Mick Malthouse decides which ageing AFL stars should retire and continue playing

Which players should go around again, and who has nothing left in the tank? Mick Malthouse makes the tough calls on your club’s veterans.

It’s true that time is a thief. It’s also inevitable that it catches up with everyone.

The body and mind can only give so much, but it doesn’t make the decision to retire any easier. Very few players want to let go.

As I say every year, there must be something left in the cup. You want good value from your long-term veterans. You want them to retire with their heads high, dignity intact, and good games under their belt. It is important that they are still having an impact on the team, if not, then they are keeping younger players from doing so.

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Shaun Burgoyne keeps on keeping on. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

As a coach you feel an obligation not to drain everything from a player, while also wanting him to have his moment of glory in announcing his own retirement. But fairytale endings are rare in football so sometimes hard decisions must be made.

Age is not the barometer for retirement.

We’ve just seen Shaun Burgoyne achieve a remarkable 400-game milestone at almost 39 years of age. He is such a rarity for longevity in football.

He has been a major impact player and is still worthy of being in the current Hawthorn side. But as the Hawks face a rebuild, would he still belong in the team next year? It would be a wonderful send-off for a true champion if he could be carried off the ground, hopefully in front of a crowd, in Hawthorn’s final game this season.

Geelong has the oldest side in the competition, so what it needs to avoid is mass retirement. With Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins already re-signing the Cats will need to establish a controlled retirement phase.

Geelong rarely makes a mistake with draftees or in its acquisition of players from other clubs, but Josh Jenkins is one player who has not added much value to the team.

Unfortunately, nor has Shaun Higgins. Taken in the same year as Jeremy Cameron and Isaac Smith who have both excelled (Smith and Aliir Aliir to Port Adelaide are my top trades of 2021) Higgins has lost his touch and smoothness and ability to find targets like he did at North Melbourne.

He is perhaps, as we speak, not in Geelong’s best side though he gets picked each week. There may well be a contract that keeps him at the club, but the reality is, with so many ageing players the Cats will be hunting for the next best young player to serve their purpose.

My favourite to win the flag, most of its ageing players have stood up and been wonderful contributors for a powerful Geelong side that will continue to do well if it can keep its list fresh.

Last year I suggested Jack Riewoldt consider retirement, and I’m happy to admit I got it wrong. He’s looked lighter this year, allowing him to move better and leap for the football again to become Richmond’s leading goal kicker. It’s not because of Jack that the Tigers find themselves in strife.

Mick Malthouse concedes he got it wrong suggesting Jack Riewoldt should retire. Picture: Michael Klein

But there has to be a change of the guard at Richmond at some stage. The way it plays, this side does wear itself out.

As good as Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli are, they are each getting injured too often now. Even Trent Cotchin has been out of form and has slowed down. I’m not suggesting he should retire, but he’s not the player he has been.

Taking a close look at the Pies and their position on the ladder, it may be time to move Chris Mayne and Mason Cox on.

Scott Pendlebury is 15-20 per cent off the player he once was. Not as clean with the football, not as productive, and not getting to as many contests as he used to, it’s all danger signs for him. But I’m not suggesting he retire because the Collingwood captain is still of value to the team, particularly through his leadership.

Danger signs also for Steele Sidebottom. Disposals down, poor ball use, and exiled to the forward line away from the midfield where he is usually so damaging. But last week because of injury he was back in the midfield and played his best game of the season, reminding everyone what he is still capable of.

At Melbourne, Nathan Jones is no longer in the Demons’ best team. He’s played just eight games this season. If you’re not in the best team, then your time has come. In a wonderful career he has been an inspiration for his teammates for so long, so he deserves a quality send off.

Nathan Jones is no longer in Melbourne’s best side. Picture: Michael Klein

Jones is the type of person you’d like to keep at the club for his great support of his teammates.

Another player who everyone loves, one of the league’s fiercest competitors, is Shane Mumford. At 35 he is clearly in the Giants’ best team, in fact they can barely win without him. But if GWS could come up with another ruckman (besides Braydon Preuss who has struggled with injuries) Mumford may decide to hang up the boots, again, with something left in the cup.

Two Bulldogs players who will add value to the club’s finals campaign are Stefan Martin and Easton Wood. If they can win the premiership however, these two would be best served taking the medal and moving into another life.

Martin at his third club, has been of value at every club. The Dogs need him this year, but beyond that only the club will know. Wood has been plagued by hamstring injuries, but if he can finish off this year it will be a bonus to him and the Dogs.

With Essendon on the cusp of finals, Cale Hooker has probably run his race. He’s a monster of a man who gives 100 per cent of himself and he has been a wonderful servant of the football club.

Malthouse says Cale Hooker should retire at year’s end. Picture: Michael Klein

As a West Australian lad he may go back and spend some time in the WAFL where he would be good value. But his time at elite level is starting to diminish so he should possibly contemplate going out on top. Whether that happens with a final is up to Essendon.

Brisbane has done it well, first with Luke Hodge and now with Grant Birchall. But at 33 Birchall is starting to lack the penetration and speed that he had. Chris Fagan would argue the case that he is in their best team, and Fagan may well be right, for now. But the Lions would be well advised to hunt down another Hodge or Birchall for next year, or throw their lot into a young player, and thank Birchall for his wonderful contribution to the club.

Carlton needs to be realistic about Eddie Betts and Marc Murphy. With their best behind them neither player will feature in future finals campaigns, so now seems the right time to call it time.

There could be multiple retirements at St Kilda. James Frawley as an experiment has failed. So too Dan Hannebery. Jake Carlisle can’t seem to get himself right. And Jarryn Geary, who has been so wonderful as captain and player, needs to ask if he can go through another injury?

Paddy Ryder has been exceptional for the Saints.

Has Robbie Gray got more in the tank? Picture: Michael Klein

For Port Adelaide, Robbie Gray is very, very good. Currently injured, he’s played 13 games this year, averaging a goal a game. Port seems to think they need him in the team to win games, but after an extraordinary career his cup is almost empty.

His ability to defend the ball and still win a lot of the footy, needs to be given to players like Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma.

Travis Boak, 33, has probably had one of his best seasons so he could play on.

Sydney’s oldest players, Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy, on current form have every reason to go around again.

So too West Coast veterans, Shannon Hurn and Josh Kennedy. But does Kennedy want to continue? As a key forward who is battered physically and mentally every week, coupled with travel that also takes its toll, he may consider retirement.

We as fans should stand as one and applaud the courage and greatness of all these players. But there is a new group coming through. That’s the carousel of footy unfortunately. Jump on and jump off, but remember to enjoy the ride.