{"id":344994,"date":"2025-12-13T08:40:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T08:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/344994\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T08:40:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T08:40:21","slug":"st-kildas-zak-jones-announces-afl-retirement-in-emotional-post-after-164-games-for-two-clubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/344994\/","title":{"rendered":"St Kilda\u2019s Zak Jones announces AFL retirement in emotional post after 164 games for two clubs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two-club veteran midfielder Zak Jones has announced his retirement from the AFL<\/a> in an emotional social media post.<\/p>\n

Jones, who began his AFL career at Sydney<\/a> before heading to Moorabbin at the conclusion of the 2019 season, was delisted by St Kilda<\/a> at the end of last season, but had initially hoped to continue his career elsewhere.<\/a><\/p>\n

He said he was grateful to both clubs for allowing him to live out his childhood dream.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to the Sydney Swans for giving a kid from Melbourne the chance to live out his dream. Leaving home was one of the hardest things I\u2019ve ever done, but it ended up shaping me in ways I\u2019ll always be grateful for. The Club, The Culture, The people,\u201d Jones posted on his Instagram account<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to St Kilda for welcoming me home \u2014 to the club I grew up barracking for, and to the few people who made it feel like family from the moment I walked in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Two-clubTwo-club veteran Zak Jones has announced his AFL retirement after playing 164 games for Sydney and St Kilda. Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

Taken with pick number 15 in the 2013 draft, the 30-year-old played 164 games at the highest level.<\/p>\n

But Jones admitted that despite being in the limelight of the AFL, his career wasn\u2019t always glorious.<\/p>\n

While Jones played for Sydney in the 2016 grand final defeat to the Bulldogs, he missed out on tasting AFL premiership success and says at times it really challenged him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m being honest, my career didn\u2019t finish with the fairy tale I once imagined. There were unbelievable highs, moments I\u2019ll carry with me forever\u2026 but there were also lows that tested me more than I ever expected,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt times it broke me down, but it also taught me who I am. And what I\u2019m most proud of is that I never stopped fighting. No matter what was thrown at me, I kept showing up.\u201d<\/p>\n

At his best, Jones was an integral part of the Swans and Saints\u2019 midfield mix.<\/p>\n

But injuries and form restricted him to just 74 games for St Kilda in his six years at the club, including 15 appearances this year under Ross Lyon.<\/p>\n

The decision to hang up the footy boots comes after no other club came calling following St Kilda\u2019s decision not to renew his contract for the 2026 season during their major list overhaul which included the signings of Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni, Sam Flanders and forward Liam Ryan.<\/a><\/p>\n

The younger brother of former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones admitted the uncertainty that comes with retirement is frightening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know exactly what comes next, and that\u2019s scary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s also exciting. A new chapter starts now and I\u2019m ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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