RETIRED Adelaide defender Scott Stevens says he wasn't prepared to risk his health by returning to the field after a lengthy and debilitating battle with post-concussion syndrome.
 
Stevens hasn't played or trained fully since developing symptoms including headaches, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision following two relatively minor head knocks at training in April this year.

The 29-year-old had reacted adversely to concussion in the past, having missed three games after receiving a nasty blow to his face in the Crows' clash with Fremantle in round one last season.

He missed another week in 2009 after being concussed in a game also against Fremantle and struggled to regain form for several weeks upon his return.

Concerned about his condition and the potential long-term health implications, Stevens visited several specialists, who indicated complete rest was the only form of treatment.
  
Three weeks ago, the West Australian ran for the first time in two months.

His symptoms returned almost immediately, and not long after he made the tough decision to retire effective immediately.

"I'm not prepared to go through this again," Stevens said on Tuesday.

"It has a big impact on your whole life and to play again I'd have to be prepared to put myself in a position where there's a chance this [post-concussion syndrome] would happen again and I'm not prepared to do that.

"I was keen to get back for a long time, but the length of time this has gone on for was probably the main contributing factor in my decision [to retire].

"I saw a specialist in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago and after seeing him I made my mind up."

Stevens said his condition couldn't be traced back to one particular concussion, further complicating any hopes he had of making a comeback to the AFL.

"I've had quite a few concussions over the years," he said.

"The information I have is that I haven't lost any brain function and I'll fully recover. I've been getting better slowly and I'll continue to get better, but when that is I'm not sure.

"The symptoms don't go away. It's not like I only get them when I'm at the club or exercising, they are 24/7. There was a period of time there where I basically had to sit at home. I couldn't read and I struggled to watch TV.

"I'm working back towards getting healthy, but it's been tough."

Stevens started his career at the Sydney Swans in 2000, playing 25 games for the club before being traded to Adelaide at the end of 2003.

The 195cm utility struggled to cement a spot in the team during his first two seasons at West Lakes, failing to play a single game in 2005.

He was on the verge of being delisted when coach Neil Craig offered him one last chance.

"I'd lost faith in my ability to play AFL footy and couldn't really see a way forward for me, but Craigy could," Stevens said.

"He believed in me even when I didn't and his honesty and direction along with some hard work allowed me to have a career which today I'm proud of.

"I was able to develop from a pretty average player to what my dad always described as 'handy'."

Stevens went on to become a more than 'handy' player, playing 144 games and establishing himself as the 'Mr Fix-it' of the Adelaide team.

He kicked six goals playing as a forward in the club's elimination final loss to Collingwood in 2008, but was better known for his work in defence, where he could play as a shut-down defender or effective loose man.

Craig said Stevens had made an outstanding contribution to the club over the course of eight years.

"He went from a player who was traded from Sydney to us and was looking at being delisted to being an outstanding player," Craig said.

"He's been a really important member of our senior leadership group. Even though we're disappointed he's retiring he can walk away being a bit more than a handy player."

Stevens will continue to act as a mentor to the players at Adelaide for the rest of the season before weighing up his next career move.

He has been placed on the long-term injury list, allowing the club to retain rookies Matthew Wright, Chris Schmidt and Aidan Riley on the senior list, and also promote mature-age recruit Ian Callinan if required.