IT WAS A CASE of mixed emotions when Clint Bartram called it a day on Wednesday, after 103 matches with Melbourne from 2006-12.
The tenacious defender/midfielder announced his retirement after ongoing battles with a degenerative knee injury, which most recently required regenerating cartilage.
Bartram said he was “relieved” when he made the decision, but “saddened” that his career was over.
“It is something that I love doing, so to have that taken away is certainly disappointing, but [I’m] on to a new phase of life and that’s something I’m also really excited about. So one door closes and another one opens,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
Although Bartram made the decision a day before the AFL’s second list lodgment, he said it “wasn’t something I decided overnight”.
“I decided to give a lot of maturity to it and for me to really do that I needed to get outside of my normal routine,” he said.
“I went on a business trip to China with my two business partners. For me it was good to get a bit of clarity on exactly what’s going on in my life.
“I weighed up playing and not playing, and I talked to really influential people in my life and I talked to people around the club and I respected their opinions on it.”
Bartram said his knee was still giving him trouble upon retirement.
“At the moment, I’m still pretty sure unfortunately. I’ve spoken to the doctors about that and realistically for cartilage regeneration, we’re still looking at three or four or five months down the track to actually see some results,” he said.
“So for me, it’s something I’m still very keen on doing, rehabbing my knee and feeling good for life after football. It’s certainly not closing doors completely on AFL football, but certainly for next year, it’s a done deal.
“I really do want to get the knee right for my future life, because I do enjoy being active and when the day comes and I do have kids, I’ll look forward to running around with them.”
Bartram said it was disappointing to retire now because Melbourne had “the right people involved and had really powerful leaders around the club”.
“That’s the hardest thing for me about stepping away - I can actually see the direction and see the future and where this club’s going,” he said.
“For me not to be a part of that does hurt a little bit. But at the same time, I’m 24 and I’ve still got my health and I’m certainly looking forward to the next phase of my life.
“I have high ambitions - on and off the football field - and this is something that I really need to do for my own development and I’m very excited.”
Bartram said it was tough to pull stumps on his career after producing some strong form early in 2012, before his last match came against Sydney Swans in round eight.
“The toughest thing to swallow is that I genuinely don’t think that I have reached my fullest potential. [It’s] certainly not from a lack of trying, but I haven’t left any stone unturned,” he said.
“The way that your cards fall, sometimes you get dealt different hands and for me I’ve just got to play this one and unfortunately I won’t be playing football anymore.
“But it’s a chance to really develop myself outside of it.”
The 24 year-old also relished the opportunity to join the club’s leadership for the first time this year.
“It was something that I was very proud of. To have the ability to have guys follow your direction is something that I hold very close to my heart,” he said.
“I did feel comfortable at the club, and I did feel comfortable in my position in the team and I really felt like a valued member.
“It is funny the way it works, because I have said to a lot of people before that getting injured is the best thing that could’ve happened to me. They look at me with a bewildered look on their face, but in terms of making you appreciate what you’ve got, it certainly does open your eyes to exactly what’s going on in your life and what is important.
“I’m a big person on time, and time is of a premium and all successful people know that and it’s something you never get back. The years that I’ve had here, I’ll never get back and the years that are coming - I won’t get them back either.”
After being selected at No. 60 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, Bartram made his debut in round one, 2006. He gained a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination that year, before a knee injury ended his season on the eve of the finals.
For Bartram, it was the only year he would be at the club when Melbourne made the finals as tough times set in, as he explained.
“It’s been interesting. I came into the AFL system and we were in a pretty successful team and our first year, we played finals, but I unfortunately missed them and I played every game up until then,” he said.
“We were on a bit of a downward spiral, where we didn’t have much success and the last couple of years - particularly last year, with Mark [Neeld] coming in and taking control of the club was something I’ll certainly never forget.
“He certainly told me the importance of integrity and accountability, so I’m certainly going to take them onto my life lessons. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given at the Melbourne Football Club and it’s somewhere I do call home and I don’t want to be a stranger.
“I’ve specifically expressed to the boys that if they need anything - even if it’s just a coffee - I’m more than happy to catch up and chat about things.”
When telling his teammates, Bartram said he didn’t have any “inspirational messages” except to say that everyone had to “buy in” at the club.
“It’s weird. I’ve seen so many guys give that speech before and for me, it’s something that I always thought didn’t look that hard - being able to do it,” he said.
“I got up there and was a little bit shaky in the voice and I wasn’t exactly sure what to tell the boys.
“I just explained my story and where I was at, and the fact of where I saw the club going. The opportunity for me to open up a spot on our list was probably more valuable than me staying on it for another year and taking another person’s opportunity, when I have other opportunities going on outside.”
As for telling the coach, Bartram said it was “tough to talk to Neeldy”.
“I didn’t really know how to get across what I wanted to say to him,” he said.
“He expressed that he still wants to have me around the club and he certainly likes my presence and he likes what I bring to the place. He’s an interesting one - I respect him immensely. He’s another guy I’m going to miss not working alongside.
“He certainly has brought the best out of me and that’s something I’m very grateful for.”
As for his plans now, Bartram said he was keen to pursue business interests.
“I’ve got a pretty active mind,” he said.
“I’ve got a few things in the pipeworks.
“Time is a funny thing. Football finishes up and my business ventures are starting to take shape as well. I don’t think it’s coincidence, but maybe it is … maybe it is.”
Either way, no one can deny Bartram’s grittiness, endeavour and bravery in his ability to maximise every ounce of his career.
The tenacious defender/midfielder announced his retirement after ongoing battles with a degenerative knee injury, which most recently required regenerating cartilage.
Bartram said he was “relieved” when he made the decision, but “saddened” that his career was over.
“It is something that I love doing, so to have that taken away is certainly disappointing, but [I’m] on to a new phase of life and that’s something I’m also really excited about. So one door closes and another one opens,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
Although Bartram made the decision a day before the AFL’s second list lodgment, he said it “wasn’t something I decided overnight”.
“I decided to give a lot of maturity to it and for me to really do that I needed to get outside of my normal routine,” he said.
“I went on a business trip to China with my two business partners. For me it was good to get a bit of clarity on exactly what’s going on in my life.
“I weighed up playing and not playing, and I talked to really influential people in my life and I talked to people around the club and I respected their opinions on it.”
Bartram said his knee was still giving him trouble upon retirement.
“At the moment, I’m still pretty sure unfortunately. I’ve spoken to the doctors about that and realistically for cartilage regeneration, we’re still looking at three or four or five months down the track to actually see some results,” he said.
“So for me, it’s something I’m still very keen on doing, rehabbing my knee and feeling good for life after football. It’s certainly not closing doors completely on AFL football, but certainly for next year, it’s a done deal.
“I really do want to get the knee right for my future life, because I do enjoy being active and when the day comes and I do have kids, I’ll look forward to running around with them.”
Bartram said it was disappointing to retire now because Melbourne had “the right people involved and had really powerful leaders around the club”.
“That’s the hardest thing for me about stepping away - I can actually see the direction and see the future and where this club’s going,” he said.
“For me not to be a part of that does hurt a little bit. But at the same time, I’m 24 and I’ve still got my health and I’m certainly looking forward to the next phase of my life.
“I have high ambitions - on and off the football field - and this is something that I really need to do for my own development and I’m very excited.”
Bartram said it was tough to pull stumps on his career after producing some strong form early in 2012, before his last match came against Sydney Swans in round eight.
“The toughest thing to swallow is that I genuinely don’t think that I have reached my fullest potential. [It’s] certainly not from a lack of trying, but I haven’t left any stone unturned,” he said.
“The way that your cards fall, sometimes you get dealt different hands and for me I’ve just got to play this one and unfortunately I won’t be playing football anymore.
“But it’s a chance to really develop myself outside of it.”
The 24 year-old also relished the opportunity to join the club’s leadership for the first time this year.
“It was something that I was very proud of. To have the ability to have guys follow your direction is something that I hold very close to my heart,” he said.
“I did feel comfortable at the club, and I did feel comfortable in my position in the team and I really felt like a valued member.
“It is funny the way it works, because I have said to a lot of people before that getting injured is the best thing that could’ve happened to me. They look at me with a bewildered look on their face, but in terms of making you appreciate what you’ve got, it certainly does open your eyes to exactly what’s going on in your life and what is important.
“I’m a big person on time, and time is of a premium and all successful people know that and it’s something you never get back. The years that I’ve had here, I’ll never get back and the years that are coming - I won’t get them back either.”
After being selected at No. 60 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft, Bartram made his debut in round one, 2006. He gained a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination that year, before a knee injury ended his season on the eve of the finals.
For Bartram, it was the only year he would be at the club when Melbourne made the finals as tough times set in, as he explained.
“It’s been interesting. I came into the AFL system and we were in a pretty successful team and our first year, we played finals, but I unfortunately missed them and I played every game up until then,” he said.
“We were on a bit of a downward spiral, where we didn’t have much success and the last couple of years - particularly last year, with Mark [Neeld] coming in and taking control of the club was something I’ll certainly never forget.
“He certainly told me the importance of integrity and accountability, so I’m certainly going to take them onto my life lessons. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given at the Melbourne Football Club and it’s somewhere I do call home and I don’t want to be a stranger.
“I’ve specifically expressed to the boys that if they need anything - even if it’s just a coffee - I’m more than happy to catch up and chat about things.”
When telling his teammates, Bartram said he didn’t have any “inspirational messages” except to say that everyone had to “buy in” at the club.
“It’s weird. I’ve seen so many guys give that speech before and for me, it’s something that I always thought didn’t look that hard - being able to do it,” he said.
“I got up there and was a little bit shaky in the voice and I wasn’t exactly sure what to tell the boys.
“I just explained my story and where I was at, and the fact of where I saw the club going. The opportunity for me to open up a spot on our list was probably more valuable than me staying on it for another year and taking another person’s opportunity, when I have other opportunities going on outside.”
As for telling the coach, Bartram said it was “tough to talk to Neeldy”.
“I didn’t really know how to get across what I wanted to say to him,” he said.
“He expressed that he still wants to have me around the club and he certainly likes my presence and he likes what I bring to the place. He’s an interesting one - I respect him immensely. He’s another guy I’m going to miss not working alongside.
“He certainly has brought the best out of me and that’s something I’m very grateful for.”
As for his plans now, Bartram said he was keen to pursue business interests.
“I’ve got a pretty active mind,” he said.
“I’ve got a few things in the pipeworks.
“Time is a funny thing. Football finishes up and my business ventures are starting to take shape as well. I don’t think it’s coincidence, but maybe it is … maybe it is.”
Either way, no one can deny Bartram’s grittiness, endeavour and bravery in his ability to maximise every ounce of his career.
