Footage has emerged of Carlton champion Sam Docherty’s final act on a footy field.

Docherty played his 184th and final game of his glittering AFL career in Thursday night’s loss to Hawthorn.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sam Docherty reflects on final game of his career.

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The much-loved champion, who battled back from two cancer diagnoses and multiple knee reconstructions, bowed out in style with a goal, but the Blues fell to a disappointing defeat.

He was chaired off by captain Patrick Cripps and former teammates Kade Simpson in a special moment.

Docherty then returned to the field with his family to thank fans before disappearing down the tunnel.

But long after fans and players had left the MCG, Docherty returned to the field for one final time.

He was there with members of the media department just soaking it all in.

Former St Kilda champion and Channel 7 commentator Nick Riewoldt said he did the exact same thing after this final match.

“I did the same thing here after my last game, which was here at the MCG,” he said.

“Took the boys back out, probably an hour-and-a-half, a similar timeframe as Sam is doing it, but took Kath and the boys up and had a kick of the footy on the middle of the MCG when it was completely empty.

“Forever moments, got the pictures and the boys love it.”

Speaking to Channel 7 after the match, Docherty admitted it was a “strange feeling”.

“This is all I’ve done for 14 years. So, yeah, I don’t really know how to sum it up at the moment, but it’s amazing to have all my friends, family, share the game with Weiters, chair off with Simmo,” he said.

“Like, it’s about as good as I could have felt other than getting the win.

“Strange feeling not coming back in next week and not having to do any recovery or anything after this.

“But, a long career that I’m pretty proud of and happy to go and relax and do some other stuff for a while.”

Docherty also paid tribute to his teammates and people at the club for helping him through his career.

“They mean heaps. As probably everyone knows, I haven’t had the easiest of cards that I’ve been dealt. A lot of times I’ve been set back and a lot of times I get back up, but that doesn’t just happen with me and my mentality,” he said.

“That’s so many people behind the scenes that I’ve got to thank. And between physios, doctors, psychologists, coaches, massage staff, teammates, there’s an army in behind what goes out there in each person.

“The football club’s been my home for so long. It’s going to be strange not driving in there.”

Docherty doesn’t know what the immediate future holds, but said he will relax and play a bit of golf.

“Yeah, a rest for the next couple of weeks at least. Go play some golf. Give myself a bit of space and then try and find a job,” he said.

“But I’ve been joking about when they’ve got their next review, I might be out on a golf course and I might send a photo in the group chat of me with a beer in hand. Saying life’s not too bad out here, boys.

“I’m looking forward to whatever’s next. I don’t exactly know, but I’m very excited.”