of my life,” Scully said.

“I have been thinking for a long period of time now as to my future in the game, and after much consideration I have decided now is the best time for me to step away and pursue other interests.

“After 11 seasons in the AFL I understand the demands that this game requires of you, and after much thought I know in my heart I have lost the passion and commitment that is required of me to continue to compete at AFL level.

Tom Scully played two years at the Hawks. Picture: AAP Images

“I am so grateful for all the opportunities and experiences that football has given me and I will take away some lifelong memories and friendships.”

Hawks interim footy boss Rob McCartney said the club was supportive of his decision only weeks before Round 1.

“Tom has given his heart and soul to our game for 11 years and he is now ready to switch focus to the next chapter of his life,” said McCartney.

“Tom‘s work ethic and commitment to improving has endeared him to everyone at our club and these qualities will certainly hold him in good stead in life outside of the game.

“As a number one draft pick and three-club player, Tom has been an outstanding contributor to the game of AFL and should walk away incredibly proud of the resilience and character he has shown over the years.

“We wish him all the best for whatever lies ahead and thank him for this contribution to the brown and gold.

Originally published as Former No. 1 draft pick Tom Scully has retired from AFL effective immediately