WESTERN BULLDOGS ruckman Luke Darcy announced on Thursday that he will retire from league football at the end of the 2007 season.
The 32-year-old revealed his plans sitting alongside senior coach Rodney Eade at a media conference at Whitten Oval.
Darcy has played 221 career games and has booted 178 goals in a 14-season career. He has won a best and fairest award, achieved All-Australian honours and the coveted Western Bulldogs' captaincy.
A dazzling career, spotlighted by high-leaping marks and dominance in the midfield, has also had its dark moments.
Two knee reconstructions denied Darcy of greater glory and was a major reason for his decision to call it quits.
The 196cm, 98kg bigman, however, has managed to play every game this season after sitting out the entire 2006 season with a knee injury.
Darcy was recruited to the Bulldogs under the father-son rule in the 1992 AFL national draft and made his senior debut in 1994.
His father David was an honest defender who played 133 senior games and represented Victoria before shifting to Adelaide where Luke was born.
His introduction to senior footy could not have been better choreographed with the spindly teenager learning the ruck craft from Brownlow Medallist Scott Wynd.
He took up the mantle as the club’s No.1 ruckman in 2001, his flamboyance and athleticism a good counter-balance for Wynd’s toil and tap work.
Darcy was appointed captain in 2005, but six rounds into the home and away season he injured his knee against Geelong.
He underwent a knee reconstruction and missed the remainder of the season.
He received an even more bitter blow when on the comeback trail he ruptured his knee ligaments during the Bulldogs’ pre-season training in December.
The 32-year-old revealed his plans sitting alongside senior coach Rodney Eade at a media conference at Whitten Oval.
Darcy has played 221 career games and has booted 178 goals in a 14-season career. He has won a best and fairest award, achieved All-Australian honours and the coveted Western Bulldogs' captaincy.
A dazzling career, spotlighted by high-leaping marks and dominance in the midfield, has also had its dark moments.
Two knee reconstructions denied Darcy of greater glory and was a major reason for his decision to call it quits.
The 196cm, 98kg bigman, however, has managed to play every game this season after sitting out the entire 2006 season with a knee injury.
Darcy was recruited to the Bulldogs under the father-son rule in the 1992 AFL national draft and made his senior debut in 1994.
His father David was an honest defender who played 133 senior games and represented Victoria before shifting to Adelaide where Luke was born.
His introduction to senior footy could not have been better choreographed with the spindly teenager learning the ruck craft from Brownlow Medallist Scott Wynd.
He took up the mantle as the club’s No.1 ruckman in 2001, his flamboyance and athleticism a good counter-balance for Wynd’s toil and tap work.
Darcy was appointed captain in 2005, but six rounds into the home and away season he injured his knee against Geelong.
He underwent a knee reconstruction and missed the remainder of the season.
He received an even more bitter blow when on the comeback trail he ruptured his knee ligaments during the Bulldogs’ pre-season training in December.
Player honours: Best and fairest winner - 2001; Second in best and fairest - 2002, 2004; All-Australian - 2002; International Rules Series - 2001, 2002; club's leading goalkicker - 2004 (equal); AFL Rising Star nominee - 1996; captain - 2005 (was appointed captain in 2006 but was injured).
