Melbourne's Brad Green has used the announcement of his retirement to issue a challenge to the Demons squad to 'get on' with the job of moving up the AFL ladder.
Green has played 13 seasons for Melbourne since he started his career in Round 2 of 2000 and has conceded his biggest regret was missing out on an AFL premiership after playing in a grand final in his first year.
The 31-year-old believes a change of attitude at the Demons is required to get the club into the AFL finals for the first time since 2006.
"It's time that a few of the guys who are maybe thinking they're happy being on an AFL list (change their mentality)," Green said.
"Gone are the days when you're just happy being on an AFL list.
"I think it's time now this club and the players really need to stand up and buy in to where 'Neeldy' (Melbourne coach Mark Neeld) wants to take it and want to strive and achieve something."
Speaking in front of Melbourne's playing group, coaches and a large number of administration staff on Wednesday, Green revealed he felt that playing next year would hinder the development of the Demons' younger players.
"Melbourne sort of needs to move past me and get on with it and the time's now," Green said.
Demons coach Mark Neeld revealed that retirement had been a topic he had discussed with Green for quite some time.
"We've been having weekly chats probably since I've turned up and we've been talking about retirement for I suppose quite a few months," Neeld said.
Melbourne drafted Green in 1999 with the 19th pick of the AFL national draft.
The Tasmanian has played 251 games for the Demons and kicked 346 goals.
Melbourne have pin-pointed their Round 22 clash with Adelaide at the MCG as a tribute match for Green.
1 Comments
Well done Brad. I wish there were a few more like you in the club.
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