I've had a good crack: Ward retires with no regrets

Ward confirmed his retirement on Monday, two months after an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee ended his bid for a maiden premiership with the Giants.

The much-loved Giants veteran was in tears when he suffered the injury in the first quarter of their round-12 clash against Richmond.

But Ward had refused to be ruled out of the game entirely.

In his 327th and final game, Ward added to his legend and delivered a three-quarter time address on crutches that sparked a three-point win over the Tigers.

"At the time, I knew that I wanted to retire straight away," Ward said on Monday.

"I spoke to Dave (Matthews, Giants chief executive) about it a few days later. He said to have a think about it.

"In the moment, on the ground and that night, and after the scans as well - I knew I'd done it straight away, I knew I'd done my ACL.

"I was counting down the weeks until the grand final, thinking like, 'Can I get back?' and I knew I couldn't."

Ward had put his retirement plans on hold to play one more season this year in a last attempt to be part of the Giants' first premiership.

It was a similar injury to his left knee that had robbed him of the chance to play in the Giants' only grand final so far, the 2019 loss to Richmond.

Choosing to play an 18th season came with a huge sacrifice, with Ward living apart from his wife Ruby and their three children in Melbourne.

The tough inside midfielder will continue to split his rehabilitation between the club and his family as the Giants look to go all the way this season.

"No, I've got no regrets at all," Ward said.

"I can't regret doing my knee. I wish I could but I can't because it's out of my control.

"I feel like I've done everything I can to try and get that premiership.

"I've accepted that I won't be there on grand final day if the Giants were to make it. That's fine ... I've had a good crack."

Ward ends his career as the club's all-time games record-holder, having played 267 games since their inaugural 2012 season.

Drafted with pick No.19 in 2007, the Yarraville local made his debut for childhood club Western Bulldogs the following year and played 60 games before moving interstate.

"I was very naive back when I was 21," Ward said.

"I'm so glad I made the leap at the time. I didn't want to do it, to be honest.

"One of the main reasons was I wanted to grow up and start fresh and challenge myself."

Ward sits in the Giants' history books listed under many "firsts'': he was their first goalkicker, their first club champion and their first co-captain alongside Phil Davis.

He is also a two-time winner of the Brett Kirk Medal and a recipient of the AFLPA's Robert Rose Medal.

A life as a firefighter could be on the cards for Ward.

"They're not taking any applicants in until next March, so I have to wait," Ward said.