Tom Bellchambers has called time on his AFL career after 136 games and 13 seasons for Essendon.
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The 31-year-old, who is originally from Launceston, came to the club with the eighth pick in the 2007 pre-season draft.
The 202cm ruckman's best season was in 2018, when he finished sixth in the best and fairest from 20 matches with career-best figures of 32.9 hitouts and 11.4 disposals per game and also showed his strength as a forward in 2013 when he kicked 28 of his 77 career goals.
Persistent knee problems kept Bellchambers, who missed 2016 as one of the 34 players suspended due to the club's infamous supplements scandal, to just the seven games this season, where he averaged 20 hit-outs and 5.9 disposals
"I've been lucky to live out my childhood dream and in doing so have created some amazing memories and friendships along the way that I will cherish forever," Bellchambers said.
"Physically, my body is telling my time is up and I go out knowing that I couldn't have given any more to this great club.
"To my family, my partner and all the people that helped me on my journey, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and know that I couldn't have done it without you.
"I wish the boys nothing but success and I believe we are on the right path to get there."
Essendon coach John Worsfold said Bellchambers' "contribution as a ruckman for our team can't be underestimated" and "for Tom to have played 13 seasons of AFL football is a credit to the way he's applied himself to the game".
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Alex Fair
Deputy Editor of The Advocate on the North-West Coast of Tasmania.
Deputy Editor of The Advocate on the North-West Coast of Tasmania.
