David Neitz retires
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 5:27 pmfrom adelaidenow
MELBOURNE skipper David Neitz has announced his retirement from football, effective immediately.
A neck injury has brought about a premature end to his decorated career, with the Dees skipper being told that it was not possible for him to play football this year.
Neitz, who has not played since he suffered a neck injury in the round-five game against Carlton, said the surgeons' advice had helped him make the decision to retire "quite easily".
“It's not the fairy tale I would have like and hope for and dreamed of," Neitz said.
The Demons' games record holder told a media conference he had seen two neurosurgeons, one of whom recommended surgery to repair a ruptured disc while the other advised Neitz to stop playing football.
"One suggested I should have surgery on a ruptured disc… the other suggested I not have the surgery and not play football and hopefully get better. Either option means I’m unable to play football this year," he said,
The champion full forward reflected on a career that has seen him play 306 AFL games and break just about every Melbourne Football Club record.
"It’s been a great journey … It’s a great privilege to play AFL footy and I’ve been here at the club for 19 years. I walked in the door as a 15-year-old and walked out as a 33-year-old. The learning that’s taken place in that time, in the Melbourne footy club environment and the AFL environment has been immense.
"The challenges that are thrown your way and the questions you have to ask yourself to be able to perform at the elite level for such a long time are immense. You have to improve yourself and find ways to get better and search in yourself to give something more … to have been a part of that is huge."
Neitz holds the club records for most games and most goals.
Factbox on Melbourne captain David Neitz.
DOB: 22-1-1975
Recruited from: Parkmore (Vic)
Debut: Round one 1993
Games: 306 (club record)
Goals: 631 (club record)
Finals: 13 (27 goals)
Captaincy: 175 games (club record) from 1998. Full-time captain since 2000
Honours: Best and fairest 2002, runner-up 1995 and 2001, All-Australian 1995 and 2002, Coleman Medal 2002, Melbourne leading goal kicker 1996-97, 1999, 2002-04, 2006.
MELBOURNE skipper David Neitz has announced his retirement from football, effective immediately.
A neck injury has brought about a premature end to his decorated career, with the Dees skipper being told that it was not possible for him to play football this year.
Neitz, who has not played since he suffered a neck injury in the round-five game against Carlton, said the surgeons' advice had helped him make the decision to retire "quite easily".
“It's not the fairy tale I would have like and hope for and dreamed of," Neitz said.
The Demons' games record holder told a media conference he had seen two neurosurgeons, one of whom recommended surgery to repair a ruptured disc while the other advised Neitz to stop playing football.
"One suggested I should have surgery on a ruptured disc… the other suggested I not have the surgery and not play football and hopefully get better. Either option means I’m unable to play football this year," he said,
The champion full forward reflected on a career that has seen him play 306 AFL games and break just about every Melbourne Football Club record.
"It’s been a great journey … It’s a great privilege to play AFL footy and I’ve been here at the club for 19 years. I walked in the door as a 15-year-old and walked out as a 33-year-old. The learning that’s taken place in that time, in the Melbourne footy club environment and the AFL environment has been immense.
"The challenges that are thrown your way and the questions you have to ask yourself to be able to perform at the elite level for such a long time are immense. You have to improve yourself and find ways to get better and search in yourself to give something more … to have been a part of that is huge."
Neitz holds the club records for most games and most goals.
Factbox on Melbourne captain David Neitz.
DOB: 22-1-1975
Recruited from: Parkmore (Vic)
Debut: Round one 1993
Games: 306 (club record)
Goals: 631 (club record)
Finals: 13 (27 goals)
Captaincy: 175 games (club record) from 1998. Full-time captain since 2000
Honours: Best and fairest 2002, runner-up 1995 and 2001, All-Australian 1995 and 2002, Coleman Medal 2002, Melbourne leading goal kicker 1996-97, 1999, 2002-04, 2006.
