An emotional Sam Switkowksi has stunned his Fremantle teammates by announcing his retirement on the eve of the AFL finals.
Switkowski, 29, will hang up the boots at the end of the season, hoping to end his career with a premiership.
The fan favourite has played all but one game this year as the Dockers surged to premiership favourites off the back of a brilliant 19-4 season.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Switkowski has only kicked 12 goals, but is a key member of the high-functioning forward line with his elite pressure.
The decision was family driven with he and wife Savannah expecting their first child.
“It’s definitely been something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Switkowski said.
“I’ve been weighing up when might be the right time to head back home and reconnect with family and friends because it’s something that’s always been really important to me – even more so now – starting a new family of my own.
“It’s been a tough decision because the journey’s been so incredible. I’ve absolutely loved my time at Freo.
“I’ve hit that point now that I have good clarity on who I am as a person and my values, and the things that are really important to me. It just feels like it’s the right time to move onto the next phase of my life.
“Being around family and friends again to set up Sav, myself and my family in the best place to be the best father and husband I can be.”
It’s understood Fremantle had a contract offer on the table, while rival clubs raised the possibility of recruiting Switkowski as a free agent, but the Docker never entertained it.
“I’ve only ever wanted to play for Fremantle and I’ve felt that way for a long time. I’m really proud of the small contribution I’ve made,” he said.
“I never thought I’d have made it into the AFL, let alone play close to 130 games now and be in the system for almost a decade.
“I’m so grateful for the experience, it’s just been a privilege to be able to do this as a job for so long. I’m incredibly proud for what I’ve achieved and for what the club has been able to achieve and transform into over my journey.
“I don’t have the desire to continue my playing career anywhere else so I’ll be moving on to something different, I’m not sure what yet.
“I’m really at peace with the decision and content and excited for finals footy, to really just enjoy every moment and see what we can do.”
Raised in Victoria, Switkowski was recruited to Fremantle at aged 21 after a string of strong seasons in the VFL.
He has played 127 games and placed inside the top 10 of the best and fairest times, as well as winning the best club award in 2022.
“We’ve been having ongoing discussions with Sam and his management across the year as our focus was to look to extend his playing career with the club beyond 2026,” Fremantle GM of Football Joe Brierty said.
“As it became clearer that Sam had decided to head back home to be around family and friends before starting the next phase of his life with Sav, and the impending arrival of their first son – we understood and respected his decision.
“It’s an unusual situation when you have a player that has decided to retire while still playing some of his best football during his time at the Club, but this is just a reflection of the calibre and character of the person that Sam is.
“Not for one moment in his time at Fremantle has Sam not invested 100 percent of himself as a player, teammate and leader.
“Sam will be remembered as a player that got every ounce out of his football career, played his role for the team week in week out and always put the Club first.
“Now it’s time for Sam and Sav to prioritise their family and what comes next, knowing that they will forever be part of the Fremantle family. But before this, we know that Sam is committed to ending his career the right way as a key part of our playing group determined to give everything to the coming finals series.”
