The GWS Giants will allow stalwart ex-skipper Phil Davis to make the final call on his footballing future after he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury last weekend.
The 31-year-old key defender has played 192 games after being picked tenth overall by the Adelaide Crows in the 2008 National Draft, but after his latest setback, many are expecting that to be the final tally.
Davis had to be helped from the Adelaide Oval last Saturday night after he lay on the ground in agonising pain, just weeks after returning to action from a long-term injury to his other hamstring.
Giants caretaker coach Mark McVeigh shed light on the details of Davis' ailment during Monday night's episode of Fox Footy'sย AFL 360, noting the difficulty Davis now faces if he attempts to return to the field again.
"When players have significant injuries that are really hard to rehab and come back like he did and put some really good footy together โฆ to go down in this way was heartbreaking for us," McVeigh said.
"We know his professional level is as high as anyone I've seen in footy.
"He worked extremely hard to get to this point, unfortunately it's occurred in the other hamstring. That makes it difficult."
McVeigh acknowledged that Davis has another year to run on his current contract and stated the defender has earned the opportunity to make the call on his future himself.
"He's contracted for next year so we know there's some decisions there," McVeigh said.
"Ultimately I think that decision he's earnt the respect and the right to make that decision come season end about what he would like to do.
"I think the club will sit down with him and see where he wants to go.
"He's a very smart person, he thinks about his game, he thinks about his life after footy and what it looks like."
Davis served as GWS' inaugural captain, with 174 of his 192 games coming in Giants colours since transferring from the Crows at the end of 2011.
