Talented Richmond forward Chris Knights has announced that he will retire from AFL football at the end of the season.

A series of persistent injuries, which have cruelled the 28-year-old’s time at Tigerland, were the catalyst for his decision.

He told the Club’s playing group of his retirement decision at the ME Centre earlier today.

Knights is the third Richmond player to announce his retirement in as many weeks, following veterans Chris Newman and Nathan Foley.

“It’s a really sad ending for Chris.  He has had horrible luck with injuries since he arrived at the Club, and it’s unfair for him to have to bow out in this fashion,” said Richmond’s General Manager of Football, Dan Richardson.

“While he spent a lot of time in ‘rehab’, he was a fine role model for the playing group with his determination and professionalism to overcome a number of significant injuries.

“He will be rightly remembered as highly-talented player, who stopped at nothing to get the best out of himself.”

After being drafted to Adelaide as a second-round selection in the 2004 National Draft, Knights played 96 games for the Crows over eight seasons.

With his strong running ability, long kicking and knack for finding the goals, he became one of the most damaging half-forwards in the competition.

His most productive season came in 2009, when he booted 43 goals and averaged 17.6 disposals per game.

After the 2012 season, Knights became the first player to switch clubs through the AFL’s new free agency system, when he crossed to Richmond.

He kicked six goals and averaged 17 disposals per game in five appearances early in 2013, before a serious knee injury ruined his season.

Several complications and bouts of surgery prevented him from taking the field in 2014, but he made an emotional return to the field in Round 3 earlier this season, against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Knights kicked his 75^th career goal in that game, before suffering a severe hamstring injury which required surgery.

More soft tissue trouble followed on Knights’ return to the field in the VFL, before he made the decision to call time on a decade-long AFL career.