During his career Michael Wilson let his actions do the talking. Now, in his 'tribute' match, the veteran is hoping his talking sparks some action from a disappointing Port Adelaide line-up.
In his first weekend of retirement, Wilson was fortunate not to watch the Power's capitulation against the Blues in Round 19. But he's fully aware the team needs all the help they can get heading into their clash against the Magpies.
The 31-year-old, who won't complete the season because of a serious knee problem, will speak to Port's players before they run out onto AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
Wilson said he was looking forward to addressing the players.
"It's probably the most important part of the night, as I see it anyway, the last few minutes before they go out," he said.
"I'll have a sit back and think over the next few days. Things that occurred to me before I went out during the year were 'Play like it could be your last game'.
"Hopefully Friday night I can be a little bit of an inspiration to people. Gee, whatever it takes to get them up and winning I'm willing to do."
"You are always looking for ways you can motivate your team-mates to get us back into the winners' list."
Wilson's pre-match commitments will also involve a lap of honour 30 minutes before the match. The former Port Magpies player, known for his no nonsense approach, admitted he'd initially had mixed emotions of being farewelled by the crowd.
"Ideally you finish on a high note and you are playing well and you go out in your last game and you are able to play but it feels a little bit self-indulgent to go around in a car and wave to people," he said.
"I hope people are there because it's going to be a very cold, lonely night if I'm riding around in the car and its pouring with rain."
"The supporters and the fans have been fantastic … I guess it's just a chance for me to say thankyou to them as well."
Mitch Farmer, who is preparing for his third game with the club, said the players were 'pumped' for Wilson's farewell.
The 19-year-old said the veteran had been an inspiration to him and taught him a lot about playing for Port.
"Go out there, do all the one percenters, throw your body on the ball, don't let your man get a kick just those kinds of things, the traits he had in his game," Farmer said.
"Coming over here and seeing the way he trained and the way that he played and how hard he went at the ball I guess, I just looked up to that and thought I want to be him."
Ruck coach Matthew Primus said he was looking forward to seeing a big crowd come out for the clash against Collingwood.
"We are hoping our supporters not only come along to farewell a guy that has been at our club for a long time but also see the fresh faces that we have playing for us and see the future of our club," Primus said.