AFL icons Nat Fyfe and Travis Boak lead a crop of 24 players retiring from the AFL in 2025.
With every year comes another group of favourite players and superstars who move on to the next chapter in their lives.
The crop from 2025 combined for 12 premierships, two Brownlow Medals, 17 All-Australian blazers, 10 club champions and plenty of other individual accolades.
Compiled of living legends and club icons, here's a full list of every AFL player that has hung up the boots this year...
Adelaide
Matt Crouch - The Crows onballer put an end to his AFL career after battling persistent hip issues that plagued his 2025 campaign. Crouch, an All-Australian in 2017, was an elite accumulator, recording the third-most disposals (825) in a season. He finished with 164 games, as well as Malcolm Blight and Showdown Medals.
Brodie Smith - The dashing defender called time at West Lakes after 15 years and 273 games. Smith burst onto the scene with his lethal foot skills and line-breaking speed, to which he was rewarded with an All-Australian blazer in 2014, the same year he was named in the 22under22 team. He also represented Australia in the 2014 International Rules Series.
Brisbane
Oscar McInerney - If there's a perfect way to go out, McInerney sure found a way. The Lions ruckman signed off with an elusive premiership, following heartbreak over the past two years. The rookie selection played 165 games over nine seasons and proved to be one of the best bargain-based pick-ups in recent memory.
Sam Day - Started his career at Gold Coast, Day officially hung up the boots after 12 months in Brisbane. In total, the key forward played 168 games (155 for the Suns), and secured a VFL premiership in 2023.
Carlton
Sam Docherty - A true warrior of life, Docherty overcame two bouts of cancer and three ACL tears to return to football. He began his AFL journey at Brisbane, but returned to Victoria to become a cult figure at Carlton. Docherty was a Blues co-captain for three seasons, an All-Australian (2017) and John Nicholls medallist (2016). Across his glittering career, he also received a Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award (2023) for his off-field impact, helping raise funds and awareness for cancer research.
Collingwood
Will Hoskin-Elliott - An inaugural Giant, the utility spent five seasons at the expansion club before joining boyhood side Collingwood. Hoskin-Elliott's biggest weapon was his versatility, while playing predominantly in the front half. The former Pick 4 played 242 AFL games (190 at the Pies), including the 2023 premiership triumph. He also won a NEAFL flag in 2016.
Essendon
N/A
Fremantle
Nat Fyfe - Arguably the biggest name in this year's crop of retirements. From an individual perspective, Fyfe achieved it all. Two Brownlow Medals, three All-Australians, two Leigh Matthews Trophies, three Doig Medals and a flurry of other awards. The high-flying Docker played 248 games but never claimed the elusive premiership, despite getting close in 2013 and 2015. Fyfe also captained the club for six years and represented Australia in the International Rules Series.
Michael Walters - The freakish goalkicker was one of the most dangerous forwards during his time in the competition. Walters finished his time in the AFL with 239 games and 365 goals, claiming an All-Australian guernsey in 2019. He also led the Dockers' goalkicking five times and was a WAFL premiership player in 2010.
James Aish - The three-club journeyman played for Brisbane (32 games), Collingwood (50) and Fremantle (104) across 12 seasons. Aish was a top 10 pick, taken by the Lions in 2013, and was a consistent contributor throughout his time. He claimed two SANFL premierships before his AFL drafting, and featured in Collingwood's grand final side in 2018.
Quinton Narkle - Another three-club player, Narkle was seen 59 times during stints at Geelong, Port Adelaide and the Dockers. He was a late selection in the 2016 draft, but showed glimpses of his brilliance and creativity up forward.
Geelong
Mitch Duncan - The Cats icon finished his career with 305 games and two premierships. Duncan was a second-round pick in 2009, but quickly made an impression on Geelong and the coaching staff, winning a flag in his second season. From then, he played in a variety of positions, proving to be a 'Mr Fix-It'. His elite ball use and ability to read the game made him a star of the competition.
Gold Coast
David Swallow - The heartbeat of the Suns, Swallow was the first player drafted by the club before their introduction to the AFL. Drafted with Pick 1 in 2010, the midfielder played 249 games before retiring after 15 seasons. He captained the club for three years and was a best and fairest winner in 2014. Swallow also featured as Gold Coast broke the finals drought, and kicked the match-winning score against Fremantle in the 2025 elimination final.
Sean Lemmens - An underrated defender from South Australia, Lemmens quickly made the half-back position his own at the Suns. Drafted with Pick 27 in 2013, he played 148 games.
GWS
Callan Ward - There's plenty that can be said for Ward, whose impact at the Giants is similar to that of Swallow's at Gold Coast. He began his career at the Bulldogs, playing 60 games in four years before joining GWS as one of their first recruits. Ward added 267 matches before he called it quits, but not before leading the club for eight seasons as well as claiming the inaugural Kevin Sheedy Medal in 2012.
Lachie Keeffe - Originally drafted as a rookie by Collingwood, Keeffe was listed for 17 seasons at AFL level for only 119 games. He played 40 for the Pies before moving to the Giants, where he added 79.
Hawthorn
Luke Breust - You couldn't get much more out of a small forward in the modern game. Breust ended his time at the Hawks with three premierships, two All-Australians and five club leading goalkicking titles. He played 308 games, which ranks third on Hawthorn's all-time list behind AFL icons Michael Tuck and Leigh Matthews.
Melbourne
N/A
North Melbourne
N/A
Port Adelaide
Travis Boak - Another spirited player who took a club that was on its knees back to premiership contention. Boak finished with 387 games as a Port Adelaide champion, holding the captaincy for six years as well as earning three All-Australian blazers and two John Cahill Medals. He rebuffed local club Geelong to bring the Power back to life, and also played in two International Rules Series for Australia.
Willie Rioli - The crafty forward made an immediate impact at AFL level for the Eagles, claiming a premiership in his second season (2018). Rioli played 51 matches for West Coast before heading to the Power, adding another 58 games to his tally.
Rory Atkins - The three-club player did most of his work at Adelaide, playing 101 games for the Crows, including the 2017 grand final. He moved to Gold Coast for four years, but after falling out of favour, returned to South Australia to don Port Adelaide colours. Atkins was only at Alberton for 12 months, retiring after 141 matches.
Richmond
N/A
St Kilda
Jimmy Webster - A reliable defender, Webster spent 14 years at Moorabbin and played 180 games. He was a late pick in the 2011 draft, but proved to be of worth to the Saints over the years, guiding the youngsters through their development.
Sydney
N/A
West Coast
Jeremy McGovern - Arguably the best key defender of this generation, McGovern's career was unfortunately ended abruptly due to concussion problems. However, prior to his injury troubles, he was awarded five All-Australian blazers and a premiership medallion. McGovern was also the 2024 John Worsfold medallist and a Claremont premiership player in the WAFL.
Dom Sheed - The midfielder's career is known for one thing: his clutch 2018 grand final goal against Collingwood. However, Sheed was a dominant midfielder, whose classy left foot and smooth running created link plays for the Eagles. His career ended with 165 games, but he will go down as a club icon.
Jayden Hunt - The speedster began his AFL career at Melbourne as a late pick in the 2013 draft. Hunt played 114 games for the Demons before he requested a move to West Coast, where he added another three years to his journey. But after 13 campaigns at the top-flight, totalling 172 matches, his time was done.
Western Bulldogs
Taylor Duryea - A Pick 69 who proved his worth very quickly. Duryea spent lengthy periods at Hawthorn (118 games) and the Western Bulldogs (101). He claimed two AFL premierships for the Hawks, as well as a VFL flag, while he added to his trophy cabinet at the Bulldogs, securing a reserves premiership in 2025.
