VFL: Former Casey captain Jack Hutchins retires from the VFL

Jack Hutchins will play in the Goulburn Valley league next season after retiring from the Casey Demons.

Jack Hutchins captained the Casey Demons.

Jack Hutchins is going back to where his football journey began.

He’s heading home, to play for Mansfield in the Goulburn Valley league.

The 29-year-old Casey Demons defender confirmed today he had retired from the VFL, saying it was with a “heavy but full heart’’ that he gave the news to coach Mark Corrigan.

“I’ve had an absolute ball having (James) Munro and ‘Whitey’ (Mitch White) and guys like that as teammates that pretty much the whole way through … been pretty special,’’ he said.

“There’s no regrets there.’'

Hutchins joined Casey ahead of the 2015 season after playing 19 AFL games for Gold Coast.

At the time, he said, he was intent on playing well enough in the VFL to earn a second league listing.

He didn’t imagine he would stick around for seven years.

Jack Hutchins played in the AFL for Gold Coast.

“Absolutely not. It’s what everyone thinks about when they come off a list, trying to find the best scenario to get picked up again,’’ he said.

“Casey felt like the right fit for me to give myself every opportunity to get back on to a list.

“Then you get to a point when you realise it won’t happen, that the dream’s over.

“I guess at that point my mindset changed, to be more about the environment and the enjoyment and to keep playing that standard of footy and to help others into the pathway as well. Your priorities change. You try to help create the environment to help other guys get picked up.’’

Hutchins saw Casey teammates Tim “Bull’’ Smith, Oscar McInerney, Declan Keilty, Jay Lockhart and Bayley Fritsch go to the next level, with all but McInerney being drafted by Melbourne, strengthening the alignment.

Hutchins leaves the Demons with much respect and quite a few honours.

He won the 2016 best and fairest, captained the club from 2016-18, was in a VFL team of the year, represented Victoria and played 101 VFL games.

Hutchins also played in two grand finals for the club, both lost when they could have been won.

But he did win something that doesn’t show up on honour boards: the respect of his teammates and his opponents.

Jack Hutchins and Box Hill’s Andrew Moore at a VFL grand final press call in 2018.

He also departs Casey with the pleasant memory of watching Melbourne win this year’s AFL grand final. Hutchins ran out with most of the Demon premiership players; in fact, he thinks Luke Jackson, Ed Langdon and Kozzy Pickett are the only Melbourne players who have not pulled on the Casey jumper.

“To be able to play with those guys and help create that sort of culture that brings about the similar things at Melbourne, that’s something to be proud of,’’ he said.

Jack Hutchins playing in the VFL for Gold Coast in 2010.

As for the future, Hutchins is returning to Mansfield, where he played junior football and squeezed in three games in 2018 as he recovered from a wrist injury.

He still has family in the town.

“Haven’t signed yet but I’ve agreed to go back there; once lockdown is over I’ll head back and finalise it,’’ Hutchins said.

“The next box to tick is to go back to your home club and play some footy. It’s going to be pretty exciting. After speaking to Chaddy Owens, the coach, I know they’ve got some up-and-coming junior talent.

“I’m looking forward to coming fresh out of the VFL system and trying to impart a bit of knowledge.’’

After Hutchins made his 100th senior appearance this year, another former Casey captain, Evan Panozza, tipped praise on the right footer.

Hutchins, he said, was a proud competitor and experienced leader who set a great example for his teammates.

“I think the best thing about him is his character and his nature and his personality,’’ Panozza said.

“That’s a big part of footy clubs, having great people around, and he’s had a really big influence on the players and the club.’’