Sights set on final flag
By Michaelangelo Rucci
August 17, 2007 MARK Ricciuto is giving up all football next month - but not his long-standing dream to captain Adelaide to an AFL premiership.
"Bloody oath," Ricciuto said when asked if 11th-placed Crows could deliver as a farewell gift the AFL premiership cup he wants to lift at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29.
"That's why I am trying to get back in the next couple of weeks. We still have a good chance and we'll give it our best shot."
As fanciful as it might seem for an inconsistent Adelaide to rise from 11th to the flag by winning seven consecutive games, Ricciuto last night maintained faith in his last football dream.
The title of premiership captain is the only honour missing from Ricciuto's record that includes the 1998 premiership, eight All-Australian selections, three Malcolm Blight Medals as Adelaide's club champion and the 2003 Brownlow medal.
But Ricciuto is more likely to finish his AFL career with another honour - either holding or sharing Adelaide's record for most games played, currently held by Ben Hart at 311.
Ricciuto has played 309 games and, if he overcomes a right-ankle injury, he will equal this mark with matches against Brisbane Lions (at AAMI Stadium) and Collingwood (Telstra Dome) in the next fortnight.
Adelaide must win all three remaining home-and-away games - including the match against Western Bulldogs on Sunday - to qualify for the finals and keep alive Ricciuto's playing ambition to be a premiership captain.
Ricciuto showed a great grasp on reality yesterday when he called an end to his 15-year AFL career. Cursed by bad luck with illness (parvovirus) and injury (back and ankle) - that has restricted him to just six games in the past year - Ricciuto could have made a case for another contract.
In his meetings with teammate future captain Simon Goodwin, coach Neil Craig and Adelaide football chief John Reid last week, Ricciuto did not discount the fact that a solid pre-season could have sparked a memorable farewell tour next year.
"It could have . . . it might have," Ricciuto, who has not played since damaging ankle ligaments against St Kilda on July 13, said.
"That is the positive side I was looking at.
"I just didn't want to take that chance.
"I'm comfortable (to retire). You can look at all the positives, see if you can squeeze one more out, but I don't want to take that risk."
Ricciuto did not deny that his decision to retire had, in some way, been influenced by watching other players stay one year too many in football.
Craig had to dismiss Hart last year, despite the experienced defender wanting another season - and not getting it, even when he offered himself in the AFL draft.
"I prefer the way I've done it," Ricciuto said.
"I certainly don't want to run out of gas halfway through a season."
Ricciuto also ignored the temptation to become a pinch-hitter, working off the interchange bench.
"Footy has changed in the past few years," Ricciuto, once a damaging midfield player and now a tough match-up in the goal square, said.
"You can't just sit on the bench and come on and play in a forward pocket or play for five or 10 minutes a quarter anymore.
"If you are prepared to put your name up to be part of the list, you need to give a full-on commitment for the full year. You need to do the training consistently and perform for a high number of games. I've not got the confidence to do that at the moment. I have a fair bit to lose and not much to gain by striving for another year."
Ricciuto considered relinquishing the captaincy, but remaining a player.
"I tossed that up last year," he said.
"After parvo virus, I got myself fitter than I had ever been. I got a personal best in the 3km time trial.
"That proved to me that I was at back at the level to be a powerful leader. At the Strathalbyn (pre-season) camp, I was voted to lead the club - so the players gave me the confidence to lead from the front again.
"I tossed it up about next year - the positives and the negatives. In the end, it was time to give it away.
"I have to give 110 per cent on the training track. I've always had to - I'm not naturally fit. I have to train hard.
"That's why I can't perform to the level I want to at the moment because the body can't handle it."
Ricciuto told his teammates of his decision to retire at 3.30pm yesterday.
"They understand I have been struggling the last couple of years," he said.
"I don't think it was a real surprise for them."
Fox Facts
By Michaelangelo Rucci
August 17, 2007 MARK Ricciuto is giving up all football next month - but not his long-standing dream to captain Adelaide to an AFL premiership.
"Bloody oath," Ricciuto said when asked if 11th-placed Crows could deliver as a farewell gift the AFL premiership cup he wants to lift at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29.
"That's why I am trying to get back in the next couple of weeks. We still have a good chance and we'll give it our best shot."
As fanciful as it might seem for an inconsistent Adelaide to rise from 11th to the flag by winning seven consecutive games, Ricciuto last night maintained faith in his last football dream.
The title of premiership captain is the only honour missing from Ricciuto's record that includes the 1998 premiership, eight All-Australian selections, three Malcolm Blight Medals as Adelaide's club champion and the 2003 Brownlow medal.
But Ricciuto is more likely to finish his AFL career with another honour - either holding or sharing Adelaide's record for most games played, currently held by Ben Hart at 311.
Ricciuto has played 309 games and, if he overcomes a right-ankle injury, he will equal this mark with matches against Brisbane Lions (at AAMI Stadium) and Collingwood (Telstra Dome) in the next fortnight.
Adelaide must win all three remaining home-and-away games - including the match against Western Bulldogs on Sunday - to qualify for the finals and keep alive Ricciuto's playing ambition to be a premiership captain.
Ricciuto showed a great grasp on reality yesterday when he called an end to his 15-year AFL career. Cursed by bad luck with illness (parvovirus) and injury (back and ankle) - that has restricted him to just six games in the past year - Ricciuto could have made a case for another contract.
In his meetings with teammate future captain Simon Goodwin, coach Neil Craig and Adelaide football chief John Reid last week, Ricciuto did not discount the fact that a solid pre-season could have sparked a memorable farewell tour next year.
"It could have . . . it might have," Ricciuto, who has not played since damaging ankle ligaments against St Kilda on July 13, said.
"That is the positive side I was looking at.
"I just didn't want to take that chance.
"I'm comfortable (to retire). You can look at all the positives, see if you can squeeze one more out, but I don't want to take that risk."
Ricciuto did not deny that his decision to retire had, in some way, been influenced by watching other players stay one year too many in football.
Craig had to dismiss Hart last year, despite the experienced defender wanting another season - and not getting it, even when he offered himself in the AFL draft.
"I prefer the way I've done it," Ricciuto said.
"I certainly don't want to run out of gas halfway through a season."
Ricciuto also ignored the temptation to become a pinch-hitter, working off the interchange bench.
"Footy has changed in the past few years," Ricciuto, once a damaging midfield player and now a tough match-up in the goal square, said.
"You can't just sit on the bench and come on and play in a forward pocket or play for five or 10 minutes a quarter anymore.
"If you are prepared to put your name up to be part of the list, you need to give a full-on commitment for the full year. You need to do the training consistently and perform for a high number of games. I've not got the confidence to do that at the moment. I have a fair bit to lose and not much to gain by striving for another year."
Ricciuto considered relinquishing the captaincy, but remaining a player.
"I tossed that up last year," he said.
"After parvo virus, I got myself fitter than I had ever been. I got a personal best in the 3km time trial.
"That proved to me that I was at back at the level to be a powerful leader. At the Strathalbyn (pre-season) camp, I was voted to lead the club - so the players gave me the confidence to lead from the front again.
"I tossed it up about next year - the positives and the negatives. In the end, it was time to give it away.
"I have to give 110 per cent on the training track. I've always had to - I'm not naturally fit. I have to train hard.
"That's why I can't perform to the level I want to at the moment because the body can't handle it."
Ricciuto told his teammates of his decision to retire at 3.30pm yesterday.
"They understand I have been struggling the last couple of years," he said.
"I don't think it was a real surprise for them."
Fox Facts
- Date of birth: June 6, 1975
Height: 184cm
Weight: 90kg
Recruited From: West Adelaide (SANFL)
AFL career matches: 309
AFL career goals: 289
South Australia state of origin matches: 5
International Rules matches: Four
Honours: 2003 Brownlow medallist; Adelaide best and fairest 1998, 2003, 2004; Adelaide best team man 1994, 2003; All-Australian 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 (captain), 2005 (captain); premiership player 1998; preseason premiership player 2003; AFL Players Association best captain 2005, 2006; Adelaide captain since 2001; Adelaide leading goalkicker 2006.
