from being the young talent introduced as our champions like Kouta, Braddles and Ratts were nearing the end, to the 'senior' running off half back when we didnt have much going for us.......he was always a champion.

he may never have been a superstar, but 200 games is such a wonderful contribution. his loyalty and commitment makes him a champion of the club.

thanks Houla

Well done Hoops on your career - should keep him as a specialist kicking coach as some of our boys deperately need thsi skill that Hoops had in abundance

With his retirement - Thornton is now the veteran on our list

Played through terrible terrible times for our club. Great service from a bloke who copped plenty but when he had the ball you knew it was going to hit a target...

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Congratulations CK95

Yep, he predicted back in 2001 that Houla would retire one day

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well done hoops if you're reading.

all the best. thanks for the memories.

Congratulations to Houlihan - it really is the end of an era as the last of our players from a dominant Carlton team retires. Will never forget his earlier years, and the way he battled on when we were anchored to the bottom. His chainsaw goal is probably my favourite memory - I remember sitting there in the rain in ecstacy when he slotted it!

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Not too many 200 gamers from Pick 70+ in the National Draft - congratulations Ryan.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Well done Hoops on a great career. I remember when you stepped in between me and Matty Allan when we went toe for toe outside the Casey nightclub in Hawthorn back in 2001. All the best.

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You heard it here first!

Can you describe the incident? PM if necessary.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

Champion bloke, good servant of the CFC. Well done on a good career. Will always have bragging rights over his brothers - the only one that had longevity.

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

Check your PM's

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You heard it here first!

10 years ago?

you had a stoush with matty allan

10 years ago?

outside a nightclub

10 years ago?

remember some of us here have met you........

stop talking so much shit

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

I was 18 at the time.

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You heard it here first!

And Casey`s was over 38`s ?

And what's this crap about Fletcher playing on Kernahan in the 93 Grand Final? That was 18 years ago.

Thanks for all your input over the years, Houla. Loved your skills, and thought varying criticisms levelled at you were unjustified.

Thanks for all the service through some pretty dark years.

Houla is definitely a player who deserves to go out on a high note.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

extremely underrated player - unfortunately injuries have limited him somewhat (hip problems earlier, leg issues recently). Could definitely have played for a few extra years otherwise.

Would have liked to see him in our flag team but not to be. A very good player that stayed loyal to the blues in the dark times. All the best!

All the best Hoops, thanks for your great service over the years

One of my favourite players. His ability to read the ball off packs was wonderful. It comes as no surprise to me that he was looked at by other teams.
His shortcomings as perceived by some were in my view a bit unjustified. He was an outside player during a time when outside players became unfashionable and he had to change the way he played. He toughened up in the latter stages of his career but was more suited to open fast flowing games, which these days are few and far between.
Not many players have played 200 games of league footy.
Fewer have played at one club.
Well done to Houla on a great career spanning the highs and lows of life at CFC. From finals to wooden spoons and back again. He has earned his name on the locker and his photo in the halls of Princes Park.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Great skill but lacked hardness and an ability to take his game to another level. Interesting that when he bulked up he got problems with the lower half of his body. Might of been better off staying at 75kgs.
Interesting that he has retired when the season is still going. Is he injured. If he isnt then obviously he has been told he isn't in the team's plans and does he play for the Bullants.