Michael Jamison was one of Carlton’s best defenders of the 21st century. Honest, strong and hard-working, Jamison played 150 games in the navy blue across 10 seasons, usually taking on the opposition’s best forward.

Round 8, 2016, was heralded as a unique opportunity to acknowledge two of the club’s stalwarts - Jamison, playing in game 150, and his fellow backman Kade Simpson, who was notching up his 250th. The footy gods smiled upon the Blues that day at Etihad Stadium, with a Matthew Kreuzer snap securing a famous win against Port Adelaide. Photographers captured the milestone men embracing in the rooms after the game, Jamison with a smile from ear-to-ear.

Then, it was all over. Game 150 was to be his last. No press conference. No farewell game. Jamison ended his career the way it had started; without fanfare.

For the first time, Jamison opens up about the impact of being Carlton’s main defender for a decade and what led to his sudden retirement.