ALIPATE CARLILE has brought his 167-game career to an end.

The Port Adelaide defender hangs up the boots after a year marred by injuries, which saw him manage just two AFL and three SANFL matches.

Over 11 seasons at the club, Carlile established himself as the Power’s premier key defender – often tasked with stopping jobs on the AFL’s elite forwards, with players like Buddy Franklin, Jonathan Brown, Jarryd Roughead and Jack Riewoldt often shadowed by the man in the #27 Power jumper.

With early-season wrist injury sidelining him after Round 2 and a torn posterior cruciate ligament ruling him out for the season, Carlile says the decision to retire was a sensible one.

“It’s been a bit disappointing – the injuries – but it’s helped me transition into life after football,” Carlile told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“The injury last year was painful, but I thought I’d be able to get back from it. Unfortunately I was chasing my tail all pre-season and in the end it was a straightforward decision for me.

“Kenny and I had a real honest chat about it and we both walked out the room smiling, because we both knew it was the right decision.”

Recruited in the 2005 national draft with pick 44, Carlile debuted in his inaugural year with the club and was named the Power’s best player under 21 in 2008.

Carlile in action in 2014 [pic: AFL Media]

Awarded his life membership of the club last year, Carlile’s growth from wide-eyed recruit to senior defender and, ultimately, a mentor to the Power’s new brood of backmen has seen his career come full circle.

Starting his career learning from the Power’s premiership full back Darryl Wakelin, and has spent the last years of his career mentoring players like Tom Clurey and Jack Hombsch.

“Port Adelaide gave me an opportunity back in 2005 and I’m really lucky to play my whole career at this club – to be a one-club player – have 100 games and my name on the locker, it’s all really significant to me,” Carlile said.

“It’s been a learning curve the whole way through, it’s been a great journey.

“I’ve spent a bit of time with Tommy Clurey, Jack Hombsch, Jacko in the early days when he was actually playing key back – but it’s been as much a learning experience for me as it has been for them I think.

“It’s been good watching them come through.”

Carlile plans to continue his involvement in football through working with multicultural programs, and is in the process of opening a second gym in the Adelaide CBD.

Alipate Carlile record

Debut: Round 16, 2006 v St Kilda

Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers (2005 National Draft, Pick 44)

Junior club: Wangaratta Rovers

Career games: 167

Career goals: 5

Brownlow votes: 2

Gavin Wanganeen Medal (PAFC best player under 21): 2008

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