The key forward played 104 games for Adelaide and Geelong, including the Cats' 2011 premiership, but it was how he came to be an AFL player that captured the public's imagination.

He was rookie listed with both Essendon and Collingwood, but never pulled on a guernsey for either.

Podsiadly started working as a fitness coach for Geelong and playing for their VFL team when he got the call up once again, and got his first seniors match at the age of 28.

He played 83 games for the Cats, then joined the Crows for the 2014 season.

Podsiadly did not get a game for Adelaide this season and said he had known for a while it was time to go.

"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," he told the club's website.

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