Jonathon Griffin Announces Retirement

Captain Jonathon Griffin will don the Blue and White for the last time on Sunday in front of a home crowd.

After sixteen years of senior football in the AFL and WAFL, Griffin informed the playing group last night that the 2020 Season would be his last.  

“I feel very honoured and privileged to have been part of the footy club for such a long period as a supporter, player and Reserves Coach,” Griffin said.

“To finish off captaining the club that I followed as a kid, it’s a terrific honour and I’ll take that with me for the rest of my life.”

At 34 years of age and 202cm tall, injuries have been aplenty over the last few years. Despite having broken his wrist, ribs and fractured his jaw during his three years with East Fremantle, Griffin pushed through barely missing a game – a testament to his character.

“It has been a challenge particularly in the position that I play, you get banged up every week, but cut me open and I bleed Blue and White.”

He acknowledged that while the club has not reached the ultimate success, it is not far away.

“It hasn’t been a win loss ratio that we would have liked, or a fairy-tale premiership ending, but I feel as though we have made tremendous progress over the last three years and the footy club is heading in a really good direction.”

Football Manager, Brad Dodd said that East Fremantle could not ask for a better ambassador to our club than Jonathon Griffin.

“On the field, he has been a warrior and off the field in terms of his leadership and dedication in trying to get this club going in the right direction, has been outstanding,” Dodd said.

Griffin returned to the Sharks in 2018 after 12 strong years in the AFL, registering 97 games. He was selected by Adelaide with pick 21 in the 2005 Rookie Draft and debuted two years later. Traded to Fremantle in 2010, Griffin added a further 56 games in his 7 seasons at the Dockers.

During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Griffin played 16 games for the Sharks (when not selected for Fremantle) and was lauded for the way he showed great leadership and passion for his beloved club.  He was instrumental in East Fremantle’s grand final comeback in 2012, when the Sharks fell agonisingly short of the ultimate success.

Griff ended his announcement with a quote from the late Kobe Bryant, ‘everyone here has asked for my hustle and I gave you my heart.’

Join us in honouring this champion Shark on Sunday against Swan Districts at home.