Adam McPhee has retired from football. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: The Sunday Times
Adam and Bree McPhee arrive at the Fremantle best-and-fairest count. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: The Sunday Times
TAJ and Cove McPhee will make good use of any surplus energy their dad Adam has to burn off now he has retired from the AFL.
Taj, aged four, and Cove, two, were the cheeky stars of McPhee's media conference in Melbourne today as he gallantly tried to give serious answers to questions about why he has retired now.
The 31-year-old flourished in Ross Lyon's first season as Fremantle coach and the defender admits it was a tough decision not to continue playing for another year.
But as his wife Bree looked on with a wry grin and his boys lapped up the limelight, McPhee said it was time to return to Melbourne and do the right thing by his family.
"That was one of the things I really struggled with, in terms of announcing my retirement, the fact that the club is heading in the right direction," McPhee said.
"Certainly since Ross has come on board ... a few things have changed.
"It is going to be hard to sit back and watch, because I really feel like I still have one to two years of football left.
"But ultimately the decision ... isn't about whether I have football left in me - it's more about what's best for the family."
McPhee will work for his father-in-law's business and said there was no thought of trying to extend his AFL career.
"I've been through two trades already and the last thing I wanted to do was go through another and, more importantly, probably disappoint a few people," he said.
McPhee played 25 games for the Dockers in 2001-02 before he was traded to Essendon, where he made the 2004 All-Australian team.
Adam McPhee on his way to a goal for the Bombers in 2004. Picture: Michael Dodge Source: Herald Sun
He played 142 games for the Bombers and then went back to Fremantle after the 2009 season.
Altogether, he played 223 senior matches.
"I feel quite content to be able to move on and walk out of the game," McPhee said.
"About five years ago, football was absolutely everything for me.
"Then I became a father and realised what was important in life."
McPhee described Cove's birth as "traumatic" and said it was particularly tough to go on the road with the Dockers while Bree struggled to regain her health.
But he relished this season under Lyon.
"There's a perception that's been created of Ross that's probably unnecessary," McPhee said.
"His expectations of his players are very high and it's a high standard that is required to play AFL football.
"So if you're not up to scratch and you don't want to prepare that way or put in the hard work, then Ross will make a hard decision."
Also today, the Dockers announced they had delisted Jack Anthony.
Like McPhee, Anthony was contracted to Fremantle for another season.
Anthony played 43 games for Collingwood, but only eight games over two seasons for the Dockers.
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