Eagles veteran weighing up his playing futureWEST Coast's David Wirrpanda is believed to be ready to announce his retirement from the AFL after the Eagles scheduled a press conference for tomorrow afternoon.
Eagles coach John Worsfold today said he was unaware of Wirrpanda's intentions. But he said he wouldn't stand in the veteran's way should he decide to hang up his boots.
The 30-year-old Wirrpanda skipped West Coast's final game of the season on Friday night to attend the birth of his first child.
"I met with him briefly today but it was more shaking his hand and congratulating him (on the baby)," Worsfold said. "But I'm going to meet with him tomorrow morning and get his views on where he sits. It's probably like any decision. There's a little bit of negotiation in it but if I plead with him to play on and he says 'get stuffed', then it's not really a joint decision, and vice-versa. I'll meet with him tomorrow and get a feel for where he's at and what he wants to do, how he's thinking and what he feels. And I'll let him know where us as a match committee see him going forward."
The 227-game veteran Wirrpanda has played 18 of a possible 22 games this season and averaged a solid 20 possessions per match along with his 11 goals. But Worsfold was unsure whether Wirrpanda was up for it, mentally and physically, to go around again for a 15th season.
"You don't know how the season is going to pan out," Worsfold said. "On the real positive note he plays every game and plays really well and has a big impact on the team going forward. And on the other hand it could go pear-shaped where he gets injuries and struggles to string games together and has to play in the WAFL to get form and fitness. You do have to weigh up both extremes and you have to be prepared to deal with both. It's always great if it goes beautifully, but you have to be mentally prepared that it might not and know how you are going to cope with that."
Wirrpanda is but one of a number of big names who have either bowed out or weighing up the decision to retire or play on next season. Already, we have seen Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Matthew Whelan (Melbourne) and Michael O'Loughlin (Syndey) call time on their AFL careers this season.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Monday, August 31, 2009
Last Modified on 31/08/2009 21:46