West Coast premiership hero Dom Sheed’s AFL career has come to an end after 165 games.
The midfielder famously kicked the match-winning goal in the 2018 grand final against Collingwood.
But he has had a horror run with injury in recent years, with an ACL injury in February leaving him on the brink in the final year of his contract.
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Sheed, who turned 30 in April, was cruelled by a series of debilitating foot injuries and inconsistent form prior to the knee setback.
He told Eagles staff and teammates of his decision to retire on Tuesday morning and was farewelled with a press conference later in the day.
“It has been an absolute privilege to represent the West Coast Eagles, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity this great footy club gave a skinny kid from Kalgoorlie,” Sheed said.
“To play for the club I grew up supporting has been a dream come true, but the relationships you build and memories you share from footy are what I will cherish most from my time in the game.
“There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me along the journey, first and foremost my amazing family.
“It hasn’t always been easy. There’s been plenty of ups and downs, and to finish up without being able to play alongside the boys this year due to injury has been tough.
“But my family have been there for me every step of the way, and I can’t thank my parents and my wife Brooke enough.
“There are too many other people to name — coaches, teammates and staff — who I will get around to thank in the coming days and weeks.
“But I want to take the opportunity to send a special shout out to the members and supporters.
“I honestly believe West Coast has the most passionate fans in the AFL and they have supported me every step of the way, so thank you for everything.”
His exit comes just weeks after star defender Jeremy McGovern was forced to give the game away due to concussion.
McGovern took the mark that started the chain that led to Sheed’s iconic goal in the grand final.
The major made grand final history as the latest to take the lead.
Just 23 at the time and not a noted goalkicker, Sheed wrote his name in folklore with the iconic goal.
“I’m very fortunate. Right place, right time ... and then to be able to execute and impact on the biggest day in footy is something I think about every five minutes,” he said with a smile.
“It has brought me a wide range of emotions over the years - some amazing ones and some down ones as well.”
Sheed revealed some guilt that his heroic kick largely overshadowed one of the great premiership deciders.
“There’s a level of guilt that comes with it,” he said.
“When people talk about that game, they talk about that kick a lot.
“It takes a lot of people to be able to make a grand final, to be able to win one, and I was a beneficiary of what was, in my eyes, one of the greatest grand finals ever.
“It was special and I wouldn’‘t take it back, that’s for sure. I’m just grateful I was able to not kick it out on the full, to be honest.”
Sheed said only after the Eagles’ premiership triumph did the magnitude of his moment hit.
“”It wasn’t until after we won the grand final, (seeing) how much joy and happiness you can bring other people,” he said.
“And that was really special for me, to actually bring happiness to others.”
- With AAP
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