Adam Goodes announces retirement from the AFL

Swans champion and dual Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes has announced his retirement from the AFL after 18 years in the game.

The 35-year-old informed his Sydney Swans teammates of the announcement just prior to the team’s 26-point semi-final loss to North Melbourne last night.

The defeat ended the Swans’ season and sent the Kangaroos into another preliminary final.

Goodes was seen arm-in-arm with close friend and former teammate Michael O’Loughlin in the rooms after the announcement, however he has not addressed the media as yet, nor did he make any obvious farewell gestures during the game at the Swans’ home ground, Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

It is unclear whether the habitual crowd booing that has marred Goodes this season has influenced his decision to retire.

The Indigenous player took a week off in early August, and said he felt the persistent heckling was racially motivated, dividing opinion among sports commentators, coaches, players and fans across the country.

However, the AFL officially condemned the booing of Goodes and said fans of the game, no matter their creed, should respect his position and just cheer for their own team.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said “enough is enough” in late July after Swans player Lewis Jetta was booed when he pretended to throw a spear at a small section of the crowd during a clash with the West Coast Eagles at Perth’s Domain Stadium.

Jetta had just scored in the final quarter of the Swans’ 52-point loss to the Eagles, and was criticised for the war-dance celebration by former Eagles player Glen Jakovich.

However, Mr McLachlan said Jetta had simply been supporting the chronically-booed Goodes, who was reportedly heckled every time he touched the ball.

“I don’t believe this is about inciting the crowd, it was about a statement to support Adam, who’s been habitually booed for many weeks now,” Mr McLachlan told Melbourne radio station 3AW at the time.

There had been speculation regarding whether Goodes would retire this year after the booing controversy.

Last night, Swans defender Rhyce Shaw said the departure was a blow to the club.

“It’s a bit of a shock, he’s a champion of this footy club. He’s a champion of the AFL, and one of the greatest people I’ve ever met.”

Shaw had previously announced his own retirement at the conclusion of the Swans’ 2015 season.

He said it was “time” for Goodes to leave the game.

"He spoke about how it's been such a long journey for him, 18 years, coming up here and just giving it everything he's got. And 372 games later, he's had enough, and he's contributed so much to the footy club and to the AFL.

"He can go out whichever way he pleases."

Goodes, who was born in Wallaroo, South Australia, will finish his professional career as Sydney’s all-time games leader, having donned the Swans' red and white jersey for 372 games – also making him eight on the competition’s all-time list.

Tributes began flooding social media last night as news of the announcement spread.

”Adam Goodes has retired. Well done to a true champion of the game,” the official AFL Twitter account posted.