Farewell Champ and Thanks - Lloyd Retires

[Windy_Hill]

Will be announced today

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/ ... 93946.html

Here are the stats from an incredible career

Lloyd's career
Matches: 270

Goals: 926. Kicked his first goal with his first kick in his first game

International rules series: 1998, 2001

Jim Stynes Medal: 2001

All-Australian: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003

Premierships: 2000

Coleman Medal: 2000, 2001, 2003

Essendon top goalkicker: 1997-2005, 2007, 2008

Essendon all-time leading goalkicker

Third youngest player in VFL/AFL history to kick 700+ goals

Fourth youngest player in VFL/AFL history to kick 800+ goals

Seventh highest goal scorer in VFL/AFL history

State of Origin (Victoria) 1998

Goal Of The Year (2007)

Mark Of The Year (2008)

Essendon life membership

AFL life membership

[BenDoolan]

Well I'm slightly stunned. I think it's a sad way to end a magnificent career. I'm going to let this sink in a little before I say something meaningful. Something just doesn't seem right here....

Oh, and you can add EFC top goal kicker for 2009 as well.

[paddyl90]

Meh. Not surprised, but for the benefit of the team it's the right thing. One man left now = Dustin Fletcher Hope he gets a coaching role down at Windy Hill at some point. Don't want to lose him to another club.

Thanks for the memories Lloydy! Shame he never made 1000 goals and it ended the way it did

[grassy1]

SHIT LLOYDIE Why did you do it,if you did retire.STILL PLENTY to OFFER.

TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE.I'll NEVER hear the END of the SNEERING here in WA.Those BASTARDS FEAR YOU as well as HATE you and you're Retirement(If true)means THEY WIN!

f***!I CAN'T STAND IT! :-&

[s'dreams]

If true, a pity. He deserved a farewell year.

Again, if true, thanks for the great memories and a magnificent career.

Saddest thing is that no longer will we have legions of auskick kids plucking blades of grass before shooting at goal (IMO this indicates just how influential he has been) and lets hear the "Matty Lloyd rule" called by a commentator just more time this Saturday.

Cheers - STI

[DC]

WOW...even though I thought Lloyd would struggle next season given his form this year, and I thought it was best that maybe he hang them up...but now that its official...man...I kind of want him to go on.

Lloyd was a champion, no doubt, had he not copped that terrible hammy off the bone injury he would have surely kicked 1000.

I think played out of the goal square on a good team who can deliver the ball consistently to him, Lloyd could still kick 50+ goals per season.

If there was one flaw in us this year that I could highlight it would be our woeful entry and decision making when going into the forward 50.

Maybe he can be talked around?
Maybe he will be talked around by another club?

[azza78]

Always tough when club champions go. A farewell year would have been great for the skip, but if the heart isn't in it it doesn't do anybody any good to go on another year.

A legend of the club. Nothing else needs to be said. All the best for your retirement Matty. All the Bomber fans will miss the jumper tuck, the blades of grass tossed into the air (which pissed opposition supporters immensely, especially under the Dome haha), and the dead-eye left boot.

[Scott]

It's a sad day.

Some huge shoes to fill....Who's next Knighta??

[hop]

Was at his first and last games. The contrast couldn't have been greater.

Farewell Champ - magnificent career.

=D> =D> =D> =D>

[rockhole]

Lloyd and Lucas in the same year. You know its coming but when it does it really hits you. Wonderful memories of a true champion and great Essendon person.

There are and have been certain blokes who are destined to be one club players. Lloyd and Hird fit this category as does Scotty. They simply give everything they have to the club and the least we can offer back is our respect for their wonderful contribution.

This week will be a lot slower knowing we were not able to give this wonderful champion an appropriate send off. It is so typical that, against Hawthorn in what was to be hislast game, he sacrificed his own game and jeopardised his future once again for the club.

Thanks for the memories!!!

[gringo]

No surprises there.

I'd have liked to have seen him play at Footscray. He'd have kicked 100 goals there next year.

[ealesy]

Wow, I had been pretty much expecting this since the end of the season, but in the last couple of days my gut feeling changed and I started to feel he would play on one more year.

A champion of the club and the competition, not matter what the shit for brian opposition supporters who hated him claim. According to some of them he kicked all of his 900+ goals from either free kicks won from balant dives, or cheapies that got over the back of the pack.

A great deal now rests on the shoulder of Gumbleton (get your f****** body right mate) Neagle (get your f****** fitness levels right mate) Daniher and Hurley.

And finally, the captain is dead, long live the captain- Jobe Watson.

[gringo]

Yes, he was a beast when he was up and running. He could do it all as a forward.

[auditor]

From my family to you Matty,

We love you buddy and thanks so so much for the enjoyment you have given us over the years. =D> =D> =D> =D>

[The Man from Bomberland]

Lloydy's been my favourite for years even though he's been on the wayne in recent times. Shit I just can't believe he's played his last game. Maybe I need to get to our first Melbourne game next year. Hopefully the club goes all out for the farewell celebration he deserves.

[jimmyc1985]

Sad but correct decision - if it takes someone a month to figure out whether to play on or not, that's indication enough that their time has come.

Standing ovation for an unbelievable career =D>. Loved every minute of it.

If Neagle doesn't pull his finger out now, he never will.

How about this for a stat: assuming Lovett gets traded as has been requested, we will have lost 3 of our top 4 goal kickers from this season (Lloyd #1, Lucas #3 and Lovett #4). I wonder if any club in history has ever lost 3 of its top 4 goal kickers in one off season?

[Doctor Fish]

His press conference on SEN a few minutes ago almost brought a tear to this middle aged Bombers eye...

Onya' Lloydie. Bloody champ.

=D>

[Jazz_84]

ill have to comment later, totally speechless at the moment

[pear]

Bravo Lloydie - well played, sir.

=D> =D> =D>

[swoodley]

Not surprised by the decision...as Jimmy said, if it takes as long as he has to decide, then there was obviously an element of doubt in his mind and so I think he has made the correct decision.

Nice touch that he will finish on 270 games, the same as his great mate Scotty =D>

Best memory for me...a game at Docklands in 2003 against the Bulldogs where he kicked 11 for the game including 6 in the first quarter....it was the first time my daughter had seen the Bombers win and it was the day he broke Simons Madden's club record for most goals.

I also fondly remember watching the 2000 final against the Kangaroos....to me it was the day he came out and said that he could take on and beat anyone....it was the first time I remember seeing him outmuscle Micky Martyn in one on one contests (and of course, he kicked his 100th for the season that day)

He will always be able to look back and say that he was a one club player and a true great during a time of much success.

Well done Matty Lloyd...you've been a true champion of the game =D> =D> =D>