AFL career can end quickly as it has for Jed Adock

He had taken on the leadership role after being co-captain with the legendary Jonathon Brown. 

Just a matter of weeks ago he celebrated his 200^th AFL game.

Now he is on the way out, with the Lions not extending his contract into the 2016 season.

The Adcock story demonstrates how quickly the end of a playing career can come for an AFL player.

At 29 years of age the former North Ballarat Rebels skipper is far from over the hill in sporting terms.

He’s fit. Has been in solid enough form in a team fighting to avoid the wooden spoon.

But he is at the stage in his career that does not allow him to be part of Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch’s plans to begin rebuilding Brisbane.

It is difficult to see the Lions turning around their fortunes in the short-term. It is hard to image Brisbane even becoming a finals contender over the next two years and by that time Adcock will be in his early 30s.

Brisbane Lions chief executive officer Greg Swann said on breaking the news to Adcock that he had deserved an honest club assessment on his future.

"It was not an easy conversation to have because Jed has been such a fantastic servant, but we believe the best way for the club to go is to really develop the talented youngsters we have, as well as adding more young talent to our list, Swan said."

This is a disappointing way to end a career.

Retirement comes for everyone, but when you have been in the game as a long as Adcock has it is preferable to be able to go on your own terms

Whether there is a lifeline for Adcock, as there has been for many of the years, to have a few years at another club remains to be seen.

This time last year Hawthorn best and fairest and dual premiership player Brad Sewell was also fighting to extend his playing career.

That was in different circumstances though. Thirty years of age at the time, Sewell had had an injury-interrupted year and in the end was unable to keep his place in the team – missing the premiership team. He resisted overtures from Collingwood to extend his career.

It is a much different story for another former North Ballarat Rebel in Drew Petrie at North Melbourne. He has accepted a one-year contract with the Kangaroos to play into 2016, when he will be 33 and have an opportunity to become a 300-game player.

Petrie has been a grand servant of North Melbourne. Unlike Adcock, there is every chance that Petrie will get the opportunity to make a call on his own career.