Leo Barry

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Just ahead of the Round 18 match against Richmond, Eagle ruckman Dean Cox announced that 2014 would be his final season. Cox, 33, admitted that it takes him two or three days to recover after games and that he felt it was time to retire. He also said the current form of ruck partners Nic Nainatui, Scott Lycett and Callum Sinclair had made the decision easier. While he admitted it would have been nice to be the first Eagle to reach 300 games he said he had never planned on hanging around just to reach a certain number of games. Cox is planning on moving into a coaching role and has spent much of this season working with his fellow ruckmen in a coaching capacity.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The Sydney Swans recently held their Hall Of Fame ceremony, with Barry Hall and Craig Bolton the new inductees. The dinner gala also included the guernsey presentations as well as the announcement of club heritage listings. Hall joined the Swans in 2002 and played 162 matches, booting 467 goals. He ranks third on the club's all-time goal kicking table and led the club's goal kicking for seven consecutive seasons from 2002-2008. He was match day captain for the 2005 Premiership and co-captain in 2006 and 2007 alongside Brett Kirk and Leo Barry. Hall's successor as co-captain in 2008 was fellow inductee Craig Bolton.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Opposition forwards will be relishing the start of the 2013 season. In recent weeks, it was widely speculated in the media that 2012 would be Matthew Scarlett's last season. This was confirmed after the Cats lost their Elimination Final to Fremantle, with the ace defender later making it official.

Who's in, who's out...and other matters...

All clubs have over 30 players on their lists and select whomever they feel will be the best 22 for any given game. In that respect, the Grand Final is no different, which means some players who may have impressed during the season are going to miss out, no matter what contributions they made during the season. It is tough call for the selection panel of a club to tell a player who has served the team well during the year that he has to miss out on the biggest game of the year. According to Geelong defender and team captain Tom Harley, he and his teammates who will be selected for the game, plan to rally around and console those who miss out.