Star Tiger makes surprise retirement call

Three-time Richmond premiership defender Bachar Houli has made the astonishing telephone to discontinue from the game, effectual immediately.

The 33-year-old has played 232 AFL games successful a tremendous 15-year career, successful which helium received All-Australian honours successful 2019.

Houli besides finished runner-up to superstar teammate Dustin Martin successful Norm Smith Medal voting successful the 2017 and 2019 expansive last wins.

He was drafted to Essendon successful 2006 and played 26 AFL games with the Bombers betwixt 2007 and 2011, earlier switching to the Tigers successful the pre-season draft.

"I person been fortunate capable to play astatine 2 large clubs and to beryllium a portion of the past of this game," Houli said successful a nine statement.

"Not lone did I privation to play arsenic galore games arsenic possible, but I wanted to amended Australia, astir my religion [and] astir the religion of Islam, the religion of peace. I anticipation I person near a consciousness of bid successful everyone's heart.

"I sincerely convey the nine and the AFL for allowing maine to beryllium me.

"It's clip to spell fishing, Tiger for life."

Richmond defender Bachar Houli celebrating the 2017 AFL expansive last triumph. (Getty)

Houli besides played a large relation disconnected the tract astatine Richmond successful founding the Bachar Houli Foundation, which develops young leaders wrong the Muslim community.

Houli's status has travel conscionable days aft chap Richmond defender David Astbury called clip connected his AFL career.

Richmond manager Damien Hardwick applauded the 2 men connected their careers.

"Both discontinue three-time premiership players but that's lone truly scratching the aboveground of what some those boys person brought to our club," Hardwick told reporters.

"The bequest that they volition leave, and person built, can't beryllium measured and, to beryllium honest, they can't beryllium replaced."

Houli has battled calf troubles implicit the past 2 seasons and a syndesmosis wounded chopped abbreviated his 2021 run aft 16 rounds.

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