James McDonald has officially retired from AFL football after 264 games with Melbourne and the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS.
 
McDonald joined the GIANTS at the end of last year as a playing assistant coach after 251 games for Melbourne.
 
He captained Melbourne in 2009-10, won the club's best and fairest in 2006-7 and was a member of the 2006 All-Australian team.
 
After being delisted by Melbourne at the end of 2010, he spent a year playing for Old Xaverians before he returned to senior football in 2012 playing 13 games for the GIANTS.
 
General Manager Football Graeme Allan said McDonald had made an important on-field contribution during the GIANTS' inaugural year in the AFL.
 
"James' experience, leadership and on-field presence have been invaluable to our young playing group and he has shown everyone that he still had good football left in him," Allan said.
 
"We now look forward to him becoming a full-time assistant coach next year and further developing our young playing list."
 
Allan confirmed that Chad Cornes would play on 2013 but said a decision on the playing futures of Luke Power and Dean Brogan had not been made yet.
 
The GIANTS have also informed Stephen Clifton and Tim Segrave that they have been delisted. Recruited from North Ballarat, Clifton played five games for the GIANTS in 2012.
 
Recruited from Albury, Segrave was a 2011 NSW-ACT Zone selection player who did not play a senior game for the GIANTS.
 
"These are always difficult decisions but particularly so in the cases of outstanding young men like Steve and Tim who have been great people to have around our club," Allan said.
 
"They were part of the inaugural playing list of the GIANTS and will always have a special place in the history of this club and we wish them every success for the future."
 
All players will attend tomorrow night's inaugural Kevin Sheedy Medal presentation to honor the GIANTS club champion for 2012.