Flanked by Kevin Sheedy, James Hird, fellow retiree Sean Wellman and his teammates, Misiti spoke of the club and what it had meant to him since he arrived here as a 15-year-old. He said retirement was something that had been rolling around in his head for some time.
""I’ve been stewing over it for the past six or eight weeks, particularly when I was struggling to get a kick. I would do all the training and try my guts out but the ball just wasn't falling in my lap like it used to so I thought the game might have passed me by,"" Misiti said.
""I’ve had a great run and I am very happy with what I have done. To be a one-club player is something I am very proud of.""
Joey has always been a ‘man of the people’ and it would not surprise anyone to hear he is toying with the idea of having a run with his mates back at Keilor Park Football Club.
""I might go back (to Keilor Park Football Club) next year and have a kick. I have never played with my brother and there are a few blokes that I played juniors with that I would like to have a run with – I might wander down one Thursday night and see if I can get a game,"" he said.
Misiti played in under 19s and reserves Premiership before cracking a game in the senior side. He says he has the coach Kevin Sheedy to thank for the chance he got and the career he carved out.
""Sheeds gave me an opportunity to play my first game when I was 17 and not too many coaches do that. I’ve been on the senior list for 13 years and he has been fantastic for my career,"" Misiti said.
""In 1993 we won a flag and I was so young it probably didn’t really sink in until five or six years later. It is what made 2000 so sweet because we had to work really hard to get to that stage. I felt I had really earned that one and it made it very satisfying.
""The regrets would be losing a Grand Final and a couple of Preliminary final losses by one point.""
