AFL retirees 2017: how big a hole do they leave?
Sep 1, 2017It is a neat way to group footballers and highlight special hauls. The 2001 "super draft" comes to mind. So too does Hawthorn's recruiting of Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin and Jordan Lewis inside a handful of picks in 2004. Carlton will hope Jacob Weitering, Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow – all taken early in the 2015 draft – can be pillars of a sustained period of contention.But in the last week there was another reminder of how players can be grouped. Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge both came to Hawthorn in the same draft, but following Mitchell's confirmation this will be his final season in the AFL, the pair's departures will also be aligned. Mitchell's retirement came in the same week as St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt, and just days after West Coast teammate and fellow Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis also announced that he is hanging up the boots. St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt is part of a storied group of players retiring after this season. Photo: Joe ArmaoAnother mainstay – Adelaide bull Scott Thompson – has also declared he's giving it away, and there could be more to come, with the futures beyond this year of players like Bob Murphy, Jobe Watson, Jarrad McVeigh, Steve Johnson and Josh Gibson all yet to be announced.It will have the effect of creating a serious squeeze for Hall of Fame spots when this year's group of retirees becomes eligible for induction in 2023. It also raises the question of where this lot of retirees stacks up compared to recent years. Is the hole being left bigger than usual? We've ranked the groups of retirees from 2008-2017 to see. Sam Mitchell with his family at Domain Stadium after announcing his retirement from AFL. Photo: Brendan Foster1. 2016Just like his predecessor as VFL/AFL games record-holder, Brent Harvey retired before he wanted. But that North Melbourne coach Brad Scott had his way, leading to the livewire's retirement, helps bolster an already impressive group. Matthew Pavlich is clearly Fremantle's greatest player and will walk straight into the hall of fame. So too should Corey Enrig... (The Age)
