The conclusion of the 2026 AFL season also farewelled 20 stars of the competition, headed by Steele Sidebottom, Taylor Walker and Adam Treloar.
The crop combined for 14 premierships, six All-Australian blazers and five best and fairest awards.
Comprising living legends and club icons, here's a full list of every AFL player who has hung up the boots this year...
Adelaide
Taylor Walker - The Crows icon called time on his 19-year career, which spanned over 319 games. Walker was a goal-kicking legend, slotting 715 over his journey. He was the club's captain for four years, a 2023 All-Australian, seven-time club goal-kicking leader, Showdown Medallist and two-time AFLPA best captain.
Brisbane
N/A
Carlton
N/A
Collingwood
Steele Sidebottom - Much can be said about the smiling Pie, but from the outset, it didn't look like much worried him, whether it be playing in front of 100,000 people or on the training track. Sidebottom finished with two premierships, 375 games, an All-Australian blazer, two Copeland Trophies, a Gary Ayres Award, two Anzac Day Medals and spent eight years in the Collingwood leadership group.
Essendon
N/A
Fremantle
Sam Switkowski - Almost completed the fairytale finish by winning an AFL Grand Final as his last match, but unfortunately, the Lions prevailed this year. Switkowski joined the Dockers as a mature-age rookie, yet he carved out 131 games across nine years, whilst slotting 79 goals. He was the ultimate team man, and played selfless roles to allow others to shine. He is now a development coach at North Melbourne.
Geelong
Rhys Stanley - The two-club ruckman began his time in the AFL at St Kilda, playing 58 games in six seasons before moving to Geelong. It was at the Cats that Stanley found his feet at the level, locking down the primary ruck role under Chris Scott. He helped deliver a premiership in 2022, and played 172 matches before calling time on his career. He finished with 230 AFL games.
Jake Kolodjashnij - The uncompromising defender was a pillar in Geelong's defence for a decade, which included the 2022 flag. Kolodjashnij played 209 games under Chris Scott, but ultimately injuries and head knocks would get the better of him. The Tasmanian product was subject to one of the most controversial contract clauses in recent memory.
Gold Coast
Nick Holman - Initially drafted by Carlton, Holman didn't play a game for the Blues in two seasons before he found his way to the Suns via the 2018 rookie draft. It was on the Gold Coast that the pressure forward found a spot in the AFL, playing 145 games and kicking 81 goals.
GWS
N/A
Hawthorn
N/A
Melbourne
Tom Campbell - One of the AFL's great journeymen finally decided to hang up the boots after four clubs since he was drafted in 2012. Campbell began at the Western Bulldogs, playing 42 of his 58 senior games. He moved to North Melbourne for three seasons, added 12 matches, then had a brief stint at St Kilda. Campbell finished his career as Max Gawn's back-up, playing no AFL matches in two seasons at Melbourne. He is a VFL premiership player (2016 - Footscray) and was last year's Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy winner at the Demons.
Steven May - The key defender was an inaugural Gold Coast player, featuring for the club when they entered the AFL in 2011. He played 123 for the Suns, including two seasons as the club's captain. But a move to the Demons proved fortuitous for May, helping deliver the drought-breaking premiership in 2021. He was also an All-Australian in 2021 and 2022. He finished his AFL career with 251 games.
Shane McAdam - The mercurial forward played 53 games for Adelaide and the Demons after being selected in the 2018 pre-draft. Injuries curtailed McAdam's time at Melbourne.
Jake Melksham - The former Pick 10 played 255 games between Essendon and Melbourne. Melksham featured for the Bombers for six years, including the supplements saga, meaning he missed the 2016 campaign. He was traded to the Demons and began playing the following seasons as a forward 50 option. He missed the 2021 flag through injury, but was a cult figure by the time of his AFL conclusion.
North Melbourne
N/A
Port Adelaide
Will Brodie - The three-club midfielder shocked most when he announced his retirement from the AFL after only 56 games in 10 seasons. Brodie was drafted by Gold Coast with Pick 9 in 2016, and played 25 matches for the Suns. He then moved to Fremantle, where he enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022. However, he has only added seven senior games since then, including two at Port Adelaide this year. He was a WAFL premiership player in 2024.
Ivan Soldo - The ruckman was signed as a Category B Rookie, converting from basketball and soccer to football. He was close with former Tigers tall Ivan Maric and made his debut in 2017 after two seasons with the club. He broke through into the senior side and featured in the club's 2019 flag win. He finished with 57 games for Richmond before he moved to Port Adelaide for three years, adding nine matches in the black and teal.
Richmond
Nathan Broad - Plucked from obscurity in the 2015 draft, Broad was one of the last picks, taken with Pick 67. However, his impact was significant, helping the Tigers deliver three flags in four seasons between 2017 and 2020. He played 191 games in the yellow and black and has now moved to Fremantle as a development coach.
Dion Prestia - The on-baller was an inaugural Sun, playing 95 games before he made the trade of a lifetime. Prestia moved to Richmond as the club entered its dynasty, winning three flags in his first four seasons at the Tigers. He was a Jack Dyer Medallist in 2019 (a premiership-winning year). He finished his AFL career with 254 games and is now a development coach at Hawthorn.
St Kilda
Dougal Howard - The rangy defender finished with 145 games for Port Adelaide and St Kilda, with his final AFL match being his 100th for the Saints. He was drafted with Pick 56 in 2014 by the Power, but ultimately injuries prevented him from playing consistent football.
Sydney
Dane Rampe - The Swans icon called time on his career after 289 games, and will go down as one of the greats of the club. Rampe joined Sydney as a rookie, and defied the odds to lock in a role immediately under John Longmire. He featured in four AFL Grand Finals across his career, earning an All-Australian blazer and led the club for five seasons. Rampe won the Bob Skilton Medal in 2019 and ranked fourth in Sydney's most capped finals player.
Taylor Adams - The midfielder finished as a three-club player, starting with the Giants as they entered the AFL. After two seasons, he was traded to Collingwood for Heath Shaw, and played 10 seasons in the black and white, which included 175 matches, an All-Australian and the Copeland Trophy. After missing out on the 2023 Grand Final, he sought a move to Sydney and played 23 games in three years. Adams retired with 229 matches.
West Coast
Jamie Cripps - People forget Cripps was drafted by St Kilda in 2010, but after two seasons, he wanted to return to his home state. The Eagles snapped him up, with the move proving its worth after 14 years of service. Cripps played a crucial role in the 2018 flag and has helped develop the next generation of West Coast youngsters. He retired with 277 games and 339 goals.
Western Bulldogs
James Harmes - Formally a rookie, the Demons took a punt on Harmes in 2013 and it worked out well. He played a pivotal role in the club's 2021 premiership as well as 152 games in 10 seasons. A move to the Western Bulldogs was to extend his AFL career, but Harmes only added 22 matches before announcing his retirement.
Tom Liberatore - The Bulldogs icon joined the club as a father-son in 2010. Liberatore was a Charles Sutton Medallist in 2014, and was a three-time Doug Hawkins (second) Medal winner and a two-time Gary Dempsey (third) Medallist. But his crowning moment was the 2016 premiership. Liberatore finished with 268 games and 93 goals, but many moments will live on in Bulldogs folklore.
Adam Treloar - The midfielder played for three clubs, but didn't notch up 100 games for any. He played 79 matches for the Giants before reuniting with Taylor Adams at Collingwood. He was famously part of the Pies' fire sale in 2020 despite being a significant contributor, and moved on to the Western Bulldogs. Treloar played another 90 AFL matches and was huge in the 2021 Grand Final in the loss to Melbourne. He was awarded a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2024 and won the VFL premiership the year after.
