Salmon cited business and family reasons as the major influences behind his decision. “I certainly felt that I could have gone on and made a contribution but I have so many other things in my life and basically they must now be my priority,” Salmon said. “I want to spend time with the family and my business interests, including Journey Corporation, and my media role with Channel 7 take up a lot of my time.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Essendon Football Club for their support and in particular Kevin Sheedy and Peter Jackson,” Salmon said. “I would also like to thank my teammates – I had a fantastic time with them last season. I would also like to thank the supporters of the Essendon Football Club for the way they embraced me. My career has come full circle and I really feel comfortable with this decision - it is a nice way to finish.""
“To be honest it was either Kevin Sheedy or myself who had to go and I didn’t like my chances,” Salmon laughed.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said the match committee had only planned for Salmon to return for one season but were forced to think long and hard about asking him to play again after his successful return. “We fully appreciate the situation Paul is in away from football and it is he who has to decide what comes first,” Sheedy said.
“As I have said a number of times, we wouldn’t have made the finals’ without him so as far as I am concerned his comeback was very successful. Our young ruckman in David Hille, Simon O’Keefe and Aaron Henneman have also learned a hell of a lot from him. Paul Salmon will always be a great Essendon person and I thank him for last season and wish him well for the future.”
Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson said the club was delighted with Paul Salmon's comeback. ""He made a very positive contribution to the club. And he has now set the record straight, by retiring as the Essendon champion he will always be remembered as,"" Jackson said.
