Chris Grant will play his 341st game with his beloved Bulldogs this weekend and leave fans guessing whether it's the last time they'll see the champion in the red, white and blue.
Grant, 35 in December, revealed he will play in the club's round 22 clash with Kanagroos on Sunday but has postponed a decision on his future until after the season.
He will confer with a host of football heavyweights – including coach Rodney Eade – before opting to play on in 2008 or join team-mates Luke Darcy, Brett Montgomery and Matthew Robbins in retirement.
"At the moment I haven't decided and I think it's worthwhile saying that to everybody so they understand I'm not yet in a position to fully make the right decision," Grant told media at Whitten Oval before joining training on Wednesday afternoon.
"I have spoken to Rodney and the match committee and the club quite regularly over the past week. In my mind I think I'd like the opportunity to delay the decision until I feel comfortable with all the questions I need to ask of myself and the match committee."
Grant – who has managed just four games this season – said it would not be injury that forced him out of the game this year.
"From a body point-of-view and a physical point-of-view, I'm feeling terrific, which is great. But I think there are more questions to be asked (including) how much mental capacity I've got to play AFL footy at the highest level," Grant said.
"I do really think that after having not played enough football this year that now is not the right time to make a decision on that. I really need the opportunity to let the body recover from what has been a very strange year for me."
"I have only played what this week will be my fifth game and it's certainly not the ideal situation for me to retire on. I would like to have played more games this year."
Grant underwent a groin operation ahead of the 2007 season but has been hampered by hamstring and knee complaints in the latter half of the year.
Eade said a decision on Grant would need to be made before mid-December, ahead of the final draft, but a timeline had not been set.
"I wouldn't say we are totally undecided. There's a few things on the table that we need to consider but I think the thing is Chris didn't want to make the decision straight away so we will just make that decision down the track," Eade said.
Grant's ability to work with the developing youngsters at the Bulldogs would be considered in the judgement, Eade said, but the veteran would need to be able to play a role in the side.
"Certainly his ability to teach and educate would be a bonus," Eade said.
But a final fling at a premiership wouldn't come into consideration for Grant.
"I don't think that would be a driving force. Chris Grant is a very selfless individual and is only worried about the club and what's best for the club going forward," Eade said.