Brett Kirk to announce retirement

[The King!]

sad day but had to come. Been the heart and soul of the footy club. One of my favourites of all time, hope he stays involved at the club

 

[cfc4life]

Great player and an excellent captain for sydney

 

[MaxHunt]

Careful.

Don't make any grandiose statements and go overboard to praise a good ordinary footballer.

I can think of a stack of current and former players who are more respected than Kirk.

Kirk wasn't a patch on our Ratten.

Just leave the facts that Kirk is admired because he's a hard at it inside player, but has average skills and football ability.

In your opinion as a Carlton supporter.

 

[pacemaker]

One of those great rookie listed players, who help Sydney Swans FC to a premiership and build memberships for the club

 

[MF]

Careful.

Don't make any grandiose statements and go overboard to praise a good ordinary footballer.

Just leave the facts that Kirk is admired because he's a hard at it inside player, but has average skills and football ability.

I don't think many Swans fans consider Kirk an elite or champion player but as a leader he's almost peerless. I can't think of many players that have achieved what he has off so little football or athletic ability, basically forging a successful career out of guts and determination alone. That's why people respect him.

I can think of a stack of current and former players who are more respected than Kirk.

I'd be interested to see you list these current players to see if people agree with you.

 

[The King!]

i think kirks skills and talent are unappreciated. He looked awkward at times, but too many people read a couple of herald sun articles and create a view on him, having not watched him.

He tagged a lot of great players out of the game while collecting possies himself. He is quite a handy shot for goal, especially when its needed. He has been one of the best taclkers in the game.

Most of his possies are contested as well dont forget, but i would imagine his turnovers and clangers would be no higher than other good midfielders of the modern age i would like to see some stats that show he was just a rubbish player who was heart and soul.

I dont think hes a michael voss or a hird or an all time superstar, but he has been an elite player in the comp and deserves respect for that as well as the courage and heart.

 

[AG]

I can think of a stack of current and former players who are more respected than Kirk.

Congratulations.

Just leave the facts that Kirk is admired because he's a hard at it inside player, but has average skills and football ability.

Not sure you understand football ability then. Average foot skills maybe, but everything else is fine. Positioning at contests, reading the play, awesome mentality, tough SOB, leader, inspirational, he was a very good footballer. Just because he wasn't quick or had a kick like Buckley doesn't mean he was ordinary. Judd has an ordinary kick but it doesn't stop him being a superstar.

If you didn't rate him that's fine but don't go over the top with bullshit like the first sentence I quoted. Fwiw I think he will be remembered as a Swans legend but I can understand if some think his standing in the game is overrated.

 

[moistie]

In your opinion as a Carlton supporter.

Exactly. A Carlton supporter respects Ratten more than a retiring opposition player.

Good luck to Kirk, I'd like to see him as an assistant at Hawthorn.

 

[Beckers]

Well done Brett on a great career

Take Ling and Jones with you and i might get some better Supercoach scores

 

[WoGiTaLiA]

I'd be interested to see you list these current players to see if people agree with you.

I too would like to see this list.

Also the original quote was current but even then Ratten didn't have half the respect Kirk has, Ratten was a dirty little rat faced moungrel to non-Carlton fans.

I also agree with the thought that whilst he wasn't an all time great as a pure footballer he was elite for the vast majority of his career. His hands were elite, his tackling was all time great and as a tagger he consistently beat the best in the game, not only stopping but also out producing going the other way.

Sad to see him go, I'd rather watch him hop around for another year than flogs like Ed Barlow but if he feels it is time to go, it's his call and I can only respect that, like everything else he has done for the club.

 

[Matching Mole]

Never really understood the hype, personally.

Well he's certainly not good enough to have a BigFooty user name himself Kirktacular in his honour.

Certainly no unwarranted hype at your end mate.

 

[neng]

Well done Kirky. You played the game the way it should be and deserve the title of the AFL's most respected player

 

[db swannie]

Never really understood the hype, personally.

That's probably because you've never seen him play. Here's a tip for you n00b, when on BF try and restrict yourself to talking about things that you have even half an idea about, rather than making bland, idiotic statements like, "never understood the hype" which reeks of faux-cool and pretend knowledge.

 

[mocaholic]

On the negative aspect, do agree with the comment that he didn't handle Davis and probably Hall very well.

But, on the positive side, I can't recall who said it, but somebody recently (Matthew Lloyd??) said that he was the best kick in the comp for efficiency because he knew his limitations and played to them. As for skills, tackling, extracting the pill from the pack, knowing where to go to get to the contest, actually getting to the next contest, putting the head over the ball, taking a crunch in a pack, not only tagging but defeating the tagee (?), handballs to a free player to advantage (constantly), discipline to not get sucked in but to put things out of his mind and keep going (remember the pickett hit?), gut running, inability to accept defeat, demonstrate incredible leadership not only by example but being vocal (3/4 time 2005 prelim, 1/2 time 2006 GF anybody?), "pain immunity", These are huge skills in the game that most players don't all have. Top 2 in the B&F for six years running 2003-8 including B&F in the premiership year. Nope, he can't kick laser-like 60m passes like Gilbee, or soar like Motlop (but didn't Kirky take a great one last year or 2008 over an Ade player?), but he well made up for it in other areas. Modest, unassuming, fair, tough, loyal, articulate, tenacious, balanced, gutsy. All teams must be able to have players like Kirky to win flags. After Maxfield, he drove a club culture.

Much, MUCH more than a plodder who worked hard.

Vale Kirky.

 

[Rassilon]

He should've done what the umpires never said when he tackled someone.

Play on.

 

[Perverted Tree]

Live long and prosper

 

[Johnny Roberts]

It would be most fitting if his "lap of honour" (in September preferably), is in a Ford Cortina convertible- with the Dalai Lama driving!!

Seriously thought this guys was finished in late 2002, early 2003, but he made a career of proving people wrong.

Champion bloke and will go down as a Swans great. To win a B & F in a premiership year says it all.

I just hope that the boys fire up for the "Captain" this weekend to show the regard he held at the swans!!

 

[Doctor Jolly]

Kirk will be the next Swans coach after Longmire.

I think Longmire will get 3 years, starting next year, but will be very difficult for him, and I have my doubts whether he can replicate what Roos' did.

I'd see Kirk as coach in 2014.

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Absolutely gutted about this news.

 

[No1SwansFan]

sad but ineveitble.

his and roos last game will be a sellout where ever it be if he finishes at the end of the season.

I may just go to the last home and away game in Brissy we will be up there on holidays anyway but didnt have any intention of going now we just might.

 

[legend166]

Saying he's an 'honest battler' is severly underrating Brett Kirk.

From 2003 to 2008, where the Swans won a flag, made another Grand Final, made a Prelim, and made the finals in the other years, Brett Kirk never finished below second in the club championship, including two wins.

I wouldn't say he's one of the all time greats, but definitely a great of the modern era.

 

[Syd]

I was gutted when Kel retired and thought we'd never see another clubman of the same ilk.

Kirk quite simply through hard work and determination not only led his club to the ultimate success, but through one of the best periods in their history.

Maybe not the most talented in terms of skill, but quite simply the first name picked week in, week out and no one else (bar Kel) you'd want to play under.

Twice in a few years to have leaders of that type is a rare blessing indeed.

I am saddened by the news, but glad he's chosen to go on his terms.

A huge loss on the field and much respect off it.

 

[Barines1987]

If anyone can find a flaw in this blokes career I'd love to hear it. What a legend of the game.

 

[skam85]

I've always said Kirk was the best captain in the AFL - not the best player that is a captain of a respective club... but the best captain. He screams "perfect leader"... and he will one day make a good coach. The game will miss him and his grey hairs

 

[Skids]

Vale Kirky.

Who died?