North Melbourne veteran Aaron Hall has announced his retirement from football, effective immediately.
The 12-season, 161-gamer revealed his decision on Wednesday afternoon.
The 32-year-old, after being picked at No. 7 in the 2012 National Draft by the Gold Coast Suns, played 103 games on the Sunshine Coast before making the move to Arden Street later in his career, appearing in 58 games with North Melbourne.
The defender's retirement comes as he battles an Achilles injury that has been lingering over the course of recent months.
Hall informed his teammates of his decision early Wednesday morning, expressing his gratitude towards the team, as well as the amount of fun he's had throughout his career.
"I'll look back in time and I'll be proud of the resilience I've shown to be able to get through and forge a career," Hall reflected on Wednesday.
"You're not promised anything in footy. You're not promised silverware, you're not promised wins. But what you can do is give everything you can.
"When you're an old fossil like me and you're standing in front of everyone saying goodbye, you can wholeheartedly say you've given everything.
"I've had a blast. I could never have dreamed of this and I'm looking forward to the next phase of my life."
North Melbourne GM of football Todd Viney expressed his congratulations to Hall, stating Hall always gave his best when donning a Roos guernsey.
"Aaron has battled more injuries than most across his career, but what has never wavered is his want for the team to be better," Viney said on Wednesday.
"Football has been a big part of Aaron's life for a long period of time and he's made a significant contribution to the North Melbourne Football Club.
"These decisions aren't easy to make, but Aaron has done so with the support of his family and the club. We wish Aaron and his family the best as they embark on their next chapter."
Throughout his AFL tenure, Hall averaged 20.4 disposals, 4.3 marks, 3 tackles, and 427.3 metres gained.
