Saturday, October 06, 2007

AFL Paul Licuria Retires

AFL Football News
Paul Licuria Retires
Goodbye to another Champ


Links : Collingwood FC | Football News | AFL Football

MIDFIELDER Paul Licuria became the third key Collingwood player to announce his AFL retirement during an emotion-charged club best-and-fairest awards function.

Licuria joined captain Nathan Buckley and defender James Clement in retiring post-season, meaning the Copeland Trophy dinner became as much a tribute as an end-of-season awards night.

Key forward Travis Cloke was a surprise winner of the trophy this season, beating Scott Pendlebury and Tarkyn Lockyer by one vote.

Buckley confirmed his retirement earlier at a media conference, while Clement shocked the club by ending his career soon after the preliminary final loss to premier Geelong.

Licuria made his decision in the last couple of days and was in tears as he spoke to the audience of more than 1700.

"I tried so hard not to cry, I knew I was in trouble watching James' speech," he joked.

"This footy club has taught me to dream."

President Eddie McGuire, who struggled to contain his emotions while presenting the champion trio, said Licuria would hold an administrative position at the club. Licuria, 29, made his debut for Sydney in 1997 and played 10 games there before joining the Magpies in 1999.

He played 182 games for Collingwood for a total of 192 and was a two-time Copeland winner.

"When you have people at your club like Nathan Buckley, James Clement and Paul Licuria, it sets the tone with what you can do and what you can build," McGuire said.

Buckley said he could no longer trust his body to bear up to the rigours of the AFL, after the succession of hamstring injuries that restricted him to only five senior games this season.

"It still hasn't sunk in that I won't be playing another game of footy ... (but) the decision was made for the right reasons," he said.

"One of the things I've realised in the last 10 minutes (listening to the tributes to Clement and Licuria) is why it's meant so much to me."

Later in the evening, Cloke polled 53 votes, finishing one ahead of Scott Pendlebury and Tarkyn Lockyer, with Pendlebury second on a countback.

Pendlebury also finished second to Geelong's Joel Selwood in the AFL's Rising Star award.

Cloke played all 25 senior games and kicked 39 goals this year.

He has developed a strong key forward combination with Anthony Rocca, but was still a surprise winner of his first Copeland Trophy.

No comments: