Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff has announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
The current campaign will be Westhoff’s last at the elite level with the Power veteran opting to call time on his career.
The 33-year-old will not go around again in 2021 and is to finish up at season’s end but not before he helps the club attempt to achieve the ultimate success.
“I’m not getting any younger – I’m 33 going on 34 – and it just seems to be the right time in my life to move on and try some new things,” said Westhoff.
“Having a young family, I don’t want to miss much more of what my kids are doing, so it just felt like the right time.
“Obviously, I’m still looking forward to the rest of this season and hopefully some success at the end of it, but I’m happy with what I’ve done so far and with this being my last year.
“To still be around and to have experienced the things I have over the 14 years, it’s obviously going to be pretty tough to go, but it’s something I’ll look back on in years to come and I’ll be pretty proud of, and to share that with my family and friends is really important to me.
“It goes quickly but there’s no way I would have believed you if back when I was drafted you would have told me I would still be around now and had the friendships I have made, so I feel pretty privileged.”
Drafted by the Power with pick 71 in 2006, Westhoff has played 280 games which has him sitting equal second (with Travis Boak) on the club’s all-time list in the AFL era.
He won the Gavin Wanganeen Medal for best under-21 player in his debut season and also claimed the 2018 John Cahill Medal, reward for a career-best season.
Westhoff has also kicked 313 goals which ranks third at Port Adelaide.