Less than a month after becoming a premiership Eagle, East Geelong’s Jayden Fanning has called time on a decorated career.
Fanning played an important role in the Eagles’ finals series thanks to his stoic display down back.
“The last few years I have been umming and ahhhing about whether to pull the pin,” Fanning told GDFNL Media.
“I think being so close for numerous years now has made it hard but now that we have that one (premiership) for the club I think its time to pull the pin.”
Fanning was already on the senior scene when the Eagles won their last premiership in 2009 while playing for St Joseph’s in the GFL Reserves competition.
The following year he managed two senior games for Joeys before crossing over to Geelong West St Peters from 2011-14.
He then spent three seasons at Apollo Bay before crossing over to East Geelong in 2018 alongside teammates Ryan Rich, Mick Condon and Sam Lowe.
That season incoming senior coach Jeremy Power stated “we don’t want to put a limit to where we can get to.”
Fast forward nine seasons later and Fanning has now been added to the club’s 100 game players having reached the milestone against Corio this year.
“My good mate who I came across with Sam Lowe played his 100th game in last year’s grand final and I still have no idea how he beat me to 100 games,” Fanning laughed.
As for what this year’s premiership meant?
“We have a photo next to the bar of the last premiership and the 2009 team,” he concluded.
“You sort of look at it every Saturday night when you’re waiting to order a drink and think how good it would be to add one next to it or have another one in this room.
“To be able to finally achieve that is truly amazing.”
