RETIRING Demon Daniel Cross says he felt a little bit “woozy” post-match, after he was taken off the ground via a motorised stretcher during Melbourne’s 26-point win over Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Cross, who played his 249^th and final AFL match, hit the turf hard early in the final term. Once taken from the field, he reemerged from the rooms via the boundary line – to much applause from the crowd – but took no further part.

He was carried from the ground after the match and summed up his feelings when he spoke to Dee TV.  

“I’m rapt to see the excitement in the room,” he said.

“I honestly can’t remember a great deal about the game, but I know that we won and I could read the scoreboard. I finished at the Bulldogs with a win here [at Etihad Stadium] against Melbourne. To finish here again with a win was fantastic.

“The Melbourne fans have been very supportive – and this club’s been unbelievable for me and my family. They’ve welcomed us in like true Melbourne people and I’m very honoured to have worn the red and the blue and to finish with a win is terrific.”

Reflecting on the incident that saw him finish his match prematurely, Cross said he didn’t have any recollections of the incident.

“I had a few people telling me what happened [when I was] going back for a mark,” he said.

“I think I smashed my head on the turf – and it’s a hard deck the Etihad deck – so that’s the way it goes unfortunately.

“I’m still in one piece. I’m a little bit groggy. I remember bits and pieces and the thing I do remember is looking up at the scoreboard and seeing us in front, so we’ve broken the Etihad hoodoo, so we’re very happy about that.”

Cross said he also cherished the fact that former Bulldog teammate and great friend Matthew Boyd spoke to the Melbourne players about his career before the match.  

“I had no idea that was happening,” he said.

“I knew him and his wife Kate and his little girls were coming to the game and I thought he was just going to be in the crowd watching. But to have him come in before the game was really special.

“He’s a great mate and we shared a lot of memories together, so it was unbelievable to see him before the game. It’s something I do remember [after being concussed], so I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”

Cross said he would now take some time to consider his step, now that his playing career has come to a close. He added that he hadn’t thought any more about a potential development and rehab coaching position that Melbourne had offered him.

“Not really. I got the news earlier in the week on Monday night, so it took me a couple of days to get my emotions out of the way,” he said.

“I was pretty disappointed and quite emotional that after 15 years it’s all over.

“I prepared myself physically and mentally to go around, but after Wednesday, when I told the boys, I just really wanted to focus on the game and get a win – and we did that and I’m so happy.

“I’ll take a couple of weeks, probably a few weeks to decide, and just let the dust settle a little bit and then decide what I’m going to do.

“It’s a great opportunity that they’ve given me, so it’ll be something I strongly consider and we’ll see what happens.”