Champion West Coast Eagles defender Shannon Hurn has today announced that he will retire at the end of this season.
Hurn, one of the most highly decorated players in Eagles history and the games record holder who was arguably best afield in his 332nd appearance on Sunday, told teammates of his decision this morning.
“I love playing the game and I know I’m really going to miss it,” Hurn said today. “But I also know the time is right. People have told me that I would know when this moment arrived and it’s here.
“Unfortunately, you can’t go on forever and it’s time for me to step away.
“It has been a great honour to play for this football club over the last 18 years and I have loved it since the day I arrived. There are life-long friendships and memories that have been created here and I will always be grateful for that.
“There are too many individuals to acknowledge, but I will get to as many of them as possible to thank them personally for the role they have played in my journey.
“Obviously all of my teammates, my two senior coaches – John Worsfold and Adam Simpson – as well as CEO Trevor Nisbett have all been significant. Naturally, my family has always been wonderfully supportive.
“I feel very lucky to have played for as long as I have, always wanting to contribute to the team, but ultimately the game does catch up with you - especially at 35.”
Shannon Hurn's media conference at 1.15pm AWST today will be live streamed on the club's Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WCEofficial and YouTube pages https://www.youtube.com/@WestCoastEaglesFootballClub/streams
Hurn intends to play the final two home games against Fremantle and Adelaide where fans will get the chance to bid farewell to one of the club’s most revered figures.
“Shannon has been a wonderful player for us over the last 18 years, but more than that he has been such an outstanding ambassador for our club,” Mr Nisbett said.
“A premiership captain, two-time runner-up Club Champion, dual all-Australian and three-time Glendinning-Allan medallist, he has excelled on the biggest occasions.
“He has been a model of consistency and to do that over such a long period is quite extraordinary. Just as he plays in a matter-of-fact manner, that is pretty much who he is off the field.
“He is such a stand-up character and is respected universally, not just throughout our club but across the competition.”
Senior coach Adam Simpson said Hurn was one of the outstanding leaders he had encountered during his time at the elite level.
“The first thing you want from your leaders is to play well,” Simpson said. “And there weren’t many times in his career when ‘Bunga’ didn’t do that.
“He is one of only three premiership captains in the history of the club and that honour is not gifted to anyone. He is just such an honest and humble person and it has been a privilege to have been involved in the second half of his career.
“We will definitely miss him and I know our members and fans will cherish what he has done for our club. They will get the chance to express their appreciation over the last couple of home games.”
SHANNON HURN
Born: September 4, 1987
Drafted: #13, 2005 from Angaston/Central District, South Australia
West Coast Eagles captain: 2015-2019
Premiership captain: 2018
All-Australian: 2018, 2019 (vice-captain)
AFLPA best captain: 2019
Glendinning/Allan medallist: 2017, 2018, 2019
Club Champion runner-up: 2009, 2022
West Coast Eagles life member: 2014
Games record holder: 332*
