Weary Hall tells Bulldogs he will retire

Western Bulldogs spearhead will announce his retirement within the next 24 hours.

By InvestSMART · 19 Jul 2011

By InvestSMART ·
19 Jul 2011

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Western Bulldogs spearhead will announce his retirement within the next 24 hours.

WESTERN Bulldogs spearhead Barry Hall will announce his retirement within the next 24 hours after informing coach Rodney Eade of his decision yesterday.

The former St Kilda and Sydney Swans 2005 premiership captain is expected to play out the season, honouring his two-year contract.

Hall was selected by the Bulldogs in the 2009 draft following a number of on-field indiscretions - most notably his seven-week suspension for striking West Coast's Brent Staker in 2008 - that led to his retirement from the Swans in July that year.

He told Eade yesterday that his 283 games (88 for St Kilda, 162 for Sydney and 33 for the Dogs) had taken their toll on his body and he couldn't face up to another season. Hall, 34, kicked five goals and was among his team's best players in Sunday's loss to North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. That took his tally from nine games to 24. He kicked 80 goals last season - 73 in home and away games - and was runner-up to Richmond's Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal as well as earning his first All-Australian selection since being honoured in 2004, '05 and '06.

?Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd has faced awkward questioning over footage indicating he targeted Brent Harvey's fractured thumb on Sunday.

Video footage which seemingly showed Boyd taking a swipe at the thumb was played to the Bulldogs skipper on Foxtel's On the Couch program last night.

Asked about the incident, Boyd attempted to deflect it with humour.

"Boomer [Harvey] was just asking me to get some grass off his hand, so I was sort of mucking around," Boyd said. "We were just having a chat, we're old acquaintances from way back."

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

Who is Barry Hall and why is his retirement news important?

Barry Hall is a veteran AFL forward who has played 283 career games for St Kilda (88), Sydney (162) and the Western Bulldogs (33). He was a 2005 premiership captain with the Sydney Swans and remains a high-profile player, so his imminent retirement is significant news for fans and the club.

When will Barry Hall officially announce his retirement?

According to the article, Barry Hall was expected to announce his retirement within 24 hours after informing Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade of his decision.

Will Barry Hall finish the current season with the Western Bulldogs?

Yes. The article says Hall is expected to play out the season, honouring the two-year contract he signed with the Bulldogs.

Why is Barry Hall deciding to retire now?

Hall told coach Rodney Eade that his 283 games had taken a toll on his body and he couldn’t face another season, which is the primary reason he decided to retire.

What recent form and achievements did Barry Hall have before announcing retirement?

At age 34 he kicked five goals and was among the Bulldogs’ best players in a recent loss to North Melbourne. Last season he kicked 80 goals (73 in home-and-away games), finished runner-up to Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal, and earned an All-Australian selection — his first since being honoured in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

What past controversies from Barry Hall’s career are mentioned in the article?

The article notes Hall was drafted by the Bulldogs in 2009 after a number of on-field indiscretions, most notably a seven-week suspension for striking West Coast’s Brent Staker in 2008, which led to his retirement from the Sydney Swans in July that year.

How many career games has Barry Hall played and how are they distributed between clubs?

Barry Hall has played 283 career games: 88 for St Kilda, 162 for the Sydney Swans, and 33 for the Western Bulldogs.

Was there any other player controversy mentioned in the article related to the Bulldogs?

Yes. Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd faced awkward questioning after footage appeared to show him targeting Brent Harvey’s fractured thumb. Boyd downplayed the clip on Foxtel’s On the Couch, saying he was jokingly helping get grass off Harvey’s hand and that they are old acquaintances.