"This will definitely be it. Well, maybe if you paid me a million dollars," Dean Brogan joked of his oncoming third attempt at retirement from the AFL.

At the end of this season, Brogan will finally call time on his playing days at the age of 34 and with almost 200 games to his name - impressive numbers given the rigours of being a ruckman.

The former NBL championship winner thought it would end with Port Adelaide in 2011, only for Greater Western Sydney to offer him a player-coach role for their maiden season.

He was then delisted, happy to move into the coaches' box permanently, only for the GIANTS to miss out on Kurt Tippett and give him another one-year contract via the pre-season draft.

And they are lucky they did.

Brogan's return from a back injury coincided with three impressive performances, including GWS's only win for the season in round 19 against Melbourne, and he was sorely missed in their last-start loss to Fremantle.

It begs the question, if the GIANTS are unable to recruit the big-bodied experienced ruckman they dearly need in 2014, would Brogan consider going around again?

"No this is definitely it. It's time to move on and get into my coaching, I'm really keen to do that," Brogan said.

A change of scenery has altered the proud South Australian's outlook when it comes to life, especially life after football.

"I always used to think about how much I'd hate to be a coach," he said.

"Now I know it's one of the best jobs in the world.

"When you see a guy like Tom Downie (who debuted against the Dockers) improve as much as what he has - you walk away with a smile on your face.

"The other thing is I love being in Sydney. It's been a big move for me and my family, but we love it."

For now, Brogan is relishing the final three rounds of his playing career - all the more so after he was told his troublesome back required surgery during an eight-week stint on the sidelines.

"I saw two specialists. I've got a fragment that's chipped off one of my discs that's sitting on my nerve," he said.

"I have to have surgery but I was told if I can put up with the pain and the back doesn't go into complete spasm, then I could potentially get through.

"I know there's no next year so I may as well try."

Brogan is expected to be recalled for the GIANTS' clash with Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.