The end for Wanganeen

Port Adelaide and former Essendon star Gavin Wanganeen is expected to announce his retirement at a media conference at Alberton Oval on Wednesday afternoon.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old has battled to recover from surgery earlier this year on the lateral cartilage in his right knee.

Wanganeen's magnificent career will finish on 300 games – 173 with Port Adelaide between 1997 and 2000, and 127 with Essendon from 1991 to 1996, highlighted by his Brownlow Medal win and premiership appearance in 1993.

He also played in Port's 2004 premiership team, won a best and fairest with both the Bombers and the Power and was a five-time All-Australian. He was also named in the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century last year.

Wanganeen, a true utility who was equally damaging as a defender, midfielder or forward, was lured back to his native South Australia in 1997 to become Port's captain in its debut AFL season.

He managed just one game for Port in 2006, the season-opener against the Kangaroos, in which he suffered a rib injury. He then injured his knee in a SANFL game for the Port Magpies last month, a match that was supposed to mark his stepping-stone back into AFL ranks.

Wanganeen was expected to retire from AFL football in any event at the end of the season.