In his own mind he had already decided this would be his last year, but watching Essendon defeat superteam St Kilda on Sunday eliminated any lingering doubts Scott Lucas had that his time was up.

Bomber coach Matthew Knights' big picture for the team, the pace of the modern game and his own erratic form and ageing body convinced the veteran forward there was no longer a place for him in the squad.

And so it seemed the perfect time to announce his retirement after 14 years, 270 games and the 2000 AFL premiership medal.

The 31-year-old spearhead said the way Essendon played on Sunday, inflicting St Kilda's first loss of the season, re-inforced his decision.

"They played particularly well," Lucas said.

"If they had have got beaten by plenty then maybe the coach might have been speaking to me but Knighta's heading in a direction and it's vindicated by the performance of the team at the weekend.

"It's a classic case of my time's up and it's this group's time."

For that reason there will be no indulgent farewell game for the articulate, softly-spoken goalkicker.

"In a perfect world that might be the case but I'd spoken to Knighta and he'd said while the team was in contention, in his mind the best team has to be picked which I fully support and agree with.

"As a result of that the time is right for it to be now that I finish.

"That decision is effective immediately."

It seemed there was no real reason to stay on, no pressure from his family one way or the other and a team with which he could rapidly envisage losing touch.

"I think it's a combination of things - form, where the club's heading and your own body and just, I think, mentally," Lucas said.

"In consultation with the coach and knowing his direction I think all of those things add up to give you the final decision, which was obvious to me.

"You just know, I think. It's just the little things and the big thing is you can't do what you have in the past.

"Once that's the case and the nature of the game these days - it's a brutal game which is getting faster and faster and I'm certainly no speed demon so I think those factors just all add up."

Lucas' poor form caused him to be dropped to the VFL after round six this season but he also began the year with limited preparation following knee surgery at the end of 2008.

Knights described Lucas, who booted 471 career goals and was a joint winner of the 2003 best and fairest award, as "one of the greats of the game and one of the greats of Essendon".

"He's a thorough professional and a very humble man," he added.

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