Luke Darcy
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WESTERN BULLDOGS ruckman Luke Darcy announced on
today that he will retire from AFL football at the end of the 2007
season.
The 32-year-old revealed his plans sitting alongside senior
coach Rodney Eade at a media conference at Whitten Oval.
“My main focus is on tomorrow night. I’m as focussed and
committed to the next few weeks as I possibly can be,” Darcy said.
“But I’m excited about my future and particularly playing St
Kilda.”
Darcy has played 221 career games and has booted 178 goals in a
14-season career. He has won a best and fairest award, achieved All-Australian
honours and the coveted Western Bulldogs captaincy. In 2002, he was joint winner, with Michael Voss, of the AFL Players Association MVP award.
His dazzling career, spotlighted by high-leaping marks and
dominance in the midfield, has also had its dark moments.
Two knee reconstructions denied Darcy greater glory and was
a major reason for his decision to call it quits.
“It’s a combination of both [mental and physical wear and tear]. I’ve been thinking about [retirement] for
a couple of weeks. There’s no doubt it’s been hard and the struggle [after having] two
years out of the game. There’s been a bit of frustration.
“The decision was easy and I’m pretty happy with it.”
The 196cm, 98kg bigman, however, has managed to play every
game this season after sitting out the entire 2006 season with a knee injury.
Darcy was recruited to the Bulldogs under the father-son
rule in the 1992 AFL national draft and made his senior debut in 1994.
"I just want to thank the football club. It’s almost been
half my life that I’ve walked into these rooms. It’s been an incredible place
for me," Darcy said.
"It’s been emotional today … but I’m excited about the next
phase of my life. I’m looking forward to it."
His father, David, was an honest defender who played 133
senior games and represented Victoria before
shifting to Adelaide,
where Luke was born.
Darcy's introduction to senior footy could not have been better choreographed
with the spindly teenager learning the ruck craft from Brownlow Medallist Scott
Wynd.
He took up the mantle as the club’s No.1 ruckman in 2001,
his flamboyance and athleticism a good counter-balance toWynd’s toil and tap
work.
Darcy was appointed captain in 2005, but six rounds into
the home and away season he injured his knee against Geelong.
He underwent a knee reconstruction and missed the remainder
of the season.
He received an even more bitter blow when on the comeback trail
he ruptured his knee ligaments during the Bulldogs’ pre-season training in
December.
Today, he paid tribute the club's support during his rehabilitation, in particular CEO Campbell Rose.
“In the frustrations I’ve had over the last couple of years,
[Rose] had great relationship. The support the club has given me through that
has been enormous.
“It’s nice to do things in your own terms and I walk away
with some great memories."
Player
honours: Best and fairest winner - 2001; Second in best and fairest
- 2002, 2004; All-Australian - 2002; AFLPA MVP - 2002 (joint winner); International Rules Series - 2001, 2002; club's leading
goalkicker - 2004 (equal); AFL Rising Star nominee - 1996; captain - 2005 (was
appointed captain in 2006 but was injured).
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