by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Durable and reliable defender Marty Mattner has been forced into retirement due to a chronic hip problem. His last game was against Hawthorn in Round Seven. Mattner, Coach John Longmire and the club physio were all hoping he would be fit enough to play the Round 12 game against his former team Adelaide. Mattner, who said he has been managing injuries for some time, was hopeful of getting through the rest of the season. Mattner, 30, said the body was telling him it was time. Prior to this setback, he had missed only two games since joining the Swans at the end of 2007.
Coach Longmire praised Mattner saying he had been one of Sydney's most unheralded players, doing all the "one percenters" such as shepherds, blocks, smothers and spoils that never make a stats sheet. He singled out a tackle Mattner laid late in the 2012 Grand Final, saying the tackle was crucial at an important point in the game and this one act was indeed a "snapshot" of his career.
Mattner was added to Adelaide's rookie list in 2002 and elevated to the senior list later that year. He missed only a handful of games for the Crows, playing midfield, wing and defense. After 98 games with the Crows, he was traded to the Swans at the end of 2007 and established himself as a dashing defender. He was often in the top five on field for kicks, rebound 50's and tackles. He finished third in the club's Best and Fairest award in 2008 and was a member of Adelaide's preseason Premiership team in 2003 and Sydney's 2012 Premiership side.
Source: sen.com.au, AFL Record Season Guides 2002-2013
Article last changed on Sunday, June 16, 2013 - 5:10 AM EDT
