Former Sydney forward Barry Hall remains unsure if he will try to continue playing, but has conceded his AFL career might be over.

Speaking three days after he announced he would leave the Swans, effective immediately, Hall said he needed a holiday and more time to think about what to do next.

"I've thought about it, but I've been retired for three days," he said on Channel Nine's The Footy Show.

"A holiday is probably on the cards, to clear my mind a bit and get away from speculation.

"There's a few issues in terms of do football clubs want you?

"If I was a coach, I wouldn't want a 33-year-old with anger management issues."

Hall could switch to boxing, where he was a talented junior, if he decides against trying to join another AFL club.

Earlier on Thursday, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said if Sydney mentor Paul Roos and co-captain Brett Kirk could not change Hall, there was no point the Magpies trying.

Hall said he could understand Malthouse's opinion.

"I totally understand that ... this might be it for me," Hall said.

Asked if he beat Sydney to the decision by deciding to leave the club, rather than be sacked, he admitted "that was in my thinking".

"I probably did run out of chances," Hall said.

Hall also explained that Adelaide defender Ben Rutten did not do a lot to provoke him.

His punch to Rutten's head in round 13 resulted in a two-game suspension and was the catalyst for his decision to leave the Swans.

"That's probably the issue, hence the decision that I've made - I don't know how to control it any more," he said.

"He didn't do a helluva lot to me.

"I walk a fine line and I've crossed it too many times, clearly."

At the media conference on Tuesday, Hall said he was worried about his anger spilling over away from football.

But he said on Thursday night that, away from the game, his life is in very good shape.

"People who know me, friends, family, my partner, it's totally different - they wonder the same thing - `why are you like this on the football field when you're absolutely, totally different off it?'" he said.

"I'm very happy off-field - that's why it's a bit of a mystery."

Hall, once more, was shown footage on Thursday night of the infamous incident from last year, when he knocked out West Coast opponent Brent Staker.

"I don't know about kill him ... I guess that would be unfortunate and you certainly wouldn't want that to happen," Hall said.

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