Brent Guerra Biography

Recently retired Hawthorn premiership player David Hale has made an immediate move into coaching, joining Fremantle coach Ross Lyon's team of assistants for 2016.

The Dockers have made three new appointments, with Hale joined by fellow Hawthorn premiership player Brent Guerra and experienced coach Anthony Rock.

"David, Brent and Anthony each have key football and coaching qualities, and will be valuable additions to our club," Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said.

"They have decades of experience at the game’s most elite level and we look forward to them joining our coaching team and the valuable input they will have at the club."

Following his recent retirement, Brent Guerra takes on a role at Hawthorn as their development coach.

"His AFL experience and knowledge of the modern game will be invaluable to the younger players under his tutelage," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said in a statement.

Lance Franklin returns to Australia, leaving teammates behind in Ireland after Australia's 22-point loss to the Irish in the first Test of the International Rules Series at Breffni Park in Cavan.

"I would love to stay here but I've got to get back for one of my best mate's, Brent Guerra's, wedding," Franklin said.

"It's going to be hard leaving all the boys behind and I'd love to be out there for that Second Test, but unfortunately I won't be able to get there."

After helping Hawthorn win the 2013 AFL flag, Brent Guerra calls an end to his AFL career after 255 games.

Memories of the 2008 premiership and the 2012 Grand Final loss to Sydney drove Brent Guerra to overcome cramping in his body during Hawthorn's 2013 Grand Final win against Fremantle.

"I was cramping in my stomach, my legs – I was cramping everywhere," Guerra said.

"That cup [kept me going], mate, and the feeling of '08 – we knew how good it was and we didn't want to let that slip again like last year.

"We just kept going and going and here we are, we've just won another one.

"I can't explain it, a lot of players don't play in one but to be able to say you're a two-time premiership player is a great feeling.

"It's something that I'll definitely hold with me forever."

After missing last year's Grand Final with a hamstring injury, Brent Guerra says being rested regularly this season has allowed his body to make it to the 2013 Grand Final.

"We didn't want to go through what we did last year. So I rested the body and now I feel like it has helped me play more consistent footy," Guerra said.

"It's a great feeling after missing out last year."

As September approaches, Brent Guerra says missing out on playing in the finals last year due to a torn hamstring still haunts him.

"You obviously think about it, because you play all year and you want to play finals," Guerra said.

"But round 23 was my sixth game straight last season, so the body was a bit fatigued.

"This time I'll have only played the one game leading into round 23 after having the weekend off the week before, so hopefully that helps.

"Hopefully I don't have any sleepless nights about it this week."

Brent Guerra says telling his teammates he would miss Saturday's season-decider was one of the hardest moments of his career .

"I was about 85 per cent, but to take myself to 100 per cent, I just couldn't do it," Guerra said.

"It was definitely tough getting up in front of your best mates and telling them you won't be out there on that Grand Final day.

"It just wasn't feeling right at the time. I'm very disappointed, but it's the right thing for the side."

Brent Guerra concedes he will not be fit enough to play in the 2012 Grand Final for Hawthorn.

"As desperate as I am to play on Saturday, I realised that I couldn't guarantee to 'Clarko' or the team that I could do everything that would be asked of me in a Grand Final," Guerra said.

"It was a gut-wrenching decision to make and it was difficult to address my teammates and coaches today, but they know they have a job to do on Saturday and that needs to be their only focus right now."

Injured Hawthorn defender Brent Guerra is doing everything possible to be fit for the Grand Final if the Hawks make it.

"He's jotted down everything he's done so that in the future if a young guy has the same injury, he can go to 'Goo' and see what he's done," teammate Jordan Lewis said.

"But he's out there running today, which is a great recovery, and he's giving himself every opportunity to play."

Luckless Hawthorn defender Brent Guerra thanks a Good Samaritan for returning his stolen 2008 premiership medal.

"I'm bloody happy, I can give you the tip," Guerra said.

"You grow up as a kid wanting to play in premierships, and to play in an AFL one is something special.

"So to not be able to show your kids or your grandchildren that medal in years to come would have been disappointing."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says injured Brent Guerra will be sorely missed in the Hawks' finals campaign, but the team has to go on with someone else.

"Hopefully the depth of our squad will be able to cover 'Goo', but not only is he an important member of our squad on the field - off the field, he's a beauty, too," Clarkson said.

"He'll be sorely missed, but we have to move on with someone else."

Brent Guerra's season is likely over after tearing his hamstring in the final quarter of the Hawks' last regular season game of 2012 against West Coast.

Hawthorn defender Brent Guerra pleads via Twitter for the return of his 2008 premiership medal after it was stolen from his home.

"To the person who broke into my house today and stole my 2008 premiership medal can you please return to police," Guerra tweeted.

Former hitman Brent Guerra says he supports phasing out the bump from football despite once being a regular user of the bump early in his career.

"I had to change that because otherwise I was going to keep missing weeks," Guerra said.

"You can't do that anymore and that is the way the game's going.

"There have been a few players who'd have to have changed their game over the last couple of years and I'm one of them but I've got no problems with it. I haven't been cited for a few years which is for the best."

Brent Guerra has a suspected hamstring injury from the match against Port Adelaide.