‘Push me out with a broom’: Legend’s veteran plea as 18-club retirement state of play revealed

As Scott Pendlebury was detailing why he will continue on into a season where it is probable he will break the AFL’s games record, the Collingwood champion offered a sound reason for pushing on with the Pies into 2026.

Even at 37, and with 421 games and 20 seasons of experience, the former Magpies skipper is mindful of how fortunate he is to be doing something he loves for a living.

“As far as I am concerned it is still the best job in the world,” the Norm Smith Medallist told the Herald Sun.

“The club still wants me, I feel I can still contribute and help make others better, so I want to keep going.”

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That, according to Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall and three-time premiership forward Cam Mooney, is something every veteran should keep in mind as they contemplate their future after football.

“I think a player should get everything they can out of the game. They work so hard now and it is a full-time career,” Dunstall said.

“And you know what? People sit there and say, ‘Oh, have you lost the passion?’. My God, there is a living to be made out of playing football now, so why wouldn’t you eke out every possible game, season, year that you can.

“You get an opportunity to do something that’s great and perhaps set yourself up for life. So if I’m a player, oh man, you’d have to push me out the door with a broom, you know. And I don’t begrudge anyone staying as long as they possibly can.”

GWS Giants great retires after 327 games | 10:54

August is one of the most fascinating months in a footy season as contenders ready themselves for a premiership tilt and the pretenders lick their wounds and console themselves that there is always next year.

It is a month where players on the fringe fight for their futures, while champions of the game including Pendlebury and their clubs weigh up the benefits of playing on for another season or moving on to the next phase of their life.

Some of the biggest names in footy will be finalising these decisions over the next seven weeks while trying to find the footy and contribute to their team’s quest for a premiership, with Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe the latest to clarify his future.

It was notable that after the narrow win over Port Adelaide that kept Fremantle’s top four hopes alive, Fyfe swapped jumpers with the Power’s ex-skipper and retiring champion Travis Boak.

The dual-Brownlow Medallist, who is one of the finest footballers to play this century, announced on Monday that this season will be his last and that he will leave the game satisfied even if the Dockers prove unable to claim the premiership.

“I leave with a sense of understanding that I don’t really need anything further, which is a really peaceful place to be and yet myself — and the team — still find ourselves in a position where that elusive premiership dream is well and truly alive,” Fyfe said.

AFL stalwart Travis Boak retries | 01:08

Former Adelaide captain Taylor Walker, who has been on one-year contracts in recent years, is performing superbly and playing well enough to continue into 2026 should the desire hold as he, too, seeks a fairytale flag.

Dual-premiership Cat Mitch Duncan signalled he is open to a player-mentor role at a new club, with West Coast the logical destination, to continue his career into a 17th season, while triple-premiership Hawk Luke Breust returned to serve as a supersub against the Magpies.

Carlton’s courageous former captain Sam Docherty was among the big names to opt for an early retirement and bid farewell to the game against Brisbane late last month.

Ex-Bulldog and long-time Giants captain Callan Ward, who injured a knee earlier this year, said goodbye last week, joining Docker Michael Walters and West Coast premiership stars Jeremy McGovern and Dom Sheed as others to hang up the boots this year.

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Mooney, who made way for his mate Tom Hawkins in the 2011 finals series after playing in three premierships with Geelong and North Melbourne, agrees with Dunstall’s sentiment.

“I would say to every one of them that you are a long time retired,” Mooney told foxsports.com.au.

“It is a lot harder to make money out of footy than it is while playing, so go for as long as you possibly can.”

A consideration for both the player and the club is the risk of extending their careers a season too long.

But with a fortnight remaining, only seven players have prematurely retired in 2025 and Mooney said there is no shame in pushing on even if the preferred result does not eventuate.

“In the long-term, no-one is going to care if it does not work out and you retire in Rd 10 the following year,” the Fox Footy analyst said.

Fox Footy takes a look at the state of play surrounding mature-aged champions and club favourites on your team’s list.

Adelaide

Walker, who is set to play his 300th game in a qualifying final for Adelaide, has been in good form this season in conjunction with Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty. He has kicked 34 goals in 19 games, including two brilliant late goals against Hawthorn in Rd 21.

Teammate Isaac Cumming told the Herald Sun after those heroics he hoped his fellow Broken Hill mate played on.

“The footy he’s playing for a 35-year-old is absolutely insane,’’ Cumming said..

“I seriously hope he plays on (next season) and if he keeps playing the way he is he’s probably got another two (years) in him.’’

Club favourites Brodie Smith and Brad Crouch have played only 13 games between them this season.

Brisbane

Former skipper Dayne Zorko has played superb football and is clearly a weapon off halfback.

The next month shapes as a fascinating time for the Lions as they seek to defend their premiership, with a firing Zorko a cog in their hopes. He is set to play his 300th game in the final round of the season.

“My GPS numbers are as high as they’ve ever been through my whole career, at the age of 36,” Zorko told the AFL website earlier this year.

“I feel as though my body is in a really good position at the moment, and I can keep soldiering on.”

Carlton

Revered former skipper Sam Docherty has already retired and it is certain Carlton will make more calls on its list after a disappointing season, with fascination surrounding Jack Silvagni’s future.

Collingwood

Pendlebury will continue on and seems a certainty to pass both Michael Tuck and Brent Harvey to become the new games record holder, provided his fitness holds.

Jeremy Howe, who will miss against Adelaide this weekend due to concussion protocols, and Steele Sidebottom, whose 350th game celebrations were marred by their loss to Hawthorn, are considered effectively locked-in for next year as well.

Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell has said he would like to continue on next year, while premiership Pies Mason Cox and Will Hoskin-Elliott are other veterans out of contract.

“I’ve dedicated a lifetime to getting the most out of myself and I still feel I have a lot left in the tank. I’ve come in and played three games this year and tried to contribute as best I can,” Mitchell told the AFL website late last month.

“I love Collingwood, love being a part of this club and this culture under ‘Fly’. He is one of the most genuine guys you’ll ever meet in your life. I love it here at Collingwood and would love to be a part of it in future.”

Steele Sidebottom of the Magpies is chaired from the field after his 350th match by teammates Scott Pendlebury (left) and Brayden Maynard (right). Source: Getty Images

Essendon

Dylan Shiel, who is at the Tribunal this week, is reportedly keen to continue on into 15th season, which would mark eight years as a Bomber, but Essendon is certain to make some significant calls on its list after an injury-riddled season.

What that means for golden oldie Todd Goldstein, who showed some dash against Geelong last Friday, remains unclear.

Fremantle

Fremantle lost Michael Walters earlier in the season and now another beloved Docker in Fyfe has confirmed he will finish up at the end of the season.

Former Lion and Magpie James Aish has managed just three games for the Dockers in what is his 12th season of footy and is out of contract.

Geelong

Duncan’s comments on the weekend were interesting, with the versatile Cat saying he was unlikely to be at Geelong this year, as much as he loves the club.

Cam Guthrie is a club champion but has been riddled with injury in recent years. His fate could rest on his ability to find full fitness and force his way into the side for September, where he is a proven performer.

Rhys Stanley’s athleticism stands him in good stead and there appears no barriers to him continuing should he wish to keep playing.

Mitch Duncan of the Cats. Source: Getty Images

Gold Coast

The interest surrounds former skipper David Swallow and sharpshooter Alex Sexton in a team that will play finals for the first time in its history, barring anything untoward unfolding over the final fortnight of the season.

The pair have been decorated servants for the Suns but have played only ten games between them this season in a year where the Gold Coast has taken a significant step forward under Damien Hardwick.

GWS Giants

The retirement of Ward is a blow given his longstanding contribution to the Giants, but the severity of the knee injury meant that 2026 was effectively going to prove a write-off anyway.

Former Magpie Lachie Keeffe has overcome adversity, some at his own hand, through a career that began at Collingwood back in 2010 but has played only three games this season.

Hawthorn

Jack Gunston continues to play brilliant football for the Hawks and is on track for a career-best year in front of goal, with his 53 goals for the season within range of the 58 goals he kicked back in 2014 in the middle year of Hawthorn’s premiership threepeat.

Breust, who was canvassed earlier in this article, is a source of fascination. It is reported he will stay in football, but whether that is in an on-field role is not yet certain.

Melbourne

With a new coach incoming, it will be interesting to see what this means for Jake Melksham, who has played some good football, and Tom McDonald, who has also demonstrated his value again this season.

Tom McDonald of the Demons. Source: Getty Images

North Melbourne

The Kangaroos introduced experience in Luke Parker, Jack Darling and Caleb Daniel, who were champions or stars with other clubs.

It has been a difficult season for North Melbourne, but there elder players including those three are under contract.

Port Adelaide

Boak has been a champion for Port Adelaide but he is unlikely to be the only veteran to finish in what is Ken Hinkley’s last season at Port Adelaide, with incoming coach Josh Carr certain to have his opinions on the worth of several out-of-contract veterans.

Jeremy Finlayson has spent time in the SANFL this season but is a versatile player. Ryan Burton is not signed for next year but could be expected to earn a spot. If that is not at Port Adelaide, the defender surely receives another go elsewhere.

Richmond

Champion forward Tom Lynch has signed on for next season and it is expected that midfielder Dion Prestia, who has endured his share of injury issues, will continue on into 2026 as well after being able to play more regularly in the second half of the season.

“We don’t want to put a ceiling on how long that’s going to last, right now (Lynch) signs a one-year deal and Dion is looking at a one-year deal as well,” coach Adem Yze said.

“For a player, you don’t want to look at the end. You don’t want to see the finish line. You want to be able to perform and hopefully they can last as long as Pendles.”

Kamdyn McIntosh is another premiership favourite who is out of contract but is beloved at Tigerland.

St Kilda

With the main focus at the Saints holding on to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and securing Tom De Koning, the fate of veterans including Zak Jones has been on the backburner. He has played 13 games, including the past three, and gathered 26 touches in the monster comeback against the Demons in Rd 20.

Zak Jones of the Saints. Source: Getty Images

Sydney

Former skipper Luke Parker said goodbye to the Swans last year. Will another captain in Dane Rampe leave the club in a fortnight?

Coach Dean Cox said the Swans will canvas the future with the 35-year-old at the end of the season, with Rampe and another favourite Jake Lloyd among those out-of-contract after a disappointing season that sees Sydney as the 10th best team in the competition.

“We still know what Dane can do as a footballer and that’s really important. But when you’re 35, we’ll continue having conversations and then we’ll address at the end of the year what exactly that looks like,” Cox said late last month.

“Both parties in everything need to be fully committed to go ‘we think your best is still good enough’ and him going ‘I still have the desperation to play AFL footy’. So far, he’s said that, which is good news. But we’ll go through that when the season settles.”

West Coast

The concussion-forced retirement of McGovern and the exit of Sheed, who kicked the premiership-winning goal back in 2018, resulted in a lap of honour for the pair prior to a vastly-improved performance against Adelaide on Sunday.

Jamie Cripps continued to excel in the forward line and, with Duncan canvassed as a potential recruit given the mentorship he can offer, it seems certain the forward will continue on as well given there is an offer for him.

The future of club captain Oscar Allen, clearly, is the main source of intrigue heading into the off-season.

Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs boast a number of favourites who are yet to sign led by talisman Tom Liberatore, who would be a monty to continue on next year.

Adam Treloar is an interesting case given his injury history, but he does have much to offer and wants to play in September ... if the Bulldogs qualify and he is fit.

Liam Jones has done well in his second-coming as a Western Bulldog, but has been out of the team at times this season. Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen has played 14 games this year, including the past seven, but Taylor Duryea has managed only five games.

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