Sydney forward Kurt Tippett has announced his retirement from AFL football, effective immediately.
Tippett will hang up the boots after 178 games over 10 seasons with both Adelaide and Sydney, with the 30-year-old making the move from the Crows to the Swans at the end of the 2012 season.
โItโs really tough to leave a game and a club which I really love, but the reality is that my body isnโt going to stand up to the rigors of professional football. As I've found out in the past 18 months or so, it's impossible to play at the level you want without being fully fit,โ Tippett told sydneyswans.com.au.
โI want to thank the Swans and also the Crows for the opportunity to fulfil my dream to play and compete in the AFL. I would also like to thank my teammates and coaches, particularly John Longmire and Neil Craig, and the fans and supporters of our great game.
โLast but not least I would like to thank my family and friends for their love and support over my career. As sad as I am that I wonโt play at this level again, I look forward to transitioning into the next phase of my lifeโ
The key forward's final year at the Swans was cut short by injury, as he played just nine games, missing rounds 11-19 with an ankle problem.
Tippett played the final four games of the home-and-away season, before the club dropped him for their Elimination Final win over Essendon.
Over his career, Tippett averaged 10.8 disposals, 3.9 marks and 1.8 goals per game.
