Territory star Steven Motlop retires from AFL effective immediately

Mercurial Port Adelaide forward and Territorian Steven Motlop has retired effective immediately after 217 games with the Power and the Cats.

Fremantle champion David Mundy. Picture: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

Mercurial Port Adelaide forward Steven Motlop has retired effective immediately after 217 games with the Power and the Cats.

The 31-year-old told his teammates at Alberton on Tuesday morning of his decision to leave the game.

Motlop joined the Power as a free agent at the end of 2017 with his major highlight kicking the winning goal against arch rivals Adelaide in a Showdown in 2020.

The goal sneak was drafted at pick 39 in the 2008 draft by Geelong and played 135 games with the Cats.

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Port Adelaide’s Steven Motlop has retired. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

“It was always a childhood dream to play in the AFL and I’ll always be grateful to Geelong and to Port Adelaide for giving me the opportunity to achieve that dream,” Motlop said.

“As a kid you just want to play in finals. I played in five preliminary finals and while it would have been nice to have won one, playing in those big games alongside my teammates is something I’ll always look back on fondly.”

Kennedy calls time out west

West Coast champion Josh Kennedy has announced his retirement from the game after 17 seasons with the Eagles and the Blues.

His final game will be this weekend’s home game against Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Kennedy first came to prominence as a key part of the highly-publicised trade which saw Brownlow medallist Chris Judd traded to Carlton in 2007 with a young Kennedy part of the package sent to West Coast in exchange for Judd.

Eagles star Josh Kennedy with mid-season draftee Jai Culley. Picture: Dan Carson/AFL Photos

The key forward has gone on to play 292 games kicking 715 goals in a decorated career which has included a CV featuring two-time Coleman medals, three All Australian jackets, seven Eagles leading goalkicker awards and 2018 premiership medallion.

The 34-year-old has battled a knee injury at times this year but has still managed to kick 29 goals in 14 games in an under performing Eagles side.

Dockers champ says 2022 will be final season

- Rebecca Williams

Fremantle champion David Mundy has announced this season will be his last after a career spanning an incredible 19 years in the AFL.

The veteran Docker, 37, announced to his teammates on Monday morning that he would retire at the end of the 2022 season.

Mundy made his debut in round 6, 2005 and has played 371 matches to date to hold the Fremantle club games record ahead of champion forward Matthew Pavlich on 353.

The midfield stalwart is ranked 10th for all-time games played in AFL-VFL history and is set to climb to outright ninth ahead of Sydney great Adam Goodes (372 matches) by the end of the home-and-away season.

Mundy said he was proud of what he had been able to achieve in his career and was eager to finish on a high with the sixth-placed Dockers this year.

“I’m incredibly proud, I’ve been living my dream for 19 years now and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Mundy said.

“Not all of it has been easy, there’s been quite a few really hard and emotional bits to it, but I’ve been able to grow as a person and as a player throughout my time at Fremantle and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

David Mundy’s 19th AFL season will be his last. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“I’m really proud of the person I’ve been able to develop into, the family I’ve been able to create, and my role within the football club.

“I feel I’ve grown from a skinny full-back who didn’t want to talk to anyone, to being part of a leadership group for a number of years now.

“I’m proud of that growth and that journey and I’m looking forward to get the most out of this season and explore what’s next.”

Mundy was drafted as a second-round selection at No. 19 overall in the 2003 national draft.

He was an All-Australian in 2015, a club best-and-fairest in 2010 – and a runner-up four times – and is a former captain of the club.

Fremantle will honour Mundy’s career at the round 22 derby against the West Coast Eagles at the club’s final game of the home-and-away season.

EVERY RETIREMENT AND DELISTING

Adelaide

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Brisbane Lions

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Carlton

Tom Williamson – decided to step away from footy after one game this year – as an unused substitute against Richmond in round one – took his career tally to 44.

Collingwood

Jordan Roughead – Bulldogs premiership player announced his retirement after battling shoulder issues this year. Played 201 games at the Dogs and Pies.

Essendon

Anthony McDonald-Tipingwuti – electric small forward and fan favourite announced his retirement in May after 126 games and 153 goals.

Fremantle

David Mundy – Dockers champion has announced his 19th season at the top level will be his last. Will finish his career in the top 10 for all-time AFL-VFL games played.

Geelong

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Gold Coast

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GWS Giants

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Hawthorn

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Melbourne

Majak Daw – former Kangaroo announced his retirement in June, citing ongoing injury problems. Daw became the first Sudanese-Australian player to be drafted to the AFL when North Melbourne selected him in the 2009 NAB rookie draft. He made his debut for the Kangaroos in 2013, playing 54 games and kicking 43 goals.

North Melbourne

Tom Lynch – Mobile forward played 164 games with St Kilda and Adelaide before signing on with North Melbourne via the supplementary selection period. Retired to open up a list spot without playing a game for the Roos.

Port Adelaide

Steven Motlop – Mercurial goalkicker called time after 217 games with Port Adelaide and Geelong.

Richmond

Josh Caddy – Became the first premiership hero to hang up the boots in May. Caddy played 174 games for Gold Coast, Geelong and Richmond including the 2017 and 2019 premierships.

Kane Lambert – A chronic hip issue forced the triple premiership player into retirement. Played 135 matches including three flags after being recruited with pick 46 in the 2015 rookie draft.

Matthew Parker – Returned to Western Australia for family reasons after 11 games at the Tigers and 19 for St Kilda.

St Kilda

Jarryn Geary – fearless former captain called time after 207 games across 16 seasons in the red, white and black.

Sydney

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West Coast

Josh Kennedy – Retires as one of the game’s great goalkickers with more than 700 majors in two seasons at Carlton and 15 at the Eagles after being part of the Chris Judd trade.

Western Bulldogs

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Originally published as Territory star Steven Motlop retires from AFL effective immediately