Daniel Giansiracusa will throw himself into the world of AFL coaching with the same vigour he's shown in his playing career.
The much-loved Western Bulldog will play his 265th and final AFL match on Sunday against Greater Western Sydney.
Announcing his widely expected retirement on Thursday, "Gia" said he was fully ready for life beyond his 15-year playing career.
"I'm really looking forward to it," he said.
"It was probably looking like last year was going to be my last but I probably wasn't ready but I think I am now."
Coach Brendan McCartney has queried his decision several times but says Giansiracusa is looking towards coaching himself.
"He says 'stop asking me because I am sure I want to do it'," McCartney said.
"He'll end up being exactly the way he was as a player. He'll leave no stone unturned ... he'll be a roaring success."
Drafted in 1999 alongside defender Bob Murphy, the flashy goalsneak and old school runner formed an unlikely career-long friendship.
"Coming in as a 17-year-old, they put us up against each other; we've bounced off each other," he said.
"We're pretty different kind of guys but doing that waltz, as (Murphy) said, that last time on Sunday will be really enjoyable."
He addressed the playing group this week, telling the young Bulldog pack to love the "grind" of the AFL system.
"You can either let it get you down or you can embrace it and take it on and that's what I've tried to do in the 15 years I've played."
He pinpointed the Bulldogs' 2006 elimination final win against Collingwood in front of 85,000 people as a highlight.
"(Brett Montgomery) got knocked out in the first 10 seconds and was asking me at halftime where he was. It was pretty inspirational what he could do to get us over the line."
Giansiracusa thanked former coaches, Terry Wallace for giving him an opportunity, Rodney Eade for turning the side into winners and McCartney for teaching him about coaching.
And a final wish for his final game?
"I look forward to getting a win on Sunday because that's what I play for - the 10 minutes after the game," he said.
McCartney agrees.
"I can see him running into a couple of open goals for us."
15 YEARS OF GIA - THE BEST OF DANIEL GIANSIRACUSA:
* 1999: Drafted with pick 32 after playing for Williamstown and the Western Jets
* 2001: Wins the club's best first-year player after debuting in a round-11 win against Adelaide - kicking a goal with his first kick
* 2006: Plays in his first final, the eighth-placed Bulldogs beating fifth-placed Collingwood in a spirited elimination final in front of 85,000 at the MCG
* 2008-10: A crucial part of the Bulldogs' best team of modern times which loses three straight preliminary finals. Wins NAB Cup in 2010
* 2012-13: Wins the Bulldogs' leading goalkicker award in a developing side
* 2014: Ends his career a one-team man after 265 games and 329 goals for the Bulldogs
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