Back in the day, there were no mid-season retirements.

A player might let it slip a week or two before the end of the season, perhaps in time for the final home game of the year, so that there could be a generous farewell in front of the home supporters.

Some players wouldn't even make their decision public, but a series of backslaps, hugs and occasionally the said player being chaired from the ground would tip off us, the unsuspecting public, that a retirement was beckoning.

But much has changed in the world of AFL retirements. Not only are they full-blown media events (5AA probably broke into regular programming to broadcast Simon Goodwin's recent announcement) but they take place so much earlier in the season.

The season is just 10 weeks old yet we already know that Goodwin, Tyson Edwards, Brett Kirk and Troy Simmonds are confirmed for the retired players' motorcade on grand final day.

Why the haste? Is it that list management and player development is so critical that players need to state their intentions for next year when the season is barely a third over?

Perhaps its not a co-incidence that the retirement announcements began the same week as the AFL under 18 championships got underway. Perhaps Sydney can now openly look for a no-frills midfielder with limited ability but who wills himself to every contest and shapes as a stopper and a leader beyond peer.

Richmond can be more upfront about seeking another ruckman, while Adelaide can find a pair of hard-running and creative half-backs with potential to captain the club.

Of note is that two of the this year's retirees will continue playing until the end of the year. Simmonds will get a farewell game next week and then hand the reins to youngsters Tyrone Vickery, Angus Graham and Andrew Browne, to see what they can do.

And given that Sydney is very much in finals contention, it makes all the sense in the world for Kirk to finish out the season.

But the Crows are in a bind when it comes to Goodwin. No doubt he warrants a place in the club's best 22 and even more so given Adelaide's long and talented injury list. But when he walks out the door at the end of the season the Crows lose the leadership of someone Neil Craig calls the finest captain the club has had.

Edwards' abrupt retirement on Thursday was fascinating. Did he quit in a huff after being told he was being dumped from the side? Did he wake up in the morning and decide on the spot that the passion was gone? Whatever the case, Adelaide has now entered a major period of transition.

But what happens if Brett Burton, Andrew McLeod and Michael Doughty also call it quits? It will be quite the drain of talent and experience in one hit and of that trio, only McLeod is still playing reasonable footy and could get away with playing another season. But he'd be 34 before it starts.

The Australian cricket team of 1984 is always held up as the example of how not to manage your retirements. Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh all finished up at the same time, leaving a void it took more than five years to fill.

With Edwards now gone and Goodwin soon to follow, Adelaide will need to carefully balance the need to inject fresh blood into the side while staggering the departure of more than 1000 games of experience. How they go about will be a fascinating exercise in list management and, more importantly, people management.