GEELONG CATS ruckman Hamish McIntosh has called time on his 13-year AFL career, retiring from football effective immediately.
The 30-year-old arrived at the Cats from North Melbourne in late 2012 but injury sidelined him in his first year at the club.
McIntosh went on to play 19 games for the Cats in 2014 but managed just two VFL games this season due to injury.
“It’s been an emotional few days,” McIntosh told CatsTV.
“Unfortunately, my ankle has broken down again and I need surgery next week, so it’s obviously forced my hand a little bit.
“I’ll be retiring from AFL footy today. It’s sad … I’ve been a bit of a mess, really, because it’s been an amazing journey to play for 13 years for two great clubs, in North Melbourne and here.
“It’s been a ball, it’s been so much fun, but unfortunately it all ends today.”
McIntosh played 19 games for Geelong and 107 for North Melbourne over 13 seasons.
His retirement followed the Independent revealing last month that Cats chief Brian Cook had told a business breakfast the club planned to cut players from its long injury list, which was costing $2.5 million a year.
