Off-Season Musings: Kerr-tains for Daniel the Eagle-hearted

Daniel Kerr has now officially retired. Kerr will join the list which has doubled in recent days to include Adam Selwood, Mark Nicoski, Andrew Embley, Ashton Hams and Brad Dick in hanging up the boots.

With all due respect to 250 gamer Embley and the tireless Selwood (and Dick who played a memorable...erm...ah...let me get my abacus...0 games) Kerr easily headlines that group.

As I remarked earlier in the year, after a completely unfathomable, unjustified and unfair attack on Kerr by Worsfold, I consider him one of the real giants in our history. 

He debuted in 2001 and as I recall he had hair. Beyond his follicles, I think it was clear from his early days that he was a player with exquisite skills, damaging pace and goal kicking ability.

But to me, his extraordinary talent, precision and vision were merely the superficial beauty of number 4. It was the man's toughness, his tenacity in the bottom of the pack and his ability to fight and never give up which will etch his name into the history books.

For me, his amazing goals are great. But that last-ditch tackle to ensure victory against the evil Swans in 2007 will live forever in my memory. 

 

Yes, we shouldn't forget the dark days. He wasn't a Saint off the field in his early days. Not that he was bad as the 'Saints' or anything, but he did partly  contribute to an unsavoury culture. He also endured a horror 3 year run, from 2008-10 where he was seemingly suspended or injured every other week. But I see those times as a reflection of the state of the club.

Source: Fanfooty

 In fact, I'd go further to say that the fact he stuck it out is admirable. I remember there were rumours of interest from Carlton (apparently the Juddas was willing to take a paycut) but Kerr wanted to stay an Eagle and he did.

He may have never won the Brownlow, finishing 2nd twice, but out of the big 3, Kerr is the Eagles Legend. There is no but after that statement. He stuck with the club whilst others left us for various reasons which aren't necessary to repeat here.

In 2011, there was the Kerr-surgence, as he played a critical role in lifting the Eagles from last to a preliminary final.

His final season wasn't great, but he was far from the worst player on the team. We were always better with him than without him. Unfortunately his body finally seems to have abandoned him, as he clearly had the desire to play on.

It's also a little unfortunate that his last game was against Essendon, a match which will not be remembered for his departure. On the other hand, I attended that game, a moment in our history and now the closing chapter in an illustrious career.

Thanks Kerr-y: Star, Legend, Eagle.