Many players go on to have successful and long careers in the AFL, but a portion of players have their careers cut short. Some are star players who just didn't get a good crack to show what they have, or succumbed to the nasty history and role that injuries play in the game.
We take a look at 10 of the most notable names who had their promising careers end prematurely.
Have some other players in mind? Share in the comments below.
8. Matthew Egan
Matthew Egan took up footy later than most kids, since he was a promising junior tennis player. He was once ranked fifth in Victoria for juniors.
Drafted by Geelong in the 2004 National Draft, he had an outstanding first season, and was named Geelong's best first-year player.
Playing at centre-half back, Egan often shut down the opposition's top forward, including the likes of Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Lloyd, Fraser Gehrig, Barry Hall, Quinten Lynch, Matthew Pavlich and Jonathan Brown.
Egan had a standout 2007, being named in the All-Australian team and as Geelong's Best Clubman. However, in Round 22 Egan fractured the navicular bone in his right foot. This required emergency surgery to insert screws into the foot.
As a result of this injury, he would miss the Cats' premierships at both AFL and VFL level.
The following year, Geelong said it would be unlikely that Egan plays AFL again. Unfortunately the club's prediction was right, with Egan unable to return to the field and would soon be delisted in 2010.
Egan was on track to become a premier backman of the competition. Had he not been injured, he was sure to be part of the Cats' 2007 flag, and perhaps the next two in 2009 and 2011.
Could Geelong have also won the 2008 flag with Egan in the team?
