East Geelong ruck Tim McLennan has announced retirement just over 12 months after claiming the Whitley Medal.
The 28-year-old revealed to K rock Football he is hanging up the boots,
“My wife’s pregnant, so we’re expecting our first child early in January,” McLennan said. “It’s been a bit of a catalyst.
“I’ve ten years of senior footy, and I’m just ready to move on to the next stage of my life.
“I feel like I’ve given it a fair shake.”
A Drysdale junior, McLennan played eight senior games for the Bellarine League club across 2015-16.
He joined East Geelong ahead of the 2017 season and made 101 appearances in maroon and gold.
Five of those matches were finals. However, McLennan will retire without a premiership medal to go with his Whitley Medal.
“(Team) success is what we all play for,” he said. “To be thereabouts for a couple of years, it does sort of hurt.
“But, I think the club is in a really strong spot.
“I’m still super excited for the group and what they can achieve next year.
“I’ll be looking forward to getting down and supporting them.”
McLennan, who joins former coach Tom Cordner-Maas in hanging up the boots, says he will miss the community aspect of playing local football.
“The people you see around the club every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,” he said.
“Being around all the boys so often. And all the volunteers and committee members.
“You learn to appreciate them a little bit more as you mature as a footballer.”
