• Who's hanging up the boots? 2015's retirements and delistings

GEELONG veteran Mathew Stokes will depart the club after two premierships with the Cats.

The 29-year-old will play his 189^th and final game with the Cats on Saturday against Adelaide.  

He is the first premiership player from the Cats' current list to announce his decision to teammates in a week Cats coach Chris Scott said was going to be 'brutal' as the club reshapes its list.

Stokes is understood to have been in dialogue with the club over several weeks regarding his future, having played just four senior games since round 12.

AFL.com.au understands Stokes is likely to retire, although he has not ruled out playing on at another club.

At his best Stokes was an electric midfielder/forward. He kicked 202 goals in his career and was fortunate enough to play in 142 wins. He will end his time at the Cats with a 76 per cent winning record.

Stokes kicked more than 28 goals in a season on five occasions and was a member of the club's 2007 and 2011 premiership teams.

He told the Cats' website he was thankful for the opportunity given to him by the club.

"I got overlooked in the draft three times and Stephen Wells (club recruiting manager) and the Cats were the only ones that wanted to take a chance on me," he said. 

"I am grateful for being part of this great club that has really changed my life.

"To have played here and enjoyed the success that we have, and to have done it with people that are and will be my best friends for life, has been a great experience. I hope now that the players that are here set the culture for the club in the future and keep it moving in the right direction.

"I've loved my time here and will miss coming in every day. But my goal was to play one game and to have been here for a decade and to take away so many great friendships and relationships is the most important thing, even more than the wins and premierships."

The Geelong Advertiser reported on Tuesday that triple premiership Cat James Kelly will inform his teammates of his decision to retire on Wednesday.