Wright leaves Blues for Crows coaching gig

Matthew Wright has called time on his AFL career at age 28 to play for Adelaide's SANFL team and take up a coaching role with the club.

Matthew Wright

Matthew Wright has called time on his AFL playiung career after 159 games. (AAP)

Carlton forward Matthew Wright has pulled the pin on his AFL playing career in order to return home to his native South Australia.

The 28-year-old has accepted a job captaining Adelaide's reserves team and working as a part-time development coach.

Wright said family reasons were behind his decision to return to his former club.

"My wife and I are expecting our first child next year and when the opportunity presented to return back to our home state, there was a lot to weigh up but we feel it is the right decision," he said.

"The passion is still there to play senior footy but ultimately my desire to pursue my coaching ambitions became too strong and I believe the time is now right to follow that."

Wright was drafted by Adelaide and played 94 games for the Crows over five seasons before heading to Carlton.

He led the team's goalkicking tally in 2016 with 22 and accumulated 73 in 65 games for the Blues.

Wright said working with Brendon Bolton's young side convinced him he could make it as a coach.

"I learned a lot working with a young group at Carlton and being a senior figure there," he said.

"Helping some of their recent draftees with their learning and development was really satisfying."


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Source: AAP


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