The 270-game veteran has battled hip and ankle injuries this year and was struggling to produce quality performances in line with his career benchmarks. He will retire immediately.
The revered West Coast captain told teammates of his decision minutes before fronting a press conference to make the announcement at Patersons Stadium this morning.
WATCH: Darren Glass' retirement press conference
“I have really been struggling to back up from one game to the next,” Glass said. “It is time for me to step aside and give someone else a go.
“Playing consecutive games has been a real challenge for me and as much as I am still mentally sharp and I enjoy coming to the club and training every day, physically I just can’t get to the levels that I want to play at and the levels the team needs.
“It has been a tough decision, but I am comfortable that it’s the right decision.”
SIMPSON: Glass is a legend of this club
As much as Glass would like to guide his teammates out of the current situation, which sees the club sitting in 11th position with just four wins after the first 11 rounds, he could not continue.
The man who has been captain of the club for 129 matches since 2007 has been an outstanding leader - with only his former coach, John Worsfold (138) leading the club into battle more often - succumbed after trying to fight through the pain.
Glass, a four-time All-Australian, who was named captain of that team in 2012, has been the stand-out key defender of his era.
NISBETT: Glass held us together
Strong, powerful and deceptively fast over the ground, he could battle hulking figures like Matthew Pavlich or Tom Hawkins, but was equally adept at shutting down the likes of Stephen Milne or Eddie Betts.
Over the first half of this season Glass, in conjunction with the club’s medical staff, had managed his body through limited training sessions, but it was a struggle to be fit for the eight games he played.
For Glass, the alarm bells that were sounding softly in the back of his mind grew in volume when he was a late withdrawal from the team to play North Melbourne a fortnight ago.
PHOTO GALLERY: Darren Glass' career in pictures
Having played against GWS in round eight, then enjoying the bye in round nine, he led the team against Collingwood at the MCG a week later. But after that light playing schedule, he could not recover to play against North.
Then, after playing against Hawthorn in Launceston last Saturday, he was not going to be available to play against Gold Coast on Saturday. For him, that was the final indicator that his time in elite football was over.
While Glass steps aside as captain, there is no immediate plan to elevate anyone within the leadership group to that position. That load will be shared by Scott Selwood, Josh Kennedy, Matt Priddis and Eric Mackenzie.
Darren Glass
Born: May 14, 1981
Height: 192cm
Weight: 93kg
Came from: Northam/Perth Football Club
Drafted: 1999, selection 11
Debut: Round 4, 2000 v Adelaide at the WACA Ground
Games: 270
Goals: 8
Football honours: Club Champion 2007, 2009, 2011; runner-up Club Champion 2006; All-Australian 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 (captain); West Coast Eagles captain 2007-2014 (129 matches); premiership player 2006.
