For the best part of seven years, football has been Greg Broughton’s job. It’s been his life. The reliable defender took a less traditional route to the highest level and has since wrung the most out of a body that has gradually been worn down by the rigours of AFL football and struggled to recover the longer his career has progressed.
 
Saturday night’s game against Sydney at the SCG will be Broughton’s 110th senior appearance and his final at AFL level after the 28-year-old announced his retirement from the game this week, with injuries finally taking their toll this season, both physically and mentally.
 
Broughton was part of the Fremantle recruiting scheme that gave the ‘Moneyball’ philosophy wings, a system that refused to turn a blind eye to those that had slipped between the cracks in their draft year for whatever reason. And a drive that not only landed Broughton, but also Michael Barlow and Hayden Ballantyne, and drew more attention to the quality of older talent lingering in the state leagues.
 
The triple WAFL premiership player didn’t enter the inside of an AFL club until the Dockers selected him with one of the last live picks in the 2009 national draft at pick No. 79. From there, he became a regular fixture in Fremantle’s back six where he played 68 games before making one of the biggest decisions in his life to pack up his life and move across the Nullarbor to play for one of the competition's expansion clubs.
 
After playing 37 games in his first two years and slotting in nicely in the SUNS defence, 2015 hasn’t panned out the way Broughton hoped. A spate of injuries has prevented him from not only getting on the park, but also remaining there. Having not played since injuring his knee in round ten, the Subiaco product will return on the weekend for a last hurrah.
 
“Personally it’s been a tough year, mentally and physically. A few injuries on-field it's come to a time I think where there’s a question mark whether to go another year at this level – I don’t think I would have been able to,” Broughton told SUNS TV.
 
“So I think it’s a pretty easy decision on my behalf. I’m just looking forward to the next chapter in life and whatever that throws at me; I’m willing to take on.
 
“I think early days my body would hold up (better). I think I like to say I’m more of a crash and bash type player. In the latter stages of my career I started to get sorer and sorer and more injuries.”

 
Not many players play one game, let alone 100 and Broughton is grateful for the opportunity Fremantle gave him at the end of 2009 when they plucked him from Subiaco after being part of three consecutive premierships in the WAFL.
 
“I just want to thank the Fremantle Football Club for giving me the opportunity and also the Gold Coast SUNS. To live out my childhood dream has been amazing. It’s something that I will cherish forever,” Broughton said.
 
After a strong start to his career in Perth and after finishing third in the coveted Doig Medal in 2011, Broughton made the bold decision to pursue an opportunity with the SUNS. A move he confesses was what he needed at that time of his life.
 
“I think it was a big call. I think personally I just needed a change and for me to move interstate I think it was the right decision from speaking to friends and family. Gold Coast gave me the opportunity to come across and I took it,” he said.
 
As one chapter closes, another opens for Broughton as he braces himself for life away from an AFL club. The West Australian is on the back nine of a plumbing apprenticeship that looms as his next step.
 
Although, after spending time in the NEAFL coaches box this year as he battled through another injury, Broughton’s interest in coaching has spiked, with the lure of assisting young players trying to find their way in the game attractive.
 
“First of all I’d like to get my plumbing apprenticeship finished off, whether that’s in six or twelve months time. That’s my number No. 1 priority,” he said.
 
“I spent a bit of time on the sidelines and I’ve grown an interest in that coaching capability. I feel that I’ve got the knowledge to help some young guys out or teams out. Wherever that is I’ll look at that in the long term.”