Revealed: AFL’s 22 retiring stars and what they will do after footy

As the 2025 football season draws to a close, so have the careers of 22 AFL players that have called time.

From dual Brownlow Medallists, to 19-year stalwarts, and a number of three-club journeymen — the list of retirees is filled with talent and optimism as they head into the next phase of their lives.

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Below reads the list of 25 retiring players from the ‘Class of 2025’ (as of Friday, September 26):

Matt Crouch (Adelaide Crows)

After a dozen years at West Lakes, the star Crow’s career came to an end off the back of ongoing hip complaints, his games tally finishing at 164. At 30 years of age, Crouch’s retirement probably came earlier than he would have ideally anticipated, but it hasn’t taken long for the 2017 All-Australian to appear on Adelaide’s airwaves with FivaAA alongside former teammate Ned McHenry.

Brodie Smith (Adelaide Crows)

After 273 games and 15 years in the AFL system, Smith announced his retirement at the end of Adelaide’s finals campaign this year. The dashing defender has dabbled in coaching at a notable level already, way back in 2018 when he was South Australia’s State U18 assistant coach amid his recovery from a ruptured ACL. Smith’s decision to retire from the league has only come in the last fortnight, but there’s no doubt clubs would come knocking for his services if it was a path he’d be keen to take up in future years.

Sam Docherty (Carlton)

The ever-courageous Blues great pulled the pin on his whirlwind AFL career after 184 games, his last game coming in Round 20 in a loss to Hawthorn. A member of the Board of the Peter Mac Cancer Foundation, Docherty plays an active role both inside and outside the football club in his fundraising efforts. Amid his several serious injuries, the 31-year-old has been involved boundary side as a coach and clearly has the knowledge to make it a full-time career, like many others on this list, should he choose.

Will Hoskin-Elliott (Collingwood)

It isn’t yet clear what the 242-gamer’s intentions are away from the game, but coaching would seem an option that’s open to him given his career-long ability to be malleable and play multiple roles. There were times in previous seasons where it looked as if Hoskin-Elliott’s career was coming to an end, but he kept finding a way to carve out a role for himself, including in a premiership side — making him an attractive prospective development coach, if he had the desire to take on such a role.

James Aish (Fremantle)

The three-club journeyman has studied a Bachelor of Psychological Science at Deakin University, although it’s unclear whether he will pursue a career in the field post-football. “It’s been a privilege to have played across three really good teams in three states,” Aish said via a Fremantle club statement. “It’s brought great challenges with moving, meeting new teammates and playing new positions, but it’s also been a blessing to meet great people along the way.”

Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

The dual Brownlow Medallist has previously indicated that he intends to return to the family trucking business when he retires from football. Fyfe’s family still runs a rural trucking business in Lake Grace in rural Western Australia. With 248 AFL games and a wealth of knowledge in the sport, it goes without saying that the 34-year-old could very easily jump into coaching if he wished to do so at some stage down the track.

Quinton Narkle (Fremantle)

Narkle now plans to relocate his young family to Darwin. “I’m feeling quite content with the decision and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in a place that’s very special to us,” Narkle said. Reigning NTFL premiers Southern Districts have announced Quinton Narkle as their newest big name recruit bolstering their chances of going back-to-back.

Michael Walters (Fremantle)

According to AFL Media in July, Fox Footy and fellow broadcaster Channel Seven were thought to have interest in bringing on Walters as talent, with the livewire forward’s analysis and presentation impressing after he featured on a Channel Seven game day broadcast in Perth this year. Walters said in a club release upon confirmation of his retirement: “I’m going to take some time off. Hopefully I don’t lose my six pack. It’s a serious question, but at the same time I just want to sit back and just enjoy my time off. I’ll still support, still be around the club, whether they like it or not. I’ll take some time, relax and gather my thoughts.”

Mitch Duncan (Geelong)

Will join West Coast as an assistant coach. While he has strong roots in Geelong with his wife and children, Duncan will return to his native Western Australia for the coaching role, having initially toyed with the concept of actually playing on with the Eagles for a year before entering coaching.

Sean Lemmens (Gold Coast Suns)

The 149-game Sun spent a dozen years on the Gold Coast after being taken with pick No.27 in the 2013 National Draft. Originally hailing from Salisbury in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, the 30-year-old is still considering the stage of his life. Lemmens may return to his home state and become involved with Port Adelaide’s Indigenous program, however could also remain put on the Gold Coast.

David Swallow (Gold Coast Suns)

What the inaugural Sun elects to do away from the game isn’t yet clear, but a coaching role would seem highly likely to be a possibility, having stuck around in the league for 15 years — and with Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick declaring he’d love Swallow to remain at the club in some capacity. Also a captain for three years at Gold Coast, Swallow possesses the leadership traits that clubs would be on the lookout for when seeking out newly out-of-the-game players for such roles. But after playing the hero in the Suns’ stirring elimination final win over Fremantle, Swallow might be content for the time being reflecting on his decorated 249-game career with his wife and two children.

Lachie Keeffe (GWS Giants)

Keeffe’s post-playing career plans appear to involve a transition into the finance industry, after 17 years in the AFL system which started at Collingwood. As of 2023, the utility had been studying for a Masters of Applied Finance in preparation for a career in that field. Keeffe played 119 games since his debut in 2011.

Callan Ward (GWS Giants)

Ward will return to live in Melbourne now that his and the Giants’ season has come to an end. Hawthorn and North Melbourne are reportedly among the clubs interested in luring him over in football department roles. It comes after the Roos had previously tried to sign Ward towards the end of his playing days. Clubs are also thought to be interested in luring Ward for leadership roles. Upon making his call to retire, Ward also expressed that he still wants to pursue his post-footy dream of becoming a firefighter.

Luke Breust (Hawthorn)

After a heartbreaking finish to his professional Australian rules career, Breust’s first focus will be the rehabilitation of a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. The 308-gamer endured the injury for Box Hill earlier this month, after missing out on Hawthorn’s finals campaign. That being said, Breust has already signed as a development coach at Richmond in a clear indication for what his future in the game looks like.

Rory Atkins (Port Adelaide)

The three-club journeyman announced in July he would retire at the end of season 2025, and finished his 141-game career in style with a heart-stopping Round 24 win over Gold Coast alongside teammate Travis Boak. Atkins indicated in his retirement press conference that he’s done some media and coaching, and might look to get into that post-career. Former teammates at Alberton believe he would be extremely well-equipped to jump into coaching, and is highly regarded for his understanding of the game.

Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)

After an incredible 19 years in the AFL, the Port Adelaide legend’s career came to an end with 387 games under his belt — seeing him sit outright seventh for all-time matches played in the V/AFL. Clubs including GWS and Collingwood have already expressed interest in adding Boak to their ranks in football department roles for 2026. “I’ve met with a few clubs, just to discuss what it kind of looks like,” Boak told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Thursday night. My love for the actual coaching art and the tactical side of the game, it’s not up my alley. But I love the whole performance side of it and the mindset, and the will to try and bet the best you can. I think I’ll move back to Victoria — all my family’s here, so I’m looking forward to that journey and that challenge.” In an earlier interview following his retirement announcement, Boak said: “I’ve got a rough idea that I want to stay in the mindset and life-coaching and performance-coaching space. I’d love to be in sport still, and some part in corporate and business as well, where we can help people define their identity outside of what they do. I’ve been able to learn a lot through that, and now I can hopefully share that knowledge with someone else.”

Willie Rioli (Port Adelaide)

The premiership Eagle and Power livewire is expected to take up a role helping develop Indigenous talent, after playing 109 games since his 2018 debut. “I now look forward to playing my role in helping the next generation of First Nations players coming through,” Rioli said in August.

Jimmy Webster (St Kilda)

After 14 years and 180 games at the level, it’s unclear what Webster has planned for life after footy. Like most of these retirees, the pacy rebounder could assess a future in coaching at the level.

Jayden Hunt (West Coast Eagles)

The 2021 premiership Dee retired after 172 AFL games between Melbourne and West Coast at age 30. A sharp golfer, Hunt will no doubt be looking forward to a fresh start that might let him hit the fairways more than he was able to as a professional footballer.

Jeremy McGovern (West Coast Eagles)

The Eagles’ 2018 premiership hero in McGovern was medically retired midway through June this year, with a Round 8 concussion prematurely ending his 197-game career. The 33-year-old has expressed an openness to remaining with the Eagles in some sort of coaching capacity, though he also has existing business ventures. McGovern co-founded West End Plumbing business, and in 2021 launched The McGovern Foundation to help Indigenous youth learn to drive and gain employment.

Dom Sheed (West Coast Eagles)

Sheed will trade his footy boots for work boots post-career, joining Australian Skilled Migration as WA Business Development Manager. ASM is a national skilled recruitment & migration company that works with employers to fill hard-to-staff roles through a range of pathways. “After over 10 years in AFL, I’ve learnt that success always comes down to the strength of your team,” Sheed said. “Whether it’s footy or business, if you can’t put the right people in the right roles, you’re not going to get the result you’re aiming for. I’ve always been passionate about backing WA industry. This isn’t just about recruitment, it’s about keeping local businesses viable, protecting jobs, and supporting families and communities. I’m proud to be part of something real, and I’m here to help WA businesses find the people they need.”

Taylor Duryea (Western Bulldogs)

After wrapping up a dual-premiership, 219-game AFL career, the Hawthorn and Bulldogs backman played a key leadership role in Footscray’s 2025 finals series, with the Bulldogs ultimately winning the premiership. Now, he’s officially inked a deal with Richmond as a development coach — joining forces with former flag teammate Luke Breust (also a development coach) and ex-Collingwood player Jack Madgen (VFL senior coach) at Tigerland. Duryea will help guide the Tigers’ burgeoning crop of youngsters in what will be Adem Yze’s third season at the helm.

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