PREMIUM
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Rob Osborne hangs up boots for good after helping Waaia to grand final win

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Hanging up the boots: Waaia's Rob Osborne (centre, front row) said Saturday’s grand final would be his last game. Photo by Megan Fisher

If you were a footballer, how would you like to end your career?

The answer to that question for Rob Osborne is with a premiership.

Waaia’s number 37 wound back the clock in Saturday’s Picola District Football League decider, kicking six goals on the way to glory.

The 40-year-old veteran, who has come back from ‘‘retirement’’ numerous times in the past, confirmed this was the last time he’d be pulling on the boots.

“It’s incredible,” Osborne said.

“I never thought the day would come where I’d be standing here right now at nearly 41.”

Osborne said he was unsure of what to think of the side early in pre-season, with the talent describing Waaia as a “special place at the moment’’.

“The grit and determination of these boys and the love they’ve got for each other is incredible,” he said.

“I’ve never been involved in an atmosphere like it is at the moment and to be a part of that is incredible.”

Nearly 41, Osborne said his body had been through enough, with a strong contribution in a grand final the best way to go out.

“This will be it, I’m finishing off with this, this is 100 per cent it,” he said.

“I played my role today and it’s what I wanted to do, go out with a bang and it’s definitely happened.

“I probably should have kicked a few more, but at the end of the day I was a bit tired with the old legs.

“At the end of the day as long as I’ve contributed that’s all I’ve wanted to do.”

Osborne bows out etched into a list of Waaia premiership heroes, and with plenty of days of celebration remaining, will be the talk of the town for a while yet.