Fremantle’s Kepler Bradley will retire from AFL football at the end of the 2014 season.



The 28-year-old told teammates on Wednesday about his decision to retire, having played 117 AFL games, including 68 with Fremantle and 49 at Essendon.



Bradley sustained a season-ending knee injury against Richmond at Patersons Stadium in round five last year and has not played AFL since.



He said the decision to retire was made easier by his struggles to return to full fitness.



“I’m nearly 29 now and I haven’t really played in the past two years after my knee reconstruction,” Bradley said.



“I’ve tried to come back this year as soon as my body would let me but I’ve done about five hamstrings on the way. Just with the pace of the game now, how fast it is, it looks like the game has gone past me.



“I played WAFL on the weekend and my body was a bit sore. That was the final nail in the coffin, that it wasn’t meant to be.”



Bradley will play out the last two weeks of the season at WAFL level before going on a break.



“I’m going to have a couple of months off, the body is a bit sore and the hamstrings are hanging by a thread,” he said.



“Hopefully I’ll stay in footy in some shape or form. I’ve enjoyed my time down at Peel trying to develop some of the young guys and hopefully fast track them.



“If I can maybe go back to a WAFL club and help the younger guys, I’m willing to play at that level.”



Freo general manager of football operations Chris Bond said everyone involved with the club will miss Bradley.



"Kepler leaves the club with a great deal of respect from the players and staff,” he said.



“His teammates have always enjoyed playing alongside him and we would like to thank him for his efforts and commitment to the team since he was drafted.”



The Bombers drafted Bradley in the 2003 National Draft with the sixth selection. He joined Fremantle for the 2008 season and has played as a forward, defender and ruckman.