One of the greatest-ever football stories has come to an end, with journeyman James Podsiadly announcing his retirement from the game.

Podsiadly, 34, retires after 104 games for Adelaide and Geelong including the Cats’ 2011 premiership.

The key forward took the long road to the AFL. He was rookie-listed by Essendon and Collingwood in the early 2000s, but let go by both before playing a senior game.

Podsiadly was working as a fitness coach at the Cats and playing for their VFL affiliate when the club offered him another opportunity as a rookie at the end of 2009. He made his long-awaited AFL debut against Fremantle in Round Three of the following year at the ripe-old age of 28.

Only Troy Wilson, who was 29 years and 72 days old when making his debut for West Coast in 2001, and David Marshall, aged 30 years and 264 days when debuting for Adelaide in 1991, were older on debut in the AFL's modern era.

The strong-marking goalkicker played 83 games in for four years with Geelong before joining the Crows ahead of the 2014 season.

He played 21 matches in his first year at Adelaide and, in doing so, became the oldest player (32 years, 320 days) to reach 100 games since North Melbourne champion Barry Cable in 1977.

Podsiadly paid tribute to everyone who had helped to him to achieve his AFL dream.

“The Adelaide and Geelong supporters, I can’t tell you how much they’ve embraced me and my story,” Podsiadly said.

“I just want to thank them for their support, and all the people who made the decision to take a risk on me whether it was at Geelong or here at Adelaide. I’m very lucky to have been a part of two clubs now in the AFL system.

“To achieve what I have from a team perspective, I’m very grateful and thankful for. I’m proud of those achievements, but I’m more proud of the people that I’ve met who have helped me get here.”

Podsiadly didn’t add to his AFL games tally this season, but continued to play a key role at Adelaide.

The respected figure acted as a mentor to the Club’s developing key-position players both on the field at SANFL level and off the field.

“This season was probably a bit more about personal development for me, sitting back and watching some of our key-position players play the game,” he said.

“I really tried to tap into what they wanted to do and helped them out a little bit. It wasn’t an issue for me not playing any AFL this year because I still felt valued within the four walls and was able to help the younger guys out.

“It was a good year because the Club made (AFL) finals.”

Crows Head of Football David Noble said Podsiadly had made a significant impact at West Lakes.

“James is a great role model, not just for our young players but our entire playing group,” he said.

“His influence extends beyond the football field. His experience and leadership have been invaluable, particularly, in what has been a difficult season for our Club.

“James has played a really selfless role this year. He knew it was going to be his last season, but he’s continued to help our developing key-position players to improve even though they were potentially taking his spot in the AFL team.”

Podsiadly kicked 20 goals in his last two SANFL games to fall just one goal short of winning the Ken Farmer Medal as the League’s leading goalkicker.

Despite the strong finish to the season, Podsiadly said he had no intentions of playing on in the SANFL in 2016.

“I only want to retire once! I’m not too keen to play on at any level next year,” he said.

“I knew a long time ago that this year was going to be my last year playing footy. It wasn’t a hard decision to make, as much as it’s going to be hard trying to fill the gap of not playing football.

“I’m very fortunate that I’ve had a longish career, so it was pretty easy to make the call.”

Podsiadly said he would be forever grateful to the Crows for giving him a second AFL opportunity.

“To play an extra 21 AFL games and be valued within the Club away from the playing arena is something that I cherish,” he said.

“I’m very lucky that Adelaide gave me the chance and thankful that I did come over here.”

Podsiadly will remain in Adelaide and hopes to stay involved with the Crows part-time next year.

"I’m looking forward to continuing on at the Club in some capacity and am currently working with (Head of Football) David Noble on the specifics of that role.

“The Club is building a strong culture and an elite football program and I feel very fortunate that I will be part of it."

However, Podsiadly’s primary focus is his business, Reactivate Group.

“We are about to launch a workplace wellbeing digital platform, which is designed to improve employee wellbeing and workplace engagement,” he said.

“This is something we’ve worked hard to develop over the past 2-3 years and I’m really excited to finally be taking it to market where it will be deployed to workplaces globally.

“It’s the amalgamation of my experiences on and off the field in the AFL, combined with my business and exercise science education which brings a unique perspective to the health and wellbeing field.

“I’m passionate about engaging employees to improve wellbeing and the initial results we’re seeing are really exciting."

Find out more information at www.thewellbeingchallenge.com