AFL retirements: the champions hanging up the boots for 2017
Dennis Armfield - Carlton Blues
Taken as 46th overall pick in the 2007 draft by Carlton, Armfield has been a versatile presence for the Blues over the past decade, playing defence, in the midfield, and up front.
A dedicated team man, Armfield was elevated to the leadership group at the start of this season, and will retire as a life member of the club.
Matthew Boyd - Western Bulldogs
After debuting all the way back in 2003, and having spent two seasons as club captain, Boyd has accrued an impressive array of awards during his 15 seasons at the Western Bulldogs.
The 34-year-old was three-time All Australian, three-time club best and fairest, and of course was part of the drought-breaking 2016 premiership team.
Boyd’s 2017 has been plagued by injury, but he aims to add to his 291 games before time is called on his final season.
Sean Dempster - St Kilda Saints
Drafted by Sydney in 2002 under the father-son rule, Dempster played three seasons of top-flight footy at the Swans before moving to St Kilda in 2008, where he played 158 games and was All Australian in 2012.
The last of the Sydney Swans’ 2005 premiership side to retire, Dempster’s hand was somewhat forced in April this year, when concussion concerns saw him decide enough was enough and he retired, effective immediately.
Josh Gibson - Hawthorn Hawks
The rejuvenation of the Hawthorn list will begin continue this off-season, with Gibson among a host of Hawks greats set to call it a day.
Gibson’s career began with North Melbourne, debuting for the Kangaroos in 2006, before making the move to Waverley Park for the start of the 2010 season.
A member of Hawthorn’s three-peat side, claiming flags in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Gibson also won the club’s best and fairest award in 2013 and 2015, while also being named All Australian in 2015.
Luke Hodge - Hawthorn Hawks
The number one pick in the ‘superdraft’ class of 2001 – which featured the likes of Chris Judd, Sam Mitchell and Gary Ablett – Hodge will go down in history as one of his club, and indeed the game’s, all-time greats.
Four premierships – including three as captain – two Norm Smith medals, and three All Australian team selections barely begins to scratch the surface of what this man has achieved in his 16 years of AFL.
Steve Johnson - GWS Giants
Another alumnus of the 2001 class, Stevie J was the number 24 pick and headed to Geelong, where he became a superstar, winning three premierships and a Norm Smith medal, as well as kicking 452 majors.
After being axed by the Cats at the end of the 2015 season, Johnson was picked up by the league’s newest club, and while his 2017 has been interrupted by injury, he has designs on winning a fourth and final flag, this one with Greater Western Sydney.
James Kelly – Essendon Bombers
Yet another 2001 draftee, while he says the Bombers “reignited my passion for the game”, having moved to Essendon for the 2016 season as a top-up player, James Kelly will be best remembered for his 14 seasons at Geelong.
Debuting for the Cats in 2002, Kelly was a member of the club’s three premiership sides, in 2007, 2009 and 2011, and was All Australian in 2011 as well.
This is Kelly’s second retirement – he actually hung up the boots after leaving the Cattery in 2015, having played 273 games for the club, before receiving a lifeline with the Dons. Perhaps fittingly, he played game number 300 against his old club, earlier this season.
Ivan Maric – Richmond Tigers
Pick 40 of the 2004 AFL draft, going to Adelaide, Maric made his Crows debut in 2006, going on to play 77 games for the club.
Finding himself stuck behind Sam Jacobs, the 198-centimetre giant made the move to Richmond for the 2012 season, a move which saw him nominated for All Australian honours that year, and named club vice-captain for 2015-16.
Sam Mitchell - West Coast Eagles
While Mitchell will finish his career in Perth, his name is indelibly linked with the club where he played 307 games over 15 seasons, Hawthorn.
Mitchell showed his promise early, winning the Rising Star award in 2003, before claiming the first of his five club best and fairest awards in 2005.
Obviously however, he’ll be best remembered for being one of the Hawks’ four-time premiership winners, as well as claiming the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
Matt Priddis - West Coast Eagles
For many, Priddis was a surprise winner of the 2014 Brownlow Medal, but fans and teammates wouldn’t have batted an eyelid.
Never the flashiest player, Priddis became synonymous with words like 'honesty' and 'guts'. As a result he averaged 26 disposals per game, while in 2017 he took the game’s all-time record for most tackles, simultaneously becoming the first player to break the 1500-mark for career tackles.
