Collingwood stalwart Anthony Rocca has announced his retirement from AFL football after 15 seasons and 242 games.
Rocca informed senior coach Mick Malthouse and his team-mates on Monday after the Pies were beaten convincingly by Geelong in the preliminary final on Saturday night.
It brings to an end a terrific career for the 32-year-old, who was a long-time favourite of the Magpie army and was renowned for his high marking and booming right foot.
Rocca began life as a Swan when Sydney drafted the key forward from the Northern Knights in the 1994 AFL Draft.
The 18-year-old was always reluctant to move to the Harbour city and after he completed his mandatory two years in Sydney, the Swans relented and traded Rocca to Collingwood to join his brother Saverio.
Rocca went on to play 220 games in the black and white, kicking 404 goals and leading the Pies goalkicking on four occasions (2000, '02, '06, '07). Rocca sits eighth on the all-time Collingwood goalkicking list and only 16 players have played more games for the Pies.
"I'm very proud of what I have achieved and I'm also very proud to have played alongside many great players," Rocca said.
"To move to Collingwood and be alongside the likes of Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, Gavin Brown, Graham Wright and particularly my brother Saverio, I am very fortunate."
Premiership glory proved elusive for Rocca with the unfancied Collingwood side of 2002 the closest he came to winning on the biggest stage.
Rocca was one of Collingwood's best players in the nine-point loss, kicking four of the team's nine goals in what proved to be a bittersweet day.
"Playing in the 2002 grand final was a highlight, but also one of the lowlights, but I'll always remember that opportunity," he said.
Malthouse was also quick with his praise of the hulking centre-half forward.
"I think we'll always be mindful of the fact that, in the 2002 grand final, he produced a herculean effort, and he almost got us over the line," he said.
"Unfortunately for us the following year he wasn't there in the grand final, and it was probably pretty reflective of the score line, and in many respects tells us how important he was to the football club."
"I think he's one of the most courageous players who I've coached, and one probably thinks it's easy for a bloke who is 195 centimetres and 105 kilograms to be brave, but the courage I talk of refers to his ability to play with injuries, to play through pain."
The struggle with injuries was a battle that Rocca knew only to well in his twilight years, his attempts to get back on the field for the qualifying final against St Kilda this season was well-documented
"2009 has been a battle, after I had ankle problems at the start of the year and an Achilles injury midway through the year, I really didn't know if I'd get back," he said.
"A specialist recommended I have six months off with the Achilles problem I had, but with the medical and conditioning staff we have at Collingwood I was able to get through it, get back and play five games in the VFL and earn my spot for that final against St Kilda."
Retirement will not consist totally of couch-time for Rocca as he ponders a punting career in the NFL and once again follow in the footsteps of his brother.
"Looking to life after footy, I want to take some time off, first of all take a holiday and go and visit my brother in the US," he added.
"I'm keen to try and get into the punting scene in the NFL, and I'll try my best to get a job in that arena, but if not I wouldn't mind doing some sort of part-time coaching role in the AFL. I'd love to stay at Collingwood because I love the place, it would be good to work behind the scenes."