TonyK
CibbuanoKirk announces retirement
May 19th 2010 02:57
The 33-year-old said he knew it was the right decision.
"I'm someone who has played with my heart, led with my heart, and this is a decision that has come from the heart," Kirk said.
"The reason I'm announcing it now is because I started to have thoughts about it over the last week or two."
"I was resisting it, and it was causing me stress and pain, so I need to listen to my intuition."
Kirk was instrumental in the Swans winning the 2005 premiership but said his greatest legacy was not about on-field achievements.
"It's more about the impact and significance I've had on the club and people around it," he said.
"I'm most proud of being part of building a culture here, and helping our club gain respect in the wider football community, and I'm proud of who I am."
Sydney coach Paul Roos paid tribute to Kirk
"Brett Kirk is not only one of the greats of this football club and the game, but he is an incredible example to everyone about what can be achieved with determination, hard work and a never-say-die attitude," Roos said.
"To go from a player who not only battled to get on the Swans list, but was also almost finished as a player at the end of 2002, and then to end his career as possibly one of the top five players to ever play for the football club is an achievement of mind over matter."
"It's not only his legacy as a player that is extraordinary."
"Equally important is his enormous influence on the culture of this football club."
"Hopefully there will always be a little bit of Brett Kirk in the Sydney Swans Football Club."
Since coming off the Swans' rookie list in 1999, Kirk has played 225 games - including an ongoing streak of 184.
Kirk - who has been co-captain since 2005 - won the club's best-and-fairest award in their premiership year and again in 2007. He also earned All-Australian honours in 2004.
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