SuperFooty takes a look at your club’s elder statesmen and whether they may hang up the boots at the end of 2014Herald-Sun
July 17, 2014WE’VE already seen a few big names call time on their careers in 2014.
And as we head towards the end of the home and away season, that number is only set to increase.
This week St Kilda champ Lenny Hayes and Collingwood’s premiership skipper Nick Maxwell joined the list of those who won’t be going on next season.
They follow the likes of Jonathan Brown, Heath Scotland and Ben Rutten, the latter still going around but having declared 2014 will be his sign off to AFL footy.
All are over that magical 30 barrier, the age when most footballers start to question their own football mortality.
That being the case, we’ve taken a look at all 18 clubs and those players entering the twilight of their careers.
We’ll likely have to wait until the end of the year to know the answer to many, but here’s our early look at each club and who could be hanging up the boots at your club.
NOTE: Player ages below as of Round 1, 2015RICHMONDChris Newman 32
Orren Stephenson 32
Aaron Edwards 30
Jake King 30
WHAT WE SAY:Newman says he’s keen to play on next year and will sit down with the club in coming weeks to discuss his future. He’s out of contract at the end of the year and had missed six weeks with calf and groin injuries so a tap on the shoulder wouldn’t surprise. King, who hasn’t played since Round 3, has no hope of reaching the 12 games that would have triggered an extra year in his contract but his manager Glenn Archer told the Footy Show early in the year the small forward wants to play in 2015. He’s highly valued at Punt Rd so if he can get his body right he’s likely to get another chance. Stephenson might stay as rookie ruck insurance after a very good year in the VFL but it’s hard to see Aaron Edwards playing much more senior footy.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/superfooty-takes-a-look-at-your-clubs-elder-statesmen-and-whether-they-may-hang-up-the-boots-at-the-end-of-2014/story-fndv7pj3-1226991183643