MARTIN Mattner lived up to Sydney's famed Bloods culture on Thursday when he retired as an AFL player, denying himself a farewell game in Adelaide where it all began as a rookie-listed Crow in 2002.
"I could still play out a game,'' said Mattner, whose hips have been crunched too often in Sydney's demanding man-on-man game style.
"But I only have 80-90 per cent of the power and speed. People (coaches and doctors included) say they've not noticed, but I have ... so it is a personal decision.''
Matter was expected to have pushed for selection against the Crows at AAMI Stadium tomorrow after missing the past three matches but on Tuesday he walked into Swans coach John Longmire's office to put the team's interests first.
"This year,'' said Mattner, "I've not played to the standard I wanted to play.
"This was going to be my last year ... the end has come earlier than I would have liked.
"I'm content with every decision I've made, including this one,'' he said.
Sydney Swans premiership player Marty Mattner with his six-month-old son Oscar at the SCG where he announced his retirement from the game.
"All the stress and worry with this injury went on Tuesday ... I've been so happy in the past two days.
"If you had said to me 12 years ago that I would get more than 200 AFL games and a premiership, I would have taken it.
"For a kid who dreamt of playing AFL football, I could not have asked for more.''
Mattner had hip issues at Adelaide. There was surgery on the left hip in his sixth year as a Crow and the prospect of the same to the right after last year's grand final win against Hawthorn as Mattner had problems with ``even putting shoes and socks on in the morning''.
"I saw the surgeon at the end of last year, but surgery didn't proceed,'' said Mattner.
"In the off-season we did everything we could do to get it right and that meant time off and a restricted preseason, but it just hasn't come good.''
Mattner moved to Sydney at the end of the 2007 season when the Swans with a long-term contract offer showed more belief than Adelaide was prepared to invest.
"It was the best decision for my football,'' said Mattner.
"At Sydney, I was a defender who was to run and create rebound from the half-back flank. First, I had to defend by beating my opponent. It was basic, honest footy.
"Adelaide was a great time too. In those six years there were two preliminary finals and we were unlucky there was not a grand final as well.''
"The opportunity Adelaide gave me by putting me on a rookie list has let me get to where I am today. If that opportunity hadn't come up, I don't know ... it is the club that let me develop as an AFL player and I'm grateful for that.''
The "what next'' chapter in Mattner's journey could be as far removed from football as carpentry or as deep as the game allows with coaching.
"I am not saying no to anything,'' said Mattner, who will spend the next 18 months in Sydney with his pregnant wife Chelsea.
"I'm in the second year of a three-year TAFE carpentry course. Chelsea has a good job (in marketing and interior design).
"I'll also have the rest of the year working with the development coaches and reserves players on the defensive side of the game.''
###
No comments:
Post a Comment