"I’ve enjoyed every single minute during my timehere at Essendon," he told the club website.
"To be drafted to the club you supported as a kidwas a dream come true. I would have been honoured to play the one game, so topull on the jumper for 12 years has been an absolute privilege.
"I’m certainly going to miss the banter around the club and playingalongside a great group of blokes, but I’ve got a young family and I have tothink about my long-term future and I think it’s fair to say the body probablydidn’t have another full pre-season in it."
Coach Mark Thompson said, "For Licka to carve out a career he did, with all the challenges he faced, really is an incredible achievement.
"There's always a sense of excitement whenever Licka has the ball in his hands. He's a smart player and his blistering speed allowed him to change the momentum of a game.
"Over the later part of his career he's been a great leader and mentor for the younger players and he will be missed, there's no doubt about that."