Luke Hodge, Nick Riewoldt, Sam Mitchell, Stevie J and Jobe Watson headline names to retire in 2017

THE list of this year’s retiring AFL greats is a ‘who’s who’ of footy over the past decade. In fact it’s looking so good, we decided to pick our best 22. SEE THE TEAM

Jobe Watson will farewell the game this year. Picture: AAP

DRIVERS in this year’s motorcade of retiring AFL players on grand final day might want to bring their autograph books.

This year’s list of retiring stars combine for more than 3000 AFL matches, 2000 career goals, 17 premierships medals — as well as three Norm Smiths and a couple of Brownlows.

Never before, it seems, has the game seen so much talent hang up the boots in one season.

We’ve even got a 350-plus game coach — Rodney Eade — to oversee the team.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to try to pick a team from the ‘Retiring Class of 2017’. It wasn’t an easy task.

Yes, we’re aware a few stars are yet to formally announce they’re giving it away at the end of the year. We’ve put an asterisk beside their name.

While Bob Murphy is unlikely to win a flag, he is as close to a Premiership player as anyone

Magical Bob Murphy moments

Bob Murphy says there’s a feeling of emptiness after announcing his retirement

Bob Murphy is the latest name to announce his retirement

Will ‘Joey’ Montagna join Nick Riewoldt in retirement? Does Mark LeCras feel he’s on his last legs?

And could Gary Ablett hang them up if he can’t get a trade back to Geelong? We suspect we’ll find a place in the team for him should he do so. Ditto, uncontracted Swans champ Jarrad McVeigh.

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There’s always an element of guesswork, and we hope those yet to declare their playing intentions do go on.

We’ll know a lot more in coming weeks but for now, here’s our stab at the best of this year’s retirements.

2017 RETIREES: A CHAMPION TEAM

AFL best retirement team 2017