WESTERN Bulldogs forward and AFL cult figure Barry Hall has announced his retirement from football, effective at the end of the season, after conceding his body is "really screaming out for it".

The 34-year-old fronted a press conference with coach Rodney Eade and club CEO Simon Garlick on Tuesday at Whitten Oval, declaring he will hang up the boots at the end of this year.

Hall said he was "really content" with the decision, which he made a month ago, and admitted he had recently felt sore after games as late as Thursday.

He also said he didn't want to be a player that signed another year contract and then struggled to perform.

Despite playing in a premiership with the Swans, he said he would consider himself a Bulldog when he looked back on his career.

"The Bulldogs gave me a chance when no one else would. They put their head on the chopping block and they had their knockers and doubters… they put a bit of faith in me that I could change my ways and do good for this football club," he told a huge media pack.

"I want to thank all the players here for making my time here really enjoyable. It's without doubt my most enjoyable time playing AFL football, and that's a credit to the players.

"My form's OK going out of the game, and that's the way I wanted it to be.

"I'll play until the end of the season undoubtedly but hopefully we make some finals and I can play some extra games."

Hall came to the Bulldogs for the 2010 season on a two-year contract after "retiring" from his second club, the Sydney Swans. He left the Swans after his relationship with the club soured following another on-field indiscretion in 2009.

After being suspended for seven matches for striking West Coast's Brent Staker in round four, 2008, Hall lost his temper again in round 13 the following year and was sanctioned for striking Adelaide's Ben Rutten.

He then stepped away from the Swans but kept himself fit, and was recruited by the Bulldogs in trade week for pick No. 47 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

Hall has announced his decision to retire the week of the Bulldogs' clash with the Swans at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, which he said he had always planned to do.

There he will have a chance to be farewelled by the fans who supported him in the red and white for eight years and 162 games, which included the 2005 premiership.

"I certainly did a lot in Sydney and I owe the fans a goodbye, I think, even though we're against them on the weekend," he said.

"I think it's important, and also from a personal point of view, people now know I'm retired and I can start looking to life after footy.

"I'm focused on footy and what I've got left but after footy is important as well."

The Bulldogs are the third club Hall has played for, his career starting at St Kilda in 1996.

He played 88 games for the Saints before he crossed to the Swans for the 2002 season.

Hall has been somewhat of a good-luck charm for the League's traditional battlers. The Swans' 2005 premiership broke a 72-year drought, while the pre-season premiership for the Dogs in 2010 was their first piece of silverware of any description since 1970. He also played in a Grand Final at St Kilda in 1997, its first since 1971.

Eade, who's relationship with Hall started at the Swans when he coached him in 2002 - said the Bulldogs had got more out of Hall than they expected.

He also said it had been important for Hall to conclude his career on a better note than how it ended at the Swans.

"He didn't want to be remembered as that sort of person, and I knew he wasn't that sort of person," he said.

"He entered this place very humbled; he's a very humble person, for a player who's done what he's done in footy.

"He's very old school and he wanted to earn his respect here. He's been a premiership captain, kicked all the goals he's kicked and played for 15 years but he just didn't walk into the place expecting people were going to respect him straight away.

"He wanted to earn it, and he's worked hard for that, and I think he earned it very quickly.

"The players have learned a lot from his professionalism. His ability to educate and learn is terrific, and I think young Liam Jones and Jarrad Grant have really benefitted from the work he does.

"I've got no doubt now he's left the game in a far better light, and I think, the right light."

Garlick admitted there had been a "tinge of sadness" that came with the announcement, and said Hall had confirmed his status as one of the game's greats during his time at Whitten Oval.

"From the moment we had our first discussion with Barry just over two years ago, we had no doubts whatsoever around the validity of us recruiting him," he said.

"We understand there was some question marks from the external perspective but I think it would be fair to say, and anyone would agree, those questions have been answered emphatically over the last two years.

"He's not only been a great player and a great leader, but from our perspective, what's really stood out is he's a great football club person, and that's something a lot of external people won't understand."

Hall refused to rule out a career in boxing but said he would spend the first few months of his retirement on the road promoting his book, which is scheduled to come out in August.

He all but ruled out appearing for a local or country side in 2012, as his body needed a break.

In July this year, Hall became the first player in history to kick 100 goals for three different clubs. 

WHAT THEY SAID
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou:
"I wish him all the best and thank him for what has been a fantastic contribution to our game. I said at the time three years ago when he retired from the Swans that I hoped it wasn't going to be his last game because he didn't deserve to go out the game under such circumstances.

"The fact that he's played at the Western Bulldogs and been a great contributor, particularly at his age, he deserves to go out of the game on a high.

"I had the pleasure of travelling with Barry to Ireland in one particular year, he was a thorough professional and he should be congratulated on a really terrific career."

Former teammate Leo Barry (on SEN):
"He came to Sydney with a pretty big reputation for some of his off-field and on-field issues, but without doubt I was lucky enough to play alongside Hally through his glamour years. That period we had between 2003 and 2007 was a fantastic era and I think Hally made three or four All Australian teams through that era.

"He was one of the strongest leaders and one of the icons of our club through that period... we were fortunate to get the best football out of Hally and his influence on the club was enormous. He'll always be remembered as an integral part of our successful era."

More to follow.