Essendon Premiership player Scott Lucas has announced his immediate retirement from the club after 270 games for the Bombers.
The two-time club best and fairest was surrounded by his family, past and present players and coaching staff as he told the media of his decision this morning.
“I’m here with my family today not to announce that I’ve signed a new three year deal but to announce that I am retiring,” he joked.
“This is probably no great surprise and the decision will be effective immediately. I have spoken to Knighta a few times over the season and in my own mind I know that the timing is right.
“I think the decision comes from a combination of things - form, where the club is heading, my own body and mentally I think all of those add up to give you the final decision.""
The 31-year-old father of three has played 14 seasons for the Bombers, and has kicked 471 goals, mostly as a centre-half forward, since making his debut in 1996. However despite his long list of accolades, Lucas said he knew his time was up.
""Adam Gilchrist said a couple of years ago when he was playing, that you just know- I found that to be a remarkable comment at the time but now firmly believe that you just do know,"" he said.
“I suppose it is all the little things but the big thing is that you can’t do what you have in the past.
""Once that is the case with the nature of the game these days you have to weigh things up, it’s a brutal game that is getting faster and faster. I’m certainly no speed demon so those factors just added up for me.
""I probably had a firm belief from earlier in the year that this would be my last year but things can always change or turn around, in my my case it didn't.
“In speaking with Knighta in the past week or two we decided that the time was right.”
Lucas made his Essendon debut in 1996 in the blockbuster Anzac Day game against Collingwood at the MCG in front of 90,000 people and went on to play 14 games in his debut season.
He was named the best first year player that year and the most improved player the year after. However it was the 2000 Essendon Premiership that rates as his favourite football memory.
“I have many memories of football but my favourite is the year 2000 when we won a premiership -that is why we all play,” he said.
“That’s definitely my stand out year of my career simply on the fact that we won the grand final.
“The nature of AFL football is you’re spending each day with your mates, not only are they teammates but they are your friends, that is what I’ll miss the most.
“The big factor for me is I’m not training and having lunch with my mates everyday - time to get a real job I guess!""
Matthew Knights joined the Essendon veteran in his farewell press conference, hailing him as one of the true champions the club has seen.
“The first thing I want to say about Scott is when you look at 270 games and 471 goals you know he is a true champion,” Knights said.
“Having played against Scott myself, I saw some of the things he did on the football field, whether it be landing a goal from 60 metres out or taking marks inside 50 - there is no question that Scott Lucas is one of the greats of the game and one of the greats of Essendon.
“I’m very proud of the way he went play to the VFL this year and played with the younger boys, I admire the way he went about it, and he was here every Wednesday kicking goals preparing just like he did for a game five years ago.
“I’ve got nothing but praise for Scott, for him, his whole career and the way he was handled the year and today.
“He is an extreme professional and very humble man. He has given his family and Essendon supporters a lot of joy over many years.”
Lucas is expected to be given a public farewell at the Round 22 clash with Hawthorn.
Lucas facts:
999th player to debut for Essendon
· Debut rd 5 v Collingwood 1996
· Won Premiership 2000
· Won two Best & Fairest medals 2003 & 2006
Essendon all-time games played:
1. 378 S Madden
2. 320 D Reynolds
3. 309 D Fletcher
4. 307 T Watson
5. 300 G Foulds
6. 294 T Daniher
7. 290 B Hutchison
8. 270 S Lucas
Essendon goals kicked:
1. 926 M Lloyd
2. 575 S Madden
3. 537 J Coleman
4. 520 P Salmon
5. 496 B Hutchison
6. 471 S Lucas
7. 442 D Reynolds
