ELEVEN years after arriving at North Melbourne, Shannon Grant is drawing the curtain on a celebrated AFL career that began with Sydney.

Grant revealed his plans four days out from his 300th game, saying the deal that brought him to Arden Street had borne fruit for all involved — despite early concerns from some Kangaroos fans.

"It only feels like yesterday when I had my first press conference here," he said yesterday. "We did it at the old 'Kanga' casino and there was four old ladies sitting there, crying and bagging me because they wanted Wayne Schwass back.

"I think both clubs would have been pretty happy with the way things went from there."

Schwass, a premiership player and dual best-and-fairest winner with the Roos, played 98 games for Sydney, while Grant, 31, will become the third-fastest player in league history to 300 games.

Along the way, he won a Norm Smith Medal in North Melbourne's 1999 premiership side, was named All-Australian in 2005 and won the best-and-fairest in 2001. Three years in a row, he finished second in best-and-fairest voting.

Telling his teammates that retirement was "probably the hardest thing I've ever done", he said his body was sending him the message that it was time to hang up the boots.

"I've never had the quickest legs and they're slowly starting to go as well," he said. "I'm very relieved, looking forward to finishing the year off well and hopefully tasting a lot of success in the next few weeks."

Grand final losses with the Swans in 1996 and the Kangaroos in his first year have been among the disappointments, along with a highly publicised club-imposed suspension this year for bad behaviour at a golfing day.

Since serving his one-match ban in round 15, the Kangaroos have stormed into fourth spot and the goalsneak has shown glimpses of the form that made him, according to coach Dean Laidley, one of the club's greatest stars.

"I've said before, take Wayne Carey out of the picture and this guy has won more games off his own boot than anyone else," Laidley said.

"It's been a pleasure to coach Shannon and watch him grow as a person. He's been a big part of our footy club and probably done everything in footy — apart from a win a Brownlow Medal — that speaks volumes about his actions on the field and his work off the field."

Laidley said there could be a spot for Grant at the club in a coaching capacity.

"Shannon's done a lot of work at the Calder Cannons this year, there's the work he's done with our academy group and his work with Vic Metro in the under-18s this year.

"There's a pretty good resume building up and it's something we've already spoken about."

Grant is keen to stay involved with football.

"The coaching side and development side of the game is something I'd love to stay involved in … I have a fair bit to offer, so we'll see where that goes at the end of the year," he said.

Having gained a reputation for performing on the big stage, the former first-round draft pick said the next few weeks could provide the perfect finale to his career.

"When you get to this stage of your career, you know deep down the right time to retire (and) that right time has come.

"I've always wanted to go out on my own terms. I don't think there's anything worse than going that extra year or two and end up running around in the VFL."

On Saturday against Port Adelaide, Grant will also become the fifth-youngest player to reach 300 games, behind Simon Madden, Mark Ricciuto, Russell Greene and Nathan Burke.

"It's been a long journey, but a very good one," he said. "And to be part of such a great football club for a long period of time, I'm very grateful. Playing in premierships is pretty much what you're all about as a footballer."