West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui says he made the decision to retire after realising his trademark leap probably wouldn't return following an achilles tendon injury.
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But the 33-year-old insists he leaves the game with no regrets despite missing out on the premiership success he craved so dearly.
Naitanui was contracted for 2024, but a season-ending achilles tendon injury that required surgery convinced him the time was right to bow out.
It ends his glittering career at 213 AFL games, with the three-time All-Australian to go down as one of West Coast's all-time greats.
"My achilles isn't quite right. It's going to be a long journey," Naitanui told a packed press conference on Monday afternoon.
"I think being realistic, to come back and play a couple of games to get a send-off - as much as some people say I might deserve it, I thought it might be a little bit selfish.
"I feel like I have exhausted every avenue to work my way through my injury, but my body is sending a strong message that it is time.
"Being a power athlete who has relied on my ability to jump throughout my career, this injury was probably going to take that away from me."
Naitanui will go down as one of the best and most unique ruckmen, with his deft tapping abilities, amazing athleticism, and bulldozing work at ground level setting him apart.
The 202cm powerhouse played in West Coast's 2015 grand final loss to Hawthorn.
That disappointment came less than two months after his mother died.
Naitanui missed out on the club's 2018 grand final win over Collingwood after undergoing a second knee reconstruction earlier that season.
"It probably sits in the same boat as 2015. That was just as rough for me," Naitanui said of missing out on the 2018 flag glory.
"That (2015) was the toughest year of my life. Then to lose the grand final exacerbated that feeling even more.
"For me, 2018 was tough, but there was a lot of elation because I got to see a lot of my mates partake in success.
"I don't regret not ever winning a premiership. Obviously that's what you play for and that's what you want.
"But if people ask me if I have any regrets about not playing on next year or not winning a premiership - I've got a steady roof over my head, and that's all I could ever ask for."
Naitanui becomes the third Eagles legend to retire over the past fortnight, following hot on the heels of Shannon Hurn and Luke Shuey.
"Nic has been a legacy player for our football club and has been one of the most influential players of his generation," coach Adam Simpson said.
"Sadly, he is the third club great to retire in the last three weeks.
"In some respects it is the end of an era and we will certainly miss Nic.
"There have been few ruckman in history to have a bigger impact on the game and he will always hold a special place in the history of the club."
Naitanui was selected with pick No.2 in the 2008 national draft and excited fans from the outset.
In just his second AFL game, he kicked three final-quarter goals to lead his team to a 20-point win over Hawthorn.
Naitanui got into trouble for performing a stunning slam dunk - in which he jumped over a court announcer - at half-time of a Perth Wildcats game in 2012.
West Coast deemed the risk of injury was too high for Naitanui to be performing such stunts.
Naitanui could afford to make light of the situation during his retirement press conference.
"I don't know why I got in trouble for that - these guys paid me to jump for a living, so I jumped," he said with a laugh.
NIC NAITANUI
Drafted: Pick No.2, 2008
Games: 213
Goals: 112
Debut: Round 12, 2009 v Richmond
Emerging Talent: 2010
All-Australian: 2012, 2020, 2021
West Coast Eagles life member: 2018
Club Champion: 2020, 2021
Player of the Finals: 2020
Australian Associated Press