Matthew Priddis Biography

Matt Priddis announces his retirement from AFL football, effective at the end of the 2017 season.

"It's been a big couple of days, it's been pretty emotional," Priddis said about coming to terms with his decision.

"Once you actually say 'bang, this is what we're going to do', there's something in that that really hits home, and that's probably when I broke down.

"I had to leave early that day. It was pretty tough. This is my call. I know it's the right decision."

Priddis has also been played out of position across half-forward to accommodate expanded midfield roles for his younger teammates.

"There's a number of reasons (to retire) from list management, to my form, to my role going forward," he said.

"I put my own hand up and say I can't make enough of a contribution to the team in the forward line.

"Speed is probably something that is one of the most important things up there."

Matt Priddis will extend his career into a 13th campaign after inking a one-year contract extension to play on in 2018 with the Eagles.

"We were always making sure, first and foremost, that the body was feeling good," Priddis said of his contract extension.

"Mentally I’m wanting to improve, I am always looking to get better, and I am really pleased to get the contract done at this time of the year.

"We have a good blend of experience and youth coming through and I am really enjoying that."

Shannon Hurn will captain West Coast for a third straight year in 2017, while former Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell will provide support as a member of the leadership group.

Dynamic midfielder Luke Shuey has been elevated to co-vice captain alongside dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy.

Star duo Jeremy McGovern and Andrew Gaff have also been added to the leadership group with Eric Mackenzie, who was the club's best and fairest in 2014 before requiring a knee reconstruction early the following year, the only omission from last year's group.

Matt Priddis rounds out the seven-man group, which was decided by a player vote, before being ticked off by the football department and then the board.

"Shannon Hurn has been a terrific leader since his appointment as captain three years ago and he has great respect from his teammates," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

"Over the last couple of years Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern have certainly grown within the group and it has been reflected in the player vote.

"Clearly Josh Kennedy and Matt Priddis have been outstanding leaders for a long time and to have someone of Sam Mitchell's calibre at our disposal will be invaluable."

Eagles coach Adam Simpson praises Matt Priddis as the midfielder prepares to play in his 200th game against the Dockers.

"For 200 games, where he's come from and what he's achieved, he's a great role model for the club and for the AFL and any young kids coming through," Simpson said.

"I'm sure every club has their warriors, but he's ours."

West Coast confirms that Matt Priddis has signed a one-year deal with the club.

The Brownlow medallist was due to become a free agent at the end of this season but has signed on until the end of 2017.

Andrew Gaff claims his first best and fairest award, pipping last year's Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis for the 2015 John Worsfold medal.

West Coast's three All Australians, Gaff, Priddis and Josh Kennedy finished first, second and third respectively.

Gaff polled 210 votes to win by just four votes from Priddis, who finished runner-up for the fourth time in his career and second year running.

"It's something you play for, to play well in the big games but it doesn't mean too much really," Gaff said.

"Being the best player in the Grand Final when we got flogged doesn't mean too much. We want to get back to that spot next year and hopefully make a better fist of it."

Nat Fyfe has created history by becoming the Dockers' first Brownlow medallist after holding off fast-finishing reigning winner Matt Priddis.

Fyfe defied injury, history and Match Review Panel concerns during the season to poll 31 votes to become the Dockers' maiden Brownlow Medal winner since they entered the competition in 1995.

The 24-year-old midfielder set up his Brownlow win with a barnstorming start to the season, claiming an amazing 26 votes in the first 13 rounds of the season.

It was as many as West Coast star Priddis polled to claim the medal in 2015. In a turnaround from 2015, Priddis was this year's runner-up on 28 votes, falling three votes short of back-to-back medals.

"It hasn't really sunk in, to be honest. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster year and a rollercoaster last couple of days," Fyfe said after the count.

"It's just special to be able to share it with the coaching staff, the people of Fremantle, and some of the players.

"This is genuinely a team and Fremantle Football Club medal, and it's great to be able to take it back to the football club."

Fyfe also set a Brownlow record, polling 17 votes in the first eight rounds – surpassing Chris Judd's record from 2010 when he managed 16 votes in the first eight games.

West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis says full credit for the club's rise to premiership contender in 2015 must go to head coach Adam Simpson.

"His first 12 months were all about education. During the last six weeks of last season we really started to see some inroads and it just started to click," Priddis said.

"We had a rocky start this year, but the belief was there and now we're just playing on instinct, and that's come from the amount of work that he has put in with his coaching staff.

"He is just a fantastic educator. As you can see with the results we're getting, you're playing for your coach."

Matt Priddis says he will be a one-club player after signing a new deal with West Coast.

"[The contract] means I'm going to be a one-club player with the club that gave me an opportunity that I was so grateful for," Priddis said.

"I was pretty desperate to get on an AFL list, and this takes me to 11 years at the footy club, which is something I'm very proud of."

Eric Mackenzie wins his first John Worsfold Medal as West Coast's best and fairest for the 2014 season.

Mackenzie topped the count with 201 votes, 11 votes clear of Brownlow medallist Matthew Priddis.

Matt Priddis has won the 2014 Brownlow Medal, capping a fairytale story of persistence for the former mature-age rookie who was overlooked in four drafts.

Priddis, who missed selection in the 2014 All Australian team, polled 26 votes and had the medal secured after 22 rounds, polling two votes in the final round to overtake ineligible Fremantle star Nat Fyfe.

Fyfe, who was suspended twice through the season, polled 25 votes and led the vote tally between rounds 20 and 22.

He polled votes in 13 games to edge out Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak and Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield, who entered the final round as medal chances on 21 votes each, but failed to poll.

"This doesn't sit too well with me, I'm a pretty shy kind of guy," Priddis said.

"I don't see myself with the likes of some of the Brownlow medallists of the past, so it's a little bit daunting, but something I'm obviously very proud of.

"My family have been absolutely super … I would not be standing here without their love and support. They've been absolutely amazing."

Newly crowned Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis has revealed the worry of feeling like an unworthy winner of the game's highest individual honour left him on edge in the days leading up to his surprise win.

"I had a few conversations with my wife throughout the week and, she would probably attest to it, my moods had been pretty bad at home because I was bit nervy going to the night," Priddis said.

"It was just the thought of being a bit embarrassed about the whole thing."

Midfielder Matt Priddis wins the newly-minted John Worsfold Medal as West Coast's best and fairest for season 2013.

Priddis led all votes ahead of runner up Eric Mackenzie followed by Josh Kennedy and paid tribute to former coach John Worsfold for being one of the most influential people in his life.

"I've idolised (Worsfold) since I was a kid, since I've started following footy," Priddis said.

"He's had a massive impact on my life on and off the field.

"He's always encouraged me to play to your strengths. Don't be anyone else other than yourself and I can't thank him enough.

"So for this medal to be named after him it's a massive honour."

Matthew Priddis will play his 150th game this week against Collingwood and Eagles coach John Worsfold says other players should follow his lead.

"We've used Pridda as an example many times," Worsfold said.

"Not only do we use him and use anecdotes around him but he sets the example in the way he's goes about it around the footy club.

"Pridda is just a remarkable character really. He's a quality young man with an amazing focus on producing the best he can get out of himself.

"That's what ended up giving him the opportunity to get on a list."

West Coast captain Darren Glass wins his third Club Champion Award on count-back ahead of Matt Priddis.

Midfielder Matthew Priddis and key position player Mitch Brown have both extended their contracts with West Coast after each agreeing to two-year extensions.

"This is a very exciting time at the football club and we are building towards something special," Priddis said.

"There's some real energy among the playing group and great camaraderie, which makes it so enjoyable."

Brown says signing the new contract will allow him to focus more of his energies on playing good football.

"Settling on the contract now allows me to concentrate purely on playing football," Brown said.

"All of the boys are very tight and we are keen to achieve some important goals together."

West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis says he enjoyed taking on Saints tagger Clinton Jones - again.

Priddis and Jones were no strangers to one another having played plenty of big WAFL games against one another when Priddis was at Subiaco and Jones at South Fremantle before the two went on to AFL careers.

"Clint has had a fantastic year and it's a different role for him. He previously had always been a wingman, but this year has been a tagging midfielder and has had a fantastic season," Priddis said.

"It was good to have another battle with him. His role now is a lot more in and under, and a negating role and it's different for him, but he's definitely been a great positive for St Kilda this year."

Matt Priddis says lapses during games are costing West Coast dearly and were behind the Eagles heavy loss to St Kilda on Saturday.

Hawthorn has rushed back 10 premiership stars for tomorrow's practice match and Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis couldn't be happier.

Dean Cox and Tyson Stenglein are named as Eagles vice-captains to recently appointed skipper Darren Glass with Ashley Hansen, Adam Selwood and Matthew Priddis rounding out the West Coast leadership team.

The leadership group was selected based on votes by the Eagles players. Current vice-captain Andrew Embley was elected not to remain in the leadership group.

Eagles coach John Worsfold said that Embley would still provide leadership to the team while not in an official capacity.

"He possesses certain leadership qualities that we may not have included in the ones that we got the players to vote on," Worsfold said of Embley.

"I'll go through with him the areas in the votes where he was lower in our criteria that he could be higher."