Paul Salmon - Retirement and Comeback

Retirement and Comeback

He was named in their Team of the Century and won two Peter Crimmins Trophys. At the end of 2000, Salmon announced his retirement after playing in two day and three night premierships and being selected as Best and Fairest twice.

But that wouldn't be the last of Salmon at AFL level. In 2002, he made a comeback, drafted by Kevin Sheedy in a fairytale move that would see him finish his career at his original club. He re-entered the league at 37 years of age, but was still one of the best tap ruckmen in the league, and helped Essendon to the finals, as well as teaching younger ruckmen such as David Hille the nuances of ruckwork.

At the end of his career, Salmon had amassed a total of 324 league games, 2 premierships, 3 All Australian selections, 14 times a Victorian State of Origin representative, 7 times leading goalkicker for Essendon, 2 times Best and Fairest at Hawthorn, a Tassie medal and Michael Tuck medal were highlights. But maybe the most significant achievement of all was his standing amongst the best players for both clubs of the past century, Hawthorn 'Team of the Century' and a 'Champion of Essendon'.