Melbourne forward Shane McAdam has retired from the AFL after an injury-interrupted finish to his career.
The Demons confirmed McAdam had informed the club of his decision to step away from the game and return home to Western Australia to be closer to his family.
The 30-year-old finishes his AFL career with 53 senior games, including 50 with Adelaide and three with Melbourne.
McAdam is from Halls Creek in the East Kimberley region of northern Western Australia and took a unique path to the highest level.
The Kija and Jaru man played 11 games for WAFL club Claremont in 2015, but returned to Halls Creek after being overlooked in that year's AFL draft.
After time with Howlong and Scotch College Old Collegians, McAdam joined SANFL club Sturt in 2018, where his form attracted interest from several AFL clubs.
Carlton initially gained access to McAdam as a mature-aged pre-draft selection before immediately trading him to Adelaide as part of the Mitch McGovern deal.
McAdam made his AFL debut for the Crows in 2020 and became known for his athleticism, high marking and ability to hit the scoreboard.
Across four seasons with Adelaide, he kicked 72 goals from 50 matches, including more than 20 goals in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
His spectacular marking ability was one of the standout features of his game, earning him multiple Mark of the Week nominations throughout his career.
McAdam requested a trade to Melbourne at the end of the 2023 season, but his time with the Demons was heavily impacted by injury.
He battled soft tissue injuries during his first year at Melbourne and did not make his club debut until Round 10.
He played three AFL games for the Demons that season, kicking one goal, before returning to the VFL.
McAdam then suffered a serious Achilles injury during the 2025 pre-season and was unable to add to his AFL games tally before making the decision to retire.
Melbourne General Manager of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson thanked McAdam for his contribution to the club.
"Shane has been a valued member of our club and we fully support his decision to return home to his family," Richardson said.
"Unfortunately, Shane has battled injuries during his time at the club, which has made it difficult for him to contribute out on the field the way he would have liked.
"On behalf of everyone at the Melbourne Football Club, we thank Shane for his contribution and wish him and his family all the very best for the future."
McAdam is the third Melbourne player to retire this year, following Steven May and Tom Campbell.
His retirement, along with Campbell's departure and Jai Culley's ACL injury, gives Melbourne three selections in tonight's AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
