West Coast Eagles captain Darren Glass has announced his retirement, effective immediately.
The decision has been driven by a recent battle with injury, which has left the star full-back with little choice but to hang up the boots.
“I’m struggling to string a couple of games together,” said Glass, referring to a hip and ankle complaint.
“I’m not confident of playing any decent footy in the back end of the year.
“In hindsight, I played on a year too long.”
Glass arrived at West Coast after being selected with pick 11 in the 1999 draft. During his tenure he experienced most of the highs an AFL footballer could hope for.
Throughout 268 appearances as an Eagle, Glass was a premiership player in 2006, a three-time club best and fairest and four-time All-Australian.
Following the departure of Chris Judd in 2007, Glass took on the captaincy, a role in which he excelled.
He walks away as one of the greatest servants the club has ever seen, but leaves his team at a difficult time.
2014 has been a turbulent year for the Eagles, after 11 matches they have managed just the four wins, and currently sit three games outside the top eight.
They host the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday afternoon, a key game for the club.
Glass has chosen to deny himself a farewell match.
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