Following Shane Edwards' retirement announcement on Tuesday, Richmond Media interviewed the triple-premiership Tiger. Here are his thoughts on the decision to hang up the boots and his reflections on his time at Tigerland . . .

Announcing his retirement to the playing group...

"I'm pretty emotionally drained at the moment, I feel like a monkey's off the back as I've obviously known about it for a while. I told (the playing group) a bit about the journey and a few thank you's and acknowledgements to all the people that have helped me along the way. The time feels right for me as I've obviously got a lot out of myself over the 16 years and I'm probably at the point where I'm playing at the best of my ability and I probably wouldn't be taking the club forward if I continued into another season. So, the decision is pretty obvious in my book and I'm pretty certain of it."

Do you feel like you've achieved everything you could at Richmond?

"I feel like I've achieved a lot here. You always have a few "what if I hit that kick or not", but if someone had have told me I've have three premierships, 300 games and all the unbelievable players I've played with at the start of my career, I'd take that every day of the week, "

Favourite memory of his time at Tigerland

"I still think the Marlion Pickett Grand Final goal is probably my favourite moment I've had on a footy oval."

Friendships made at the Club

"Playing over 16 years, you see a lot of teammates come and go and you make close friends along the way, and in the off-season you might have two or three of them leave that you're closest with, which has happened a few times in my career. You just have to be open and friendly and everyone has the same goal, at Richmond we've got a really good playing group. I think there's a lot of friendships out there that players don't know are just around the corner. I feel great that all the players know (about the retirement) now, it's a weight off my shoulders. I hope I'm remembered as a good teammate and someone who played selfless footy and was approachable and friendly."

The impact his family had on his career

"My family have been everything to me. They look after me. When I go home, they're always honest and supportive and unconditional, no matter how good or bad you play or how you're feeling, and I've been really lucky with the influence my family have had on me, they're great people"

Being a one-club player

"It's just really worked out that way as a one-club player. There's never been a time in my career where I've wanted to leave or go somewhere else... I wouldn't want it any other way."

Playing the most games as Indigenous player at Richmond

"I'm pretty proud of having my name at the top of that list. I think if we look 10 years into the future, I could be sitting fourth of fifth on that list one day. I'll puff my chest out for a while until Daniel and Shai and those guys overtake me."

The bond he has with his Indigenous brothers 

"I don't really have too many regrets over my career, but although I know I have no control over it, one of the things that gets me a bit flat is that I'm not 10 years younger, so I could go through and grow up and develop with all the Indigenous boys we have at the Club. They're great teammates, they're great people and I think young 'Shedda' would have learnt a lot from them."

Connecting to his Indigenous heritage at Tigerland

"I've been really lucky to come to a Club who have such an investment into Indigenous culture. It's helped my family, it's helped me, and it's helped me in the moment and in that past, but what's most important is what I take into the future to my daughter and to my brother and my family as well, it's something I wouldn't have had if I didn't come to Richmond."

Comparing the Shane Edwards who arrived at Richmond in 2006 to the Shane Edwards today 

"2006 to 2022, they seem pretty incomparable. One's a boy and one's a dad, so there's a big gap in between. I like to think I'm still a little bit the same, hopefully I haven't changed too much, but at the same time, I had a lot to learn when I was 18. I've been surrounded by great people that have helped develop me and turn me into the person I am today, and I'm very grateful for that."

Playing a role in Richmond's journey to premiership success

"I can't believe now that i've found myself playing in three premierships and the manner in which we did them and where we came from to get there. It's still a bit surreal and I'm really looking froward to this summer where I can just sit back and have a good think about it and hopefully not have that itch to want to win another one because I can't. (Richmond's) been my second home. Apart form my actual home in Adelaide, it's the place I've been the most and it will be a huge adjustment not coming into these four walls."

What's next?

"Hopefully something in recruiting, we'll see. I love the game, it's given me everything and I'm going to try my best to stay involved."

Message to the Tiger Army

"Thanks for all the support... I feel the love and you're the best supporters out there."

Playing finals in 2022

"I'm really excited for them, I feel like I've taken a backpack off and I'm just looking forward to getting stuck into (finals). I'm not going to know which game is my last one, so I'll take every contest as if it's my last. I'm going out there and try and play my role as well as I can and you never know what can happen come September."