Several big names among players considering retirement at end of 2017 season

SOME big names have already announced their retirements with Steve Johnson the latest to join them. See every club’s retirees and possible retirees here.

Bob Murphy, Nick Riewoldt, Steve Johnson are all nearing the end of their careers.

WHEN the AFL grand final motorcade rolls around the MCG, the applause for this year’s retirees is likely to be something special.

Luke Hodge, Nick Riewoldt and Sam Mitchell depart the game as sure-fire Hall of Famers whose consistent brilliance has been matched by few.

Former Essendon skipper Jobe Watson, Adelaide bull Scott Thompson, Geelong premiership player Stevie J and West Coast stalwart Matt Priddis will retire as decorated champions beloved by their club’s supporters.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHO MIGHT HANG UP THE BOOTS AT YOUR CLUB

And Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Boyd will hang up his boots with the rare satisfaction of having won a premiership in the twilight of his career. St Kilda legend Riewoldt is one of a handful of players remaining from the 2000 draft, while both Hodge and Mitchell - who spearheaded Hawthorn’s modern premiership dynasty - emerged from the 2001 ‘super-draft’.

See the full list of AFL retirements below.

ADELAIDE

Scott Thompson announced on Tuesday this will be his last season but the 34-year-old former Demon says he has unfinished business before then. Hard to believe Eddie Betts is 30 but he is contracted until the end of 2020 so there are plenty more magic moments to come. Richard Douglas (30) is contracted until the end of next year.

Scott Thompson has announced his retirement.

BRISBANE LIONS

Stefan Martin is Brisbane’s oldest player at age 30 and has a few years left in him.

CARLTON

Kade Simpson is 33 but has had another good season and his manager is talking to the Blues about a new deal. Dennis Armfield (30) is staring at the end but Dale Thomas (30) is set to win what looked earlier this year like an unlikely contract extension. Defender Sam Rowe (29) is also working on a new deal.

COLLINGWOOD

Daniel Wells is 32 but arrived from North Melbourne on a long-term contract. Tyson Goldsack (30) is playing well enough to go on.

ESSENDON

Jobe Watson announced his retirement on Wednesday. He will play out the rest of the season but 2017 will be his final year. James Kelly remains the big unknown at age 33. He is still playing great footy but will make a call on 2018 at the end of the year. Brent Stanton and Heath Hocking are expected to hang up the boots.

James Kelly could play a third season at Essendon after being retired by Geelong. Picture: Michael Klein

FREMANTLE

The Dockers’ oldest player Aaron Sandilands signed a one-year deal to go around again next year just before he went down with a season-ending hamstring injury. Michael Johnson (32) is coming out of contract but is likely to play on along with David Mundy (31), but Jon Griffin’s days appear numbered with the development of young ruckman Sean Darcy. Zac Dawson (31) has done well to last this long.

GEELONG

The Cats’ two elder statesmen Tom Lonergan (33) and Andrew Mackie (32) are still part of the best 22, but given the club’s policy with its veterans in recent years, they might be carried off after Geelong’s last final. Harry Taylor is 31 but has another year to run on a five-year contract.

Tom Lonergan played his 200th game in Round 16.

GOLD COAST

Gary Ablett will play next year at age 33, the only question is where. Of the other older Suns, Michael Rischitelli (31) and Matt Rosa (30) will go around again, while Michael Barlow (29) will be back from a broken leg for the start of next pre-season to fulfil the second season of his two-year deal.

GWS GIANTS

Steve Johnson announced his retirement just ahead of Round 21. He will go down as one of the game’s greats, playing in three premierships with Geelong. He is also a three time All-Australian and a North Smith Medal winner. At the time of his retirement he had played 289 games and is pushing for a flag with the Giants. Heath Shaw (31) will go on. Joel Patfull is still on the list but only as a technicality — he retired in October last year.

Steve Johnson will want to go out with a bang in what will be his last season.

Luke Hodge is enjoying his last season. Picture: Michael Klein

HAWTHORN

Luke Hodge is on his farewell tour and is likely to be joined by Josh Gibson, even though the 33-year-old defender has left open the possibility of playing on. Shaun Burgoyne — the AFL’s oldest player and current games record-holder (on 336, three more than Riewoldt) — is keen to play on, and will.

MELBOURNE

Bernie Vince (32) said recently he’s happy to play VFL to prolong his career. Jordan Lewis (31) has two more years left on his deal but Cam Pedersen’s one-year contract runs out at the end of the season. The 30-year-old Mr Fix-it will surely earn another year.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Jarrad Waite, at 34 one of the last survivors of the 2001 super draft, wants to play on. So does defender Scott Thompson and midfielder Sam Gibson (both 31) and we don’t expect another end-of-season clean-out at Arden St. Former skipper Andrew Swallow has another year to go on his contract, as does Lindsay Thomas although the 29-year-old’s place in the team has come under question this year. Lachie Hansen is a free agent at age 28 and his future is uncertain.

Jarrad Waite is playing well enough to keep going. Picture: George Salpigtidis

RICHMOND

Ivan Maric, clearly the Tigers’ oldest player, has announced he will retire at the end of the season. The second-oldest player on the Tigers’ list, Shaun Hampson, is contracted until the end of next year.

ST KILDA

Nick Riewoldt has announced he will be retiring at the end of the year. All eyes now turn to Leigh Montagna. Montagna season’s appears to be over with a hamstring injury. The club is yet to offer him a new deal for 2017. Sean Dempster pulled the plug in April.

The future of St Kilda champs Leigh Montagna and Nick Riewoldt remains up in the air.

SYDNEY

Jarrad McVeigh (32) wants to play on but is in the final year of a four-year contract and doesn’t have an offer for next year. He still needs nine games to reach 300 so is cutting it fine. Kieren Jack has just turned 30 and is contracted until the end of 2019. A form slump at the start of this year raised questions about his playing future but after taking a break to recover from a hip injury he has played a key role in the amazing Swans resurgence. No question marks about him now. Jeremy Laidler has a year to run on his contract but is now well down the defensive pecking order.

Jarrad McVeigh has delivered as pick five at the 2002 draft.

WEST COAST

Sam Mitchell will retire at the end of the season and transition into coaching with West Coast. Drew Petrie was a surprise rookie pick but could eke out another year at age 34 based on recent form. Matt Priddis will finish at the end of 2017. Mark LeCras (30) is out of contract at the end of the year.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Bob Murphy is 35 and set to retire without fulfilling his premiership fairytale unless the Dogs can stage an even more miraculous September run this year. Matthew Boyd, 34, has announced season 2017 will be his last after an incredible career that started on the rookie list. Dale Morris (34) is keen to play on and will get the green light from the club despite suffering a badly broken arm last weekend. Liam Picken and Travis Cloke (both 30) both have deals for next year.