The Age reports Western Bulldog Daniel Bandy is expected to announce his retirement today, turning his back on surprise interest from the Brisbane Lions, who had wanted him to fly north next week for a medical assessment.
The Bulldogs were expecting Bandy to return from Perth yesterday to tell them that he would be leaving — it is understood that coach Rodney Eade told his players at training on Monday that Bandy was unlikely to be with them in 2006 — but it was thought he would do so to investigate the possibility of continuing with the Lions.
Instead he told the Dogs that he no longer wanted to play at the AFL level, if at all, and would not waste Brisbane's time by reciprocating their interest.
Bandy was contracted to the Dogs for next year but a financial settlement had been arranged if the Lions did revive his career, possibly with pick six in the pre-season draft in December. It is understood that with the retirements of Darryl White and Martin Pike, the Lions had considered Bandy as back-up cover in defence.