GOLD Coast midfielder Andrew Raines has retired after 12 seasons and 129 games with three different clubs.

Raines played six seasons with Richmond, five at the Brisbane Lions and 2015 with the Suns.

He started as a dashing half-back before transforming himself into one of the best taggers in the competition.

After being delisted by the Lions last season, Gold Coast gave the 29-year-old a lifeline on a rookie contract.

Raines has a degenerative knee injury and in addressing his Suns teammates on Friday morning, said the time was right to hang up the boots.

"It's been through its battles and its journey with constant operations and things I've had on it. Time's come and enough is enough," Raines said.

"I guess I don't want to limp out of the game, I want to do other activities in life that present itself and I obviously I want to walk out of the game still feeling OK."

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Raines finished second in the Tigers' best and fairest in his breakout 2006 season before the knee injuries slowed him down.

One of the Suns' most professional players, Raines hopes to stay involved with the club in an off-field capacity in 2016.