Some footballers retire when there is something left in the tank, others when the writing is on the wall. Ryan O'Keefe clearly does not belong in either category.
Even as he sat in the Swans players lounge to confirm what most have already known for a while – that this year would be his last in the red and white – O'Keefe refused to accept defeat, which has been a trademark of his illustrious career.
No less would be expected of the man whom John Longmire describes as the most professional player he has seen at the club – a fitness fanatic who brings scales on interstate trips to weigh his food and who can be found on weekends during pre-season on 150-kilometre bike rides.
O'Keefe accepts the end must come for all athletes, as it did for his dual premiership-winning teammate Lewis Roberts-Thomson a fortnight ago.
"It's the cycle that happens," he acknowledged, but so long as Sydney are in the premiership race and his 33-year-old frame is in one piece he will not be letting go.
Not even when coach Longmire, who sat next to him on Thursday, has all but put a line through his name.
The two men have spoken plenty of times this year and "agreed to disagree on a few occasions", O'Keefe said with a wry smile.
The dream finish would have seen him become the fourth man to play 300 games for the club and contribute to a third flag. The former won't happen, at least not in Sydney, and the odds of him getting a chance to do the latter are slim.
A second alternative would have been to finish the Jude Bolton way – in the seniors.
O'Keefe's path is the one the fans do not wish to see but, as Longmire pointed out, should not take away from a career which has produced 286 games, two premierships, a Norm Smith Medal, an All Australian jumper and a club best and fairest.
O'Keefe said playing reserves football this year, his 15th in the league, had been tough. Fifth in last year's best and fairest, O'Keefe had not been expecting to play just four games though a minor drop off from him, combined with the improvement from the likes of Luke Parker and Harry Cunningham, brought forward the end.
"You never know until you're into that situation. You don't try and look too far ahead but what's done is done, I can't do too much about it," O'Keefe said.
"The journey's happened for a reason and the guys are playing well and getting ready for a big finals series so I don't want to take anything away from that."
O'Keefe will discuss with his family before deciding whether to play on next year – and there is the issue of finding another suitor as a rising 34-year-old – but a career in coaching could also beckon.
"Definitely, I love footy, I love being in that environment," O'Keefe said.
"I'm a competitor, I enjoy the emotional roller-coaster, the wins and losses."
O'Keefe will see out the season with the Swans reserves, who have qualified for the finals, and though there will be no farewell senior game the club has paid tribute to him by giving him a lap of honour at half-time on Saturday so he can thank the fans.
They might be saying goodbye, but there's every chance O'Keefe will be thinking an encore performance remains.
"You always hope to be a part of it and the hard part is letting go but the reality is that's the life of footy and professional sport; it's the cycle that happens," O'Keefe said.
"You're not owed anything or belong to anything, you just pass through and hopefully when you leave you put your mark on the place.
"I'm really proud of my career here, it's been great and I think I've got everything out of myself at the Swans as is humanly possible. I can walk away pretty proud."
