Major announcement today - Kirk to retire

[Lucky Knickers]

sick of reading in reports and other forums etc that he was a gutsy player with rubbish skills. I think his stats show he was an excellent midfielder, who achieved elite level performance for quite a while. Its a bit of a perception hes a hack who tried hard, bit unfair

From all I've read it is a very small minority. The vast bulk of posters on footy forums love the bloke.

[johnno]

i can't recall who said it, but somebody recently (Matthew Lloyd??) said that he was the best kick in the comp for efficiency because he knew his limitations and played to them. Tackling, extracting the pill from the pack, knowing where to go to get to the contest, actually getting to the next contest, putting the head over the ball, taking a crunch in a pack, not only tagging but defeating the tagee (?) and beating them, handballs to a free player, discipline to not get sucked in but to put things out of his mind and keep going, gut running, inability to accept defeat, demonstrate incredible leadership not only by example but being vocal (3/4 time 2005 prelim, 1/2 time 2006 GF anybody?), driving a club culture. These are huge skills in the game that most players don't all have. Nope, he can't kick laser-like 60m passes like Gilbee, or soar like Motlop (but didn't Kirky take a great one last year or 2008 over an Ade player?), but he well made up for it in other areas.

Much, MUCH more than a plodder who worked hard.

i personally love the footage of his address to the team just prior to the game against the tigers last year in Melbourne. Mickey O's 300th game. There's no audio of it, but you dont need audio. When I saw it, it made me want to jump the fence and start belting into the tiger players.

[ShockOfHair]

Legend. This Sunday let's win it for the skipper.

[Dogberry]

Haven't post here for a while but today is a sad day knowing that Kirky is leaving. I do hope he and Roosy will continue to involve with the Club in the future.

Since Kirky has been attending his coaching classes, hopefully he can show up as an assistant coach of the Club soon.......

Cheers.

[i'm-uninformed2]

The telling thing about Buddha Boy is that the Melbourne media can be very dismissive or begrudging of our blokes, but not him.

Enjoy rolling in cow dung, or whatever else awaits you in your quest for enlightenment, Hippie Head.

[CJK]

/salutes Kirk

[Jeffers1984]

Thanks for a fantastic career Kirky!
Brett Kirk = Toughest man alive.

[Justice]

This was posted as a comment by 'connolly' at Real Footy regarding the story:

"He should have retired at the end of last season. One season too many. His "leadership" is marked forever by an unprincipled and unforgivable public shafting of Barry Hall. The wrong bloke 'retired".

Wonder if it is the MIA "Bevan loving" Connolly of RWO infamy.

However, Kirk is such a tough-nut he should play until he if forty! Assistant coach position to be made available?

Cheers

Justice

[CJK]

LOL - check out this comment on the SMH story; Brett Kirk to retire from the Sydney Swans

He should have retired at the end of last season. One season too many. His "leadership" is marked forever by an unprincipled and unforgivable public shafting of Barry Hall. The wrong bloke 'retired".

Edit - Justice is swift!

[satchmopugdog]

I hate the inevitable march of time that leaves behind it my favourite players...but then just think there will be more favourite players

[T-bag]

Thank you Kirky for the never say die attitude all these years. You and I are virtually joined at the hip. We've been through a lot together, hand in hand. We'll still share those memorable moments though. Kirky and I are close - we had the same photographer for our respective weddings.

[erica]

Oh Kirky - love ya.

[Kirkari]

You know, if we play two finals, we could get Kirky 200 consecutive games....

But Christ, wouldn't it be amazing to send Kirk and Roos off with a GF win? With a full squad (C.Bolts and Seaby are due to return before finals), who knows? That would be an absolutely fairytale. Makes me all gooey just thinking about it.

I could die happy, and probably would, shortly after the final siren. Oh yeah, and a good few rounds of Cheer, Cheer the Red and the White...

[ScottH]

Well, there's a surprise.
Me thinks it would have been last year if 4 big names hadn't gone.

[hammo]

I think Kirky will be missed more than O'Loughlin, Crouch and Leo combined and that is not intending any disrespect towards those three.

It's a sad day indeed.