As the end of the regular season fixture rolls around and the post-season hangover looms, more and more AFL greats are saying farewell to their esteemed careers in 2022.
While some have gone out on their own terms, others will be looking for an opportunity elsewhere next season after not being offered a new contract at their current clubs.
From one-club heroes and footy journeymen calling it quits, to veterans and rookies alike looking for a new home in 2023, this is the full list of players who have retired or been delisted so far.
Adelaide
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Brisbane
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Carlton
Oscar McDonald - The former Demon managed just five games for Carlton as he battled injury over the past two seasons. Played 81 games across five seasons for Melbourne.
Jack Newnes - Delisted after 207 games split between St Kilda and Carlton, Newnes played 16 matches for the Blues in 2022 but was offered a new contract. In 2020, he became the first player in AFL history to play in all eight Australian states and territories as well as games in New Zealand and China.
Luke Parks - Played eight matches over the past two season after being picked in 2021 rookie draft.
Tom Williamson - Stepped away from the club in June due to personal issues before mutually agreeing with the club to part ways. Played 44 matches since debuting in 2017 but battled injury throughout.
Liam Stocker - The first player to be a part of a live trade of draft picks has been delisted after 28 games across three seasons. Only managed six games in 2022 but will likely see some interest from other teams moving into 2023.
Will Hayes - The most recent player to pull on a Carlton jumper after debuting in round 12 departs the Blues after just two games. He played 11 games for the Bulldogs before making the cross to Princes Park, but couldn't cement his place in the best 22.
Collingwood
Jordan Roughead - The 31-year-old called time in May after 201 games across 13 seasons for the Magpies and the Bulldogs. Managed just one game in 2022 as he battled shoulder injuries. Was a part of the drought-breaking 2016 Bulldogs premiership team.
Essendon
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - The small forward called time on his career in May, referring to personal reasons for stepping away. Played 126 games after debuting in 2016, kicking 153 goals.
Devon Smith - The inaugural GWS player and Essendon best and fairest winner announced his retirement due to a degenetrative knee issue. Played 182 games across the two clubs but could only manage eight in 2022.
Michael Hurley - A serious hip infection at the end of 2020 saw the star swingman face a harrowing journey to return to the field, which he did in the final round of 2022. Played 194 games after debuting in 2009, making his name as a brilliant key defender in the second half of his career.
Tom Cutler - The former Lion was delisted four games short of his century having played just nine matches in 2022.
Tom Hird - The son of club legend James Hird was delisted having not played a senior match.
Garrett McDonagh - A mature-age recruit, McDonagh was delisted having not played a senior match.
Fremantle
David Mundy - Embarks on his last finals campaign as Fremantle's most capped player. At the end of the regular season, the midfielder had 374 games to his name after 19 seasons with the Dockers, as well as an All-Australian blazer in 2015.
Geelong
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Gold Coast
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GWS
Matt de Boer - The lockdown midfielder retires 223 games between the Dockers and the Giants, having debuted in 2009.
Hawthorn
Ben McEvoy - The Hawks captain calls time after 252 games across careers at St Kilda and Hawthorn. The ruckman was a crucial cog in the Hawthorn machine, winning premierships in 2014 and 2015.
Liam Shiels - The three-time premiership midfielder retirement came quietly after the regular season was finished, which seems oddly appropriate after a career in which he did not garner the same plaudits of his flashier teammates despite being crucial to Hawthorn's success. He calls time as the 16th most-capped Hawk in history having played 255 games since 2009.
Daniel Howe - Departs the Hawks after 97 matches having debuted in 2015. Could only manage nine matches in 2022.
Tom Phillips - Delisted after just four games in 2022, having notched 22 matches in his first season at the Hawks in 2021. Played 89 games for Collingwood before the move after debuting in 2016.
Connor Downie - Played two games for the Hawks in 2021, but couldn't get on the park in 2022.
Jackson Callow - Debuted this season for the Hawks, playing three games after being picked in the 2021 mid-season rookie draft.
Melbourne
Majak Daw - The versatile tall called time with no senior appearances for the Demons, after 54 games at North Melbourne.
North Melbourne
Tom Lynch - Officially finishes up his 164-game career at North Melbourne after splitting games between St Kilda and Adelaide. Was only on the Kangaroos list for coaching purposes to avoid soft cap restrictions and did not play a senior AFL match.
Matt McGuinness - Departs North Melbourne having not cracked the senior team.
Kyron Hayden - Debuted in 2019 but battled through injury, limiting his ability to cement a spot in the best 22. Had a season best return of eight games in 2020 but could only get on the park for five matches in 2022.
Patrick Walker - Could not make it into the Kangaroos best 22 and departs having not played a senior game.
Port Adelaide
Robbie Gray - Retires as the fourth most capped Power player in history after 271 games, while sitting second on the all-time goalkicking list with 367 majors, behind Warren Tredrea.
Steven Motlop - The speedster calls time after 217 games split between the Power and the Cats, having debuted in 2010. Kicked 229 goals, including a career-best 44 in his fourth season with Geelong.
Sam Mayes - The former Lion farewells Port 121 games, 20 of them in Port Adelaide colours.
Sam Skinner - Delisted after five total games having debuted for Brisbane in 2017. Battled significant knee injuries throughout his career.
Taj Scholfield - The son of Power champion Jarrad Schofield departs having not played a senior game for the Power.
Richmond
Shane Edwards - The 34-year-old officially called time after the Tigers lost to the Lions in the elimination final, sitting fourth on their all time games list behind Kevin Bartlett, Jack Riewoldt and Jack Dyer. A three-time premiership player, Edwards was named All Australian in 2018.
Kane Lambert - After 135 games, Lambert announced his retirement during the season due to ongoing injury issues. Played in all three of Richmond's premierships.
Josh Caddy - A dual premiership player for the Tigers, Caddy called time on his career after 174 games - 79 with Richmond, 71 with Geelong, and another 24 at the Gold Coast, where he debuted in 2011 in their inaugural season.
Matthew Parker - Was delisted by Richmond after 11 matches, having started his career at St Kilda in 2019.
St Kilda
Paddy Ryder - Finishes his career as one of the best ruckmen in recent memory, playing 281 games across stints at St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Essendon, where he debuted in 2006.
Dan Hannebery - One of the finest midfielders in the game at his peak, Hannebery struggled with injury after moving from the Swans to the Saints. Managed just 18 games at St Kilda as a high profile recruit, having played 208 games at the Swans as a three time All Australian and one time premiership star.
Jarryn Geary - The Saints captain from 2017 to 2021 retired mid-season having been unable to get on the park in 2022. Played 207 games after debuting in 2008.
Dean Kent - Notched game 100 in the final round of the season, marking just his second senior match of 2022. Spent four seasons at the Saints after debuting for the Demons in 2013.
Darragh Joyce - The Irishman played 13 games for the Saints after debuting in 2018, but was delisted after just three matches in 2022.
Sydney
Josh Kennedy - The midfielder retires after 290 games, 277 with the Swans and 13 with Hawthorn. Debuted in 2008 before making the move to the Swans in 2010, playing in the 2012 premiership against his old team and claim three All Australian nods. Retires as the sixth most capped Swan in history.
Callum Sinclair - The ruckman departs Sydney after 89 games in the red and white, which came after 29 games for the Eagles having debuted in 2013.
Colin O'Riordan - Debuted in 2018 after making the move over from Ireland. He notched 34 games in that time — including five in 2022 — but was forced to retire due to a chronic hip injury.
West Coast
Josh Kennedy - The key forward called time on his AFL career, finishing as West Coast's greatest ever goalkicker with 712 majors. The two time Coleman medallist and and three time All Australian did it with a bang, too, booting eight goals in his final match for the Eagles. Started his career at Carlton and played 22 games, before being involved in the infamous Chris Judd trade.
Western Bulldogs
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