by Booney » Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:26 pm
Persistent concussion symptoms have forced Western Bulldogs premiership player Liam Picken to retire at the age of 32.
Foxfooty.com.au understands Picken told teammates of his decision at lunchtime on Monday, bringing an end to his 198-game career.
On March 3 last year, Picken collided with teammate Josh Dunkley in a sickening collision during a pre-season match against Hawthorn. He has not played a game since.
It’s believed troubling and consistent chronic head pain forced the club’s 2016 player of the finals to make the tough decision to call time on his career.
Following his concussion during last year’s JLT Community Series, Picken recovered enough to partake in two months of non-contact training. But it became apparent to the club and its medical experts that a return to football in 2018 was unrealistic and as a result he was put on ice from mid-July onwards and told to focus on returning in 2019.
The concussion he suffered last March was his second significant head knock in less than a year.
In Round 3, 2017, Picken was knocked out following a collision with Fremantle’s Tom Sheridan. The incident prompted his wife Annie Nolan to share a picture of their son Malachy in tears after watching the much-loved Dog being helped from the field on a stretcher.
“This pic (sic) is one of a thousand reasons why this is more than a game to us,” she wrote.
“Knocks to the head will always be my most hated part of this sport.
Picken played the following week and was the club’s leading goal-kicker at season’s end. He also finished 10th in the Dogs best and fairest count.
But when he suffered more severe head trauma 11 months later, there would be no coming back.
Picken was a Western Bulldogs fan favourite throughout his decade at the club.
Taken with Pick 30 in the 2009 Rookie Draft following a best and fairest season with Williamstown in the VFL, the midfielder-turned-forward debuted in Round 2 against North Melbourne.
In 2012 he finished third in the club’s best and fairest award following a season in which he blanketed Patrick Dangerfield and Marc Murphy among others. He was also named the Dogs best team player.
Picken will be best remembered for his outstanding finals series in 2016, which saw him play as a quasi-centre-half-forward in the club’s first flag since 1954, booting three goals in the decider.
His retirement vacates a spot on the Dogs list which could be filled during the May 27 mid-season draft.
PAFC. Forever.
LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING!
