Burns calls time on glittering Pies career
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Scott Burns, flanked by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and coach Mick Malthouse, calls it quits after 264 games. (AAP: Julian Smith)
Collingwood captain Scott Burns has announced his retirement from the AFL, bringing down the curtain on a stellar 14-year career.
The tenacious veteran on-baller made his Magpies debut in 1995 and went on to play 264 games for the black and whites, including two grand finals.
Burns confirmed his decision to call time on his AFL career at a press conference at Collingwood headquarters in Melbourne this morning.
"I just knew I was close to completely stopping and I just didn't want to go to the well once too often," he said.
"I pretty much knew mid-year there was a few things just structurally... back and neck and hip you notice as you get older."
Burns was plucked from Norwood in the 1992 AFL draft but did not make his debut until round one of the 1995 season when he played against Carlton at age 20.
After an impressive season in 1996, Burns missed the majority of the following campaigns with injury before being named the club's vice-captain in 1999.
He was elevated to the captaincy role for 2008 following the retirement of club legend Nathan Buckley, and made 17 appearances for Collingwood in a season which ended in week two of the finals.
Burns says he enjoyed leading the Magpies this year and the club is well placed to appoint a long-term captain.
"I don't know if I had to lead too much... I think it was a pretty good transition period from Bucks (Buckley) anyway he was such a big figure for me to blend in for 12 months and then the next person take over," he added.
"I think the strength of our group is that collectively we have got some very strong leadership here."
Burns played in losing grand finals to Brisbane in 2002 and 2003, but saved one of his best career performances for round 11 this year, tallying an incredible 36 touches in the Magpies' win against Melbourne.
Magpies coach Mick Malthouse paid tribute to Burns's inspirational character.
"A wonderful club man, a bloke you go to when the chips are down. He is always trying to lift the club by personal endeavour," he said in a club statement.
Collingwood's president Eddie McGuire said the club would be letting go one of its most experienced competitors.
"Scott Burns has been one of the best finals players in the red-hot furnace of finals football," Mr McGuire said.
Burns kicked 149 goals and recorded more than 5,000 possesions during his glittering 14-year Collingwood career.
He enjoyed his best record against Adelaide, playing the Crows 18 times for 11 wins, but was most effective against the Demons with an average of 26.3 touches from 15 clashes (7-8).
His final match for the club was in Collingwood's 18.10 (118) to 10.13 (73) win over Sydney in round 21, before injury ruled him out of the Magpies' remaining matches.
Burns may be offered an assistant coaching position at the Magpies, with Geelong and West Coast also believed to be interested in his services.
