ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig believes retiring veteran Nathan Bassett has come a long way from being repeatedly told to pull his socks up while training with Norwood more than a decade ago.

On Wednesday, Bassett, now a respected defender and leader, calmly announced that season 2008 would be his last.

Bassett, 31, has played 208 games in the tri-colours since being traded by Melbourne at the end of 1997. The 2006 All-Australian back pocket will be remembered by most football observers for his selfless acts of courage and animated on-field antics, but Craig said the word ‘influential’ best described the outgoing club stalwart.

“Personally, I’ve seen Nathan grow from, what I thought was, an angry young guy - angry at the world - to a guy that now has a great capacity to build relationships. He’ll be missed from our playing group both on and off the field,” Craig said.

“Nathan’s had a huge influence on this club and particularly the playing group since my time here as senior coach. He’s been a member of the senior leadership group, which is becoming a really influential group in our football club and Nathan has had a big impact on that. That’s off the field, let alone what he’s done on the field.”

Craig said Bassett would have been strongly considered for a contract next year, had he opted not to hang up the boots.

“The majority of the decision was left up to Nathan,” Craig said.

“And I think that’s something Nathan will be able to look back on and be very proud that he’s played really good footy right to the end.

“Hopefully, he’s got five more good games left in that body and I’m sure they will be of the same quality that our supporters have come to expect from Nathan over the years.”