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So-long to Solomon

Mr Dandalooa

Injury-plagued Fremantle Football Club utility Dean Solomon has retired after 12 years and 209 games, 51 of which were for the Dockers.

Solomon, who made his AFL debut in 1998 and played 158 games for Essendon, including the club’s 2000 premiership, cited a right knee injury had led to his decision to retire.

In a Fremantle Football Club media statement, the 30-year-old said while the decision was hard, he was stoked to have played 200 games in the AFL and that he cherished reaching such a milestone.

“It’s something that probably doesn’t happen for a lot of players these days and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I’ve been given,” Solomon said.

“Especially for my family, more so than anyone, the opportunity they’ve given me through my younger days to play AFL footy and then come this far is a great reward for them.

“I grew up in Broken Hill, which is outback NSW, and just to play one game was a great effort for me and to come this far is something I’m very proud of.”

Dockers general manager of football operations Chris Bond said a degenerative condition in Solomon’s right knee forced him out of the game.

“We all know how Dean has played the game throughout his career and his body has succumbed to that style of play,” Bond said in a statement.

“Dean has exhausted all avenues of treatment, and such was the condition of his knee that the specialist’s advice was that he should not play another game.”

Bond said that after a reviewing a recent specialist’s report and following discussions between Solomon and the club it was decided that immediate retirement was in the best interests of the player’s long-term health.

While Solomon will not complete his one-year playing contract, Bond said that he would still have an off-field role with the club.

“We are looking forward to Dean working with our coaching and development staff in 2010,” he said.