Exodus of veterans begins as elder statesmen call time on AFL careers

August is a month of reckoning in the AFL for both teams in finals contention and also for decorated champions giving their all to beat Father Time one last time.

Former Carlton captain Marc Murphy will become the sixth Blue to reach 300 games when he plays the final game of his career against Port Adelaide this weekend Picture: Michael Klein

August is a month of reckoning in the AFL for both teams in finals contention and also for decorated champions giving their all to beat Father Time one last time.

While the race for the lower rungs of the eight is alive after a series of upsets on the weekend, the end is nigh for at least three outstanding players of the past decade.

Former Carlton captain Marc Murphy will play his 300th and final game for the Blues against Port Adelaide this weekend at Adelaide Oval.

A final outing is an opportunity that will not be afforded injured Port Adelaide midfielder Tom Rockliff, with the former Brisbane captain also announcing his retirement on Tuesday.

Nor will Fremantle fans have the chance to see lively left-footer Stephen Hill dash down the wing to deliver a well-weighted pass again after injury also forced his retirement.

Although premiership success eluded the trio, all three were highly-distinguished players and prized performers for their respective clubs who featured among the competition’s best at the peak of their careers.

The loyalty of Murphy, who will become the sixth Blue to play 300 games, is among the characteristics that endeared him to Carlton fans during a career that began in 2006.

He joins Carlton greats John Nicholls, Bruce Doull, Craig Bradley, Stephen Silvagni and former teammate Kade Simpson in reaching the milestone, having knocked back opportunities to join more successful clubs.

The top pick in his draft year, Murphy is an All Australian who also claimed the AFL Coaches Award and two best-and-fairests at Carlton, a club he captained for six years.

“It’s been an up-and-down 16 years,” he said.

“Obviously I would have loved to have won a premiership and had some success at this football club, where I would have loved to have hung my hat on a flag.”

Rockliff has endured a torrid finale to his career, having spent much of this season sidelined with deep vein thrombosis after undergoing surgery on both knees.

The 31-year-old, who also earned All Australian status while at Brisbane, was advised by specialists that the risks associated with trying to play on were too high given he still has a blood clot.

“They can’t guarantee it’ll go away and if you get hit where that clot is, it can transport up to your lungs, so the risk factor was too high and it’s not really worth risking your life over,” he said.

“It is the best thing, in the end, for me to call time on my career. The people I have spoken to have celebrated with me but there have been a few tears shed. It’s been emotional but (it is) also the right thing to do.”

Hill, who played 218 games, was a creative player who was blessed with speed, agility and a beautiful left foot kick.

But injury restricted his brilliance in the latter stages of a 13-year career.

“In the last couple years, my body hasn’t held up and it’s been difficult physically and mentally, it’s been a challenge,” Hill said.

“I’m just so grateful to have been able to play for 13 years with 200-plus games. I’m super proud and extremely grateful.”