Brett Kirk to announce retirement

[Clay Davis]

Turns 55 next month.

Looks good for a 55 year old.

He's a testament to mental strength and hard work being the key attribute of a good footballer.

I wonder whether he'd go into coaching? Would make a good one, in my opinion.

 

[.Shotties.]

Is there really any point running the league next year when he isn't playing?

 

[MARK In TIME]

Is there really any point running the league next year when he isn't playing...

...becasue god knows its going to lose all its class once kirky and roosy leave

 

[dread and might]

Sad but fair enough. wants to go out on his terms. It's been a pleasure to watch him over the years.

 

[Monocle]

One of my favourite non Eagle players.

I loved the spirit and determination that he displayed and his outstanding leadership qualities.

He has been an ornament to the game.

What an outstandind ambassador he has been for the AFL in NSW.
He has done the Swans proud.

He retires with nothing less than my total admiration and respect for the way he played the game.

 

[Tassie27]

From a female perspective I am sad see him go, was always nice to look at too. Just had that "Je ne sais quoi" aura about him which made him very attractive.

 

[Ry009]

Kirk would make a great assistant coach at the Swans and i could see him as a senior coach as well. He is a extremely good leader and i think that quality will help if he decides to start coaching.

I really hope he stays with the club in some capacity. He's exactly the sort of person you want around the next generation of players.

That's what I was thinking.

Would love him at North, but if he was happy just remaining as an assistant coach, couldn't see him leaving Sydney. Think with the culture the playing group has had for the better part of a decade, would be the perfect bloke to instill it in, with the next generation that's coming through at the moment.

 

[blues4flag]

Not overly surprised given his age. Think he's shown signs of slowing down this season, even after a very solid year last year. Is there a more durable 33 year old in the game?

It's a shame he didn't debut at an earlier age as he could very possibly have ended up a 300 game player.

 

[Cookie]

Turns 55 next month.

So that makes him 40 years older than you.

Anyway, big loss for Sydney. Championed their game.

 

[TheKITC]

He's the one bloke in football that everyone respects as a footballer and person, it doesn't matter who you support, where you come from, or what your opinions on various issues are.

This.

Have huge amounts of respect for him on many levels.

Great player, great leader and from all reports a great bloke too.

Well done on a good career Captain Kirk

Have a sneaking suspicion he might have a chance at one more finals series before his time it up

 

[floppinab]

Sydney have a recent history of tough, fair, likeable captains who could play. Thinking of Kelly as well as Kirk.

With one unfortunate recent exception of course!!!

I'll go against the grain and say I did see this one coming. The thing about Kirk as good as he is at what he does once his ability to keep doing it dimishes as he gets older, he's not the sort of player that has a few other strings in his bow that could see him play as a forward or elsewhere, leaving no other option than to call it quits. Not the type to keep hanging on to football either with many other interests outside the game.

Being the glass half empty person that I am there'll always be a little question on how he handled a few players that didn't fit inside the Sydney box (see Nick Davis) but none of that will dimish his contribution to the Swans, there's no doubt he should've held the cup up in 2005 instead of the other bloke.

 

[dread and might]

As much as I agree that as a supporter I would love to have him around at the club, I can also imagine him focusing on something else entirely.

I have this vague impression that he is a teacher. Maybe it's something I read where he said he'd like to be one, dunno. I can imagine it though.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

a real shame tbh. Loved everything that Kirk represented. He is a pure footballers footballer. A sad time indeed.

Well done Kirky on a super career and wish you well in the future.

Champion of the highest order.

 

[Pie eyed]

With one unfortunate recent exception of course!!!

I'll go against the grain and say I did see this one coming. The thing about Kirk as good as he is at what he does once his ability to keep doing it dimishes as he gets older, he's not the sort of player that has a few other strings in his bow that could see him play as a forward or elsewhere, leaving no other option than to call it quits. Not the type to keep hanging on to football either with many other interests outside the game.

Being the glass half empty person that I am there'll always be a little question on how he handled a few players that didn't fit inside the Sydney box (see Nick Davis) but none of that will dimish his contribution to the Swans, there's no doubt he should've held the cup up in 2005 instead of the other bloke.

I attended the game in Canberra and he looked a bit disinterested to be honest. Enough so that mention was made by several Swans fans.
Certainly did not expect retirement though.
Best of luck to him.

 

[magic.merkin]

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.

 

[seanoff]

leader of probably the most under rated midfield in the AFL. WCE much vaunted mids with Judd, Cuz, Kerr Gardiner etc never ever got on top of them.

sad to see him go. but he'll go with honour and, apart from 1 idiot, with almost universal acclaim.

 

[JUBJUB]

Could Kirk replace Longmire [senior coach next year] as an assistant at Syd-a-ney next year ?

 

[Punxatawny_Phil]

Not a huge surprise, time did seem to be catching up with him this year.

Not the most skilled player, but certainly one of the most dedicated. People love talent, but not half as much as they like to see someone wring every last drop out of their talent, whatever it's limitations- imo, that's Brett Kirk. Any team mate would have been ashamed not to follow his example.

Here's hoping we keep him on somehow.

 

[NAUGHT5]

I'd hardly call becoming a brutal hitman for the Secret Service a retirement.

 

[grimlock]

Great team player, insipirational, and incredibly dedicated to getting the best out of himself. The fact that he has played 184 straight games (touch wood) despite playing in one of the most physically demanding positions (inside mid) is testament to his preparation and fitness work.

 

[leapin_leo]

Kirky the king of the tackle!

 

[leapin_leo]

I hope ted richards, henry playcrap, and ed barlow announce their retirements effective immediately too!!

 

[SaintsManMat]

sad to see him go, one of the most respected AFL footballers ever

hope he hangs around in a coaching (or commentating?) role somewhere

 

[Silvagnis]

IMO most respected player in the AFL
be a shame for footy supporters everywhere if he retires

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.

lol as if you troll a Kirk thread.

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

 

[adelaide_40]

All the best Kirk.

One of my favourite players outside of the crows.