Western Bulldogs premiership captain Easton Wood’s savage response to retirement slur

Retiring Western Bulldogs premiership captain Easton Wood has shut down a fan’s accusation in the most brutal way possible.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Easton Wood of the Bulldogs celebrates with the Premiership Cup after the 2016 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 01, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Western Bulldogs premiership captain Easton Wood has brutally shut down rumours he retired from the AFL due to the league’s Covid-19 vaccination policy.

The 32-year-old, who led the Bulldogs to their first flag in 62 years in 2016, announced on Friday he was retiring despite having one year left on his contract.

The 188-game veteran is just 32-years-old but decided to call it quits after 14 years in senior AFL, after he was the 43rd pick of the 2007 Draft.

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“After much thought I’ve decided to retire from the game I love so much, at a club which has been my home for 14 years,” Wood said.

“Whilst it’s been difficult to confront, the reality is I’ve athletically declined. I wanted to finish up on my own terms and I felt that if I declined further next year, I wouldn’t have that opportunity. I’m proud to go out as a member of the team and being part of an amazing run to get to the Grand Final.

“Having dealt with numerous injury setbacks over the last few years, in particular my troublesome hamstrings, I felt like the time was right to step away. I’m at peace with the decision, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my life.

“As I reflect on my career, I’m incredibly proud of my contribution to this special football club. To every person who has had an influence on my career, on or off the field, thank you for making me a better player and person.”

Premiership winning skipper Easton Wood has hung up the boots. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

But Wood was forced to deny he had hung up the boots due to the AFL’s strict Covid-19 vaccination guidelines.

The AFL announced its “no jab, no play” policy on Thursday, whereby every player will have to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by February 18, 2022 as part of a policy released by the league on Thursday.

Unvaccinated players won’t be able to attend club or AFL premises, including to train or play, unless they have a league-approved medical exemption.

The league announced the policy alongside the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) as part of a three-stage schedule to link in players from all states before pre-season matches begin.

An AFL fan accused Wood of having ulterior motives for calling time on his career.

“AFL announced the vax mandate yesterday and in under 24hrs there’s been one AFLW player take the season off for unknown reasons and now an AFL player has called time,” the person wrote on Twitter.

“Coincidence? Let’s see if anymore announcement’s of players taking leave start showing up.”

Wood savagely shut down the allegation, simply replying: “I’m double vaxxed champion”.

Wood delivered the perfect champing to a person doubting his reasons for retiring. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

His retort has received more than two thousand likes on Twitter and was endorsed by former teammate and Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy, who added: “Zing”.

I’m double vaxxed champion

— Easton Wood (@easton_wood) October 22, 2021

The tributes have continued to flow in for Wood, who won the Charles Sutton Medal in 2015 as the Bulldogs’ best and fairest and was awarded All Australian honours in the same season.

Comedian Wil Anderson, who is a diehard Bulldogs supporter, took to social media to reminisce about the time he clumsily spilt some beverages on Wood at the after-party of the 2016 Grand Final.

“Premiership captain, legend of a bloke and was very nice about the fact that I smashed two glasses of champagne down his back when I hugged him at the post game function in 2016,” Anderson tweeted.

Wood laughed off the incident, replying: “To be fair, not even two glasses of champagne were going to rain on my parade that night!”.

To be fair, not even two glasses of champagne were going to rain on my parade that night! 😂

— Easton Wood (@easton_wood) October 22, 2021