Two weeks ago Sean Wellman announced that this September would be his last AFL finals series. Wellman, a 211 game veteran, said the timing was right to take the step into life after football. Bomber fans have been scratching their heads since Wellman returned to the side in Round 22, wondering why a man with so much to offer had suddenly called it a day.

After a nine-week layoff due to a recurring hamstring problem, Wellman has returned to galvanize the Bomber backline in its last two outings, which coincidentally have resulted in victories.

Wellman was one of Essendon’s better players in the win over Melbourne in Saturday’s nail-biting elimination final. He collected 11 kicks, had five handballs, took five marks and cleared the ball from defensive 50 on four occasions.

The 29-year old also combined well with key defender Dustin Fletcher, who also collected 14 possessions and had nine defensive clearances, underlining the importance these two players have on the Bombers’ premiership aspirations in 2004.

That is why so many Essendon supporters have been left stunned by the news Wellman is pulling the plug on a successful AFL career.

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said that the decision was Wellman’s and that he would not try and persuade the star defender to change his mind. ""It (playing again) would have to be from him. He is the one who said he didn’t want to go on with it,"" Sheedy said.

""It’s more a mental issue whether he wants to keep playing. He’s seen a lot of guys go on that one-year too much and players retiring half-way through the season – he probably doesn’t want to go down that track.""

Click here to read the news story - Bombers farewell one of the good guys - following Sean Wellman’s announcement of his retirement.