WEST Coast's David Wirrpanda has given the strongest indication yet that this could be his final season as he prepares for his 200th AFL game this weekend.

Wirrpanda, who was 16 when he arrived at the Eagles in 1996, said his mind was willing but his body was feeling the effects of a long career. "It might be this year, it might be next year. I might be standing here with a microphone with you blokes next year; who knows?" Wirrpanda, 28, said ahead of the clash with Adelaide tomorrow night.

"I can understand what Chris Waterman, Chris Mainwaring, Lewy (Chris Lewis), Peter Matera and Dean Kemp used to complain about now. I couldn't understand back then, now I do understand the difference between what the mind and body says. The body feels a bit like it's 40 but the mind obviously loves to play footy. But you've got to be realistic and I'm a realistic person. If the time's right, I'll let it go. There's no dramas for me to go to the next chapter of my life."

Wirrpanda admitted he had contemplated moving back to Victoria several times early in his career. But the turning point came in 1998 when senior Eagles sat him down to lay out what was expected of him.

"They all got me in the room and told me what the expectations are and what they demand as a West Coast Eagles footballer, and it was pretty hard to take because I cruised through the first two years and they really grilled me," he said. "That was the turning point, I think … "

AAP