Much-loved Carlton champion Sam Docherty announces retirement, will play final game against Hawthorn
The 31-year-old will play his 184th and final game on Thursday night against Hawthorn with the Blues to pay tribute to the former captain at their next home game against the Suns.
It brings an end to a remarkable career that has seen Docherty overcome multiple cancer diagnoses and multiple knee reconstructions.
He was twice diagnosed with testicular cancer, the second bout which spread through to his lungs and stomach.
Docherty also overcame three ACL tears throughout his career to return to the field.
While he will never taste premiership success, he leaves the game with a string of individual honours, including Carlton best and fairest in 2016, an All-Australian in 2017 and the club's co-captain from 2019-2021.
'When I was a kid my entire family used to climb into a van and drive from Phillip Island to the MCG for Round 1 every year. For me to get the chance to go on and play in those games, and also captain the club that I grew up supporting – I can honestly say it's a dream come true,' Docherty said.
'To have built the most incredible friendships over the last 14 years which I will take with me for the rest of my life, I am so incredibly thankful and I appreciate everyone who has supported me through it all.
'Perspective is such a valuable thing, and that is what I am most grateful for in my career. When my career started I thought a footballer had to define themselves by the accolades they achieved: while I am certainly grateful for those that have come my way, I will leave this game with so much more.
'The experiences I have had not just in my football career, but in life, have moved the goal posts for me – while there has been no shortage of challenges, because of what I have been through I have been allowed to meet so many amazing people and have had the opportunity to have an impact far greater than kicking or handballing a football ever could.
'My wife Nat night has been my rock through everything: I knew when I faced every challenge, we would be doing it together. I cannot thank her enough for her support and I can't wait to begin the next chapter of our lives together with Ruby and Myles.'
Taken with pick No.12 in the 2011 AFL draft, Docherty spent two years at Brisbane before joining Carlton.
He quickly cemented his place in the Blues' best team before missing two full seasons in 2018 and 2019 with successive ACL tears.
Docherty returned to the field in 2020 but was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the end of the season.
Following treatment, he remarkably returned to the field for the opening round in 2021.
But a second occurrence later in the season saw him miss the remainder of the year and step down as co-captain.
Docherty remarkably returned for the opening round of 2022 and played every game that year.
The much-loved player suffered another ACL tear in the opening round of 2024, but pulled off another remarkable return to feature in the club's elimination final later that year.
Carlton coach Michael Voss paid tribute to Carlton champion.
'For every challenge Sam has faced, he has turned it into a triumph,' Voss said.
'I still remember clear as day the first face-to-face conversation I had with Sam at the back end of 2021: we went for a walk and he told me he was going to play in Round 1 in a few months' time. To see him defy the odds and do that, to kick that goal against the Tigers – that typifies what a remarkable mindset he has.
'He has captained our club, won a best and fairest, All Australian and been a sounding board for so many of our younger players, and all those things only tell half the story of the Sam Docherty impact. What he has done and will keep doing in the community continues to be an inspiration.
'Our football club is forever grateful for Sam and the sacrifices he made to be able to pull on the Navy Blue – we wish him, his wife Nat and Ruby and Myles nothing but happiness for their next chapter. They know they will always be able to call Carlton home.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
2 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Melbourne star Steven May banned for three games for high hit on Carlton's Francis Evans
The AFL tribunal has taken an eternity to make decision on Melbourne star Steven May, who was cited for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans on Saturday night. May faced the tribunal via a video hook-up on Wednesday night, with the tribunal eventually deciding — after deliberating for more than hour — the All-Australian defender was banned for three games. May was cited for rough conduct in an incident that divided the AFL world. It was reported that insiders at the AFL believed the case to be the most challenging they had seen in years. Experts were also divided, with some believing that May had to make a contest of the situation, while others have suggested he needed to slow down or deviate when he realised he was on a collision course with Evans. Star Channel 7 commentators Daisy Thomas and Kane Cornes both believe May had little choice but to contest the ball and make contact. Thomas said ahead of the tribunal: 'My mind would be blown if he does not get off. This is a footballing act to its core.' But North Melbourne great David King said May needed to be punished because Evans was hit 'with the absolute point of the shoulder' and May hit him 'flush' The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact. But May told the tribunal on Wednesday that he could not believe he didn't take possession of the ball. 'I thought I did everything right, so I'm just a bit shocked,' he said. May and Evans clashed at speed, but Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high. Melbourne lawyer Adrian Anderson said there were nine reasons why the incident wasn't rough conduct, which included both players were travelling at pace, May was 'contesting the ball', the ball's bounce was 'unexpected', May didn't move off line, he didn't jump off ground, and May was significantly taller than Evans. Before the final decision was handed down, the tribunal deliberated for over an hour leading one tribunal reporter to wonder if the panel had gone into ghost mode. 'Has the Tribunal f***n ghosted me?' Fox Footy reporter David Zita wondered on social media, while a fan said: 'Ghosted all of us ...' Zita continued as he waited for the verdict: 'I'm sorry, but what the actual f***.' Eventually, the tribunal panel released its findings, deciding May was banned for three games. Even immediately after the incident there was debate on the hit, with Blues coach Michael Voss saying May's act was fair. 'Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it,' he said post-match. 'Both sort of making a play at the ball, maybe one person was one step late, and obviously then the incident happens. 'But for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game.' And Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said May's intent was 'clearly' to win the ball. 'If you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate,' he said. Goodwin said the AFL was doing an 'unbelievable' job in trying to eradicate concussion from the game. 'It's important that we limit it as much as we can but there will be football incidents where someone is concussed,' he said. May was concussed himself in a separate incident and was already ruled out of the Round 20 game.
West Australian
2 minutes ago
- West Australian
Melbourne star Steven May banned for three games for high hit on Carlton's Francis Evans
The AFL tribunal has taken an eternity to make decision on Melbourne star Steven May, who was cited for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans on Saturday night. May faced the tribunal via a video hook-up on Wednesday night, with the tribunal eventually deciding — after deliberating for more than hour — the All-Australian defender was banned for three games. May was cited for rough conduct in an incident that divided the AFL world . It was reported that insiders at the AFL believed the case to be the most challenging they had seen in years. Experts were also divided, with some believing that May had to make a contest of the situation, while others have suggested he needed to slow down or deviate when he realised he was on a collision course with Evans. Star Channel 7 commentators Daisy Thomas and Kane Cornes both believe May had little choice but to contest the ball and make contact. Thomas said ahead of the tribunal: 'My mind would be blown if he does not get off. This is a footballing act to its core.' But North Melbourne great David King said May needed to be punished because Evans was hit 'with the absolute point of the shoulder' and May hit him 'flush' The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact. But May told the tribunal on Wednesday that he could not believe he didn't take possession of the ball. 'I thought I did everything right, so I'm just a bit shocked,' he said. May and Evans clashed at speed, but Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high. Melbourne lawyer Adrian Anderson said there were nine reasons why the incident wasn't rough conduct, which included both players were travelling at pace, May was 'contesting the ball', the ball's bounce was 'unexpected', May didn't move off line, he didn't jump off ground, and May was significantly taller than Evans. Before the final decision was handed down, the tribunal deliberated for over an hour leading one tribunal reporter to wonder if the panel had gone into ghost mode. 'Has the Tribunal f***n ghosted me?' Fox Footy reporter David Zita wondered on social media, while a fan said: 'Ghosted all of us ...' Zita continued as he waited for the verdict: 'I'm sorry, but what the actual f***.' Eventually, the tribunal panel released its findings, deciding May was banned for three games. Even immediately after the incident there was debate on the hit, with Blues coach Michael Voss saying May's act was fair. 'Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it,' he said post-match. 'Both sort of making a play at the ball, maybe one person was one step late, and obviously then the incident happens. 'But for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game.' And Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said May's intent was 'clearly' to win the ball. 'If you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate,' he said. Goodwin said the AFL was doing an 'unbelievable' job in trying to eradicate concussion from the game. 'It's important that we limit it as much as we can but there will be football incidents where someone is concussed,' he said. May was concussed himself in a separate incident and was already ruled out of the Round 20 game.
Perth Now
2 minutes ago
- Perth Now
AFL tribunal goes into ‘ghost' mode as Steven May learns fate
The AFL tribunal has taken an eternity to make decision on Melbourne star Steven May, who was cited for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans on Saturday night. May faced the tribunal via a video hook-up on Wednesday night, with the tribunal eventually deciding — after deliberating for more than hour — the All-Australian defender was banned for three games. May was cited for rough conduct in an incident that divided the AFL world. It was reported that insiders at the AFL believed the case to be the most challenging they had seen in years. Experts were also divided, with some believing that May had to make a contest of the situation, while others have suggested he needed to slow down or deviate when he realised he was on a collision course with Evans. Star Channel 7 commentators Daisy Thomas and Kane Cornes both believe May had little choice but to contest the ball and make contact. Steven May collects Francis Evans with a high shot. Credit: Fox Footy Evans was a bloodied mess after the collision. Credit: Getty Images Thomas said ahead of the tribunal: 'My mind would be blown if he does not get off. This is a footballing act to its core.' But North Melbourne great David King said May needed to be punished because Evans was hit 'with the absolute point of the shoulder' and May hit him 'flush' The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact. But May told the tribunal on Wednesday that he could not believe he didn't take possession of the ball. 'I thought I did everything right, so I'm just a bit shocked,' he said. May and Evans clashed at speed, but Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high. Melbourne lawyer Adrian Anderson said there were nine reasons why the incident wasn't rough conduct, which included both players were travelling at pace, May was 'contesting the ball', the ball's bounce was 'unexpected', May didn't move off line, he didn't jump off ground, and May was significantly taller than Evans. Before the final decision was handed down, the tribunal deliberated for over an hour leading one tribunal reporter to wonder if the panel had gone into ghost mode. 'Has the Tribunal f***n ghosted me?' Fox Footy reporter David Zita wondered on social media, while a fan said: 'Ghosted all of us ...' Zita continued as he waited for the verdict: 'I'm sorry, but what the actual f***.' Eventually, the tribunal panel released its findings, deciding May was banned for three games. After the incident, Blues coach Michael Voss believed May's act was fair. 'Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it,' he said post-match. 'Both sort of making a play at the ball, maybe one person was one step late, and obviously then the incident happens. 'But for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game.' Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said May's intent was 'clearly' to win the ball. 'If you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate,' he said. Goodwin said the AFL was doing an 'unbelievable' job in trying to eradicate concussion from the game. 'It's important that we limit it as much as we can but there will be football incidents where someone is concussed,' he said. May was concussed himself in a separate incident and was already ruled out of the Round 20 game.
