TonyK
CibbuanoBurns calls it quits
September 22nd 2008 01:54
COLLINGWOOD skipper Scott Burns has announced his retirement from AFL football.
The 264-game veteran admitted that his body could no longer cope with the rigours of modern football.
"I pretty much knew mid-year that I was done, body-wise. So it hasn't been a terribly hard decision to make over the last week or so," Burns said.
"There were a few things structurally, just back and neck and hip which you notice as you get older and I just knew I was really close to completely stopping.”
"I didn't want to go to the well once too often."
"This time next year you could have a detrimental effect on the team and the players if you're not quite up to it and I felt that it's pretty good timing now to get out."
Burns also said his decision to pull out of the side for the club's semi-final loss to St Kilda with a calf strain was he right one.
"The best thing for me was the Saturday morning when I was messing around with my young son on the bed and I felt it," Burns said.
"I remember seeing Rhyce Shaw running around like a headless chook at training and looking really good and I would have been going into that game hoping that the boys would have covered for me."
"You just can’t go into a final feeling that way."
"I would have loved to have played one more but it was not to be."
Burns is expected to take up an assistant coaching role next season with Geelong and Carlton reportedly interested in securing his services.
"I love the industry and I would love to stay involved," Burns said.
"I've kept quiet really in terms of making contact with too many people, but now I've officially retired it's a matter of sitting down and discussing things and finding out where we go from here."
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said Burns’ career would have a lasting effect on the club.
"'Burnsy' has left a footprint on this football club - one of hardness, one of fairness and, I think, one of durability, because he's not the biggest player" Malthouse said.
"That footprint will be looked at, studied and hopefully taken up by some of the younger players that are going to be in our leadership group next year."
The 264-game veteran admitted that his body could no longer cope with the rigours of modern football.
"I pretty much knew mid-year that I was done, body-wise. So it hasn't been a terribly hard decision to make over the last week or so," Burns said.
"There were a few things structurally, just back and neck and hip which you notice as you get older and I just knew I was really close to completely stopping.”
"I didn't want to go to the well once too often."
"This time next year you could have a detrimental effect on the team and the players if you're not quite up to it and I felt that it's pretty good timing now to get out."
Burns also said his decision to pull out of the side for the club's semi-final loss to St Kilda with a calf strain was he right one.
"The best thing for me was the Saturday morning when I was messing around with my young son on the bed and I felt it," Burns said.
"I remember seeing Rhyce Shaw running around like a headless chook at training and looking really good and I would have been going into that game hoping that the boys would have covered for me."
"You just can’t go into a final feeling that way."
"I would have loved to have played one more but it was not to be."
Burns is expected to take up an assistant coaching role next season with Geelong and Carlton reportedly interested in securing his services.
"I love the industry and I would love to stay involved," Burns said.
"I've kept quiet really in terms of making contact with too many people, but now I've officially retired it's a matter of sitting down and discussing things and finding out where we go from here."
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said Burns’ career would have a lasting effect on the club.
"'Burnsy' has left a footprint on this football club - one of hardness, one of fairness and, I think, one of durability, because he's not the biggest player" Malthouse said.
"That footprint will be looked at, studied and hopefully taken up by some of the younger players that are going to be in our leadership group next year."
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