Ankle injury ends Birdman's AFL career

Adelaide Crows training warm up session at Max Basheer Reserve - footballer Brett Burton. Picture: Titus Ray Source: The Advertiser

CROWS forward Brett Burton's season and AFL career is over.

The 33-year-old has failed in his bid to fight his way back into the Adelaide team before retiring at season's end.

Burton has played six games this season while battling leg injuries.

Today he received scan results showing his injured ankle was not healing as expected and he would not return to the field.

``When I announced my retirement mid-season, I said that I was committed to training hard and getting back to full fitness so I could come back and perform for the Adelaide Football Club again,'' Burton said on the club website.

``While I have been setting high standards in my training since then, unfortunately the ankle injury I sustained six weeks ago has prevented me from playing again.''

Burton played 177 games for the Crows after being drafted from Woodville-West Torrens in 1998.

Have your say

Skip to:: Read comments; Add comments

Comments on this story

Alan of Parafield Posted at 10:39 AM August 18, 2010

Look - congrats to all AFL retired players - thanks for all the memories. But seriously, who is running the AFC? Someone (or a group) decided to extend the careers of a group of players that many could see were not capable of completing a full season. The fact that these players (who were champions) were allowed to continue needs to be addressed - but do not hold your breath.
Peter of Mt Barker Posted at 7:47 AM August 18, 2010

yawn, another one who should have retired earlier
Bob Harris of Broadview Posted at 7:01 AM August 18, 2010

This is just plain wrong if the Crows are not able to make the finals then by doing the right thing they could name Burton as being on the bench in the last home game, but he will not have to play. He has given his all to the Crows and I think that it would be good for him the players and the public. So do not be mean and just throw him onto the rubbish tip like others before him have been, send him into retirement on a high by running out onto the ground to break the banner.