Carlton’s Sam Docherty, who came back to football after beating cancer twice and multiple serious surgeries, has announced his retirement and will play a final AFL game at the MCG this Thursday night.
The 31-year-old will play his final game against Hawthorn and will be celebrated with a tribute at the club’s next home game against Gold Coast on August 9.
Sam Docherty with his partner Nat and children Ruby and Myles.Credit: AAP
In a club statement, Carlton said Docherty was “resilience personified”.
A John Nicholls medallist in 2016, Docherty followed that up with All-Australian honours in 2017 and took over the captaincy in 2018. After playing every game for the Blues in 2016 and 2017, Docherty was sidelined for the next two seasons after undergoing back-to-back ACL reconstructions.
He returned in 2020 to play football but was then diagnosed with the first of two bouts of testicular cancer, for which he had multiple surgeries and chemotherapy treatment.
“Perspective is such a valuable thing, and that is what I am most grateful for in my career,” Docherty said.
“When my career started I thought a footballer had to define themselves by the accolades they achieved; while I am certainly grateful for those that have come my way, I will leave this game with so much more.
“The experiences I have had not just in my football career, but in life, have moved the goal posts for me – while there has been no shortage of challenges, because of what I have been through I have been allowed to meet so many amazing people and have had the opportunity to have an impact far greater than kicking or handballing a football ever could.”
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