PORT Melbourne great Tom O’Sullivan has called time on his incredible 10-year VFL career.
The 2017 premiership player and 152-game captain announced the news to teammates on Thursday.
He thanked the club for giving him the opportunity and said he was grateful for all the mates he has made along the way.
“My time at the club as a player has come to an end. (It's) not a decision I’ve made lightly. It’s an exciting time for myself ahead with the opportunity in my work life presenting itself. It’s time for me to give that my full attention going forward,” he told the Port Melbourne website.
“It’s been building each year with my work commitments outside of the club and the level of commitment t0 be the best player I can be is not to the level I need it to be.
“The club is in a great place, with the leadership group that I had behind me ready to take control and make it their own.
“To everyone, and I mean everyone, thank you so much for making my time at the club so enjoyable and the memories I have are endless. I won’t be a stranger around the place, so you will still see me and I don’t think I could just cut off cold even if you wanted me to.”
Affectionately known as 'Tos', he made his VFL debut in 2013 and has thrived at the Borough from the beginning.
Recruited from the Sandringham Dragons and Caulfield Grammarians, he went on to play 152 VFL games over a decade at Port Melbourne.
O’Sullivan embodied what it meant to be a Port Melbourne player, embracing the club's history and culture from the start.
In his second season, O’Sullivan was awarded the 2014 Most Improved accolade and grew from strength to strength from there.
2017 saw him add a VFL premiership to his name, as well as finish third in the club’s Best and Fairest and claim the Most Consistent award.
Within the same year he also represented Victoria in a match against Western Australia and was named the Frank Johnson Medallist (Best on Ground in State Game) with 28 possessions and a goal.
O’Sullivan captained the Borough from 2019 to 2022 and was last week awarded the 2022 Best Club Person.
Port Melbourne football manager Glenn Balmforth thanks O'Sullivan for his outstanding contribution to the club.
“You will struggle to find anyone that has been more invested and puts their heart and soul into making this football club the best it can be,” Balmforth said.
“We are in no doubt that 'Tos' leaves Port Melbourne in a much better place than when he started and everyone at the club will be forever grateful for the significant contribution he has made.
“We thank Tos for everything he has given and we wish him all the best in the next phase of his life.”