West Coast Eagles great Josh Kennedy has confirmed his retirement from the AFL, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career.
With the club out of the running for a top-eight spot, the two-time Coleman Medal winner will play his final game against Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
A member of the 2018 West Coast Premiership squad, he is a three-time All-Australian.
READ MORE: Australian weightlifter stripped of Commonwealth Games gold
READ MORE: NRL match review committee leaves fans scratching their heads
READ MORE: Kyle Chalmers questions Paris 2024 after Commonwealth Games triumph
“My knee is a big reason for me to retire,” he said.
“I think my drive to play is still there, but I’m realistic that my body won’t be able to carry me through another season.
“Being able to say goodbye to the West Coast fans for the last time at Optus Stadium and thank you for the incredible support over the years will be the perfect way to end my career.”
Kennedy is the club’s all-time leading scorer and will play his 271st and final game for the Eagles on Sunday.
Originally drafted by Carlton in 2005, he joined the Eagles in late 2007 in a trade that saw the Blues pick up Chris Judd.
“It has been a privilege to play so many years for this great football club and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to represent the West Coast Eagles and Carlton,” he said.
Josh Kennedy will retire after Sunday’s game against Adelaide. (Getty)
“There are so many people to thank for helping me on the journey over 17 years. Obviously my wife Lauren and daughters Sage and Lottie, my family who have always supported me, coaches John Worsfold and Adam Simpson, the club staff and of course my teammates.
“Footy and the West Coast Eagles have given me so much and I’ve loved the journey. I’ve made lifelong friendships and learned so much from champions like Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Mark LeCras.
“One of the biggest things I’ve wanted to do throughout my career is to have respect from my teammates, that’s always shaped how I acted, trained or tried to play.”
For a daily dose of the best breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!