Superstar Geelong veteran Jimmy Bartel may have an uncertain AFL playing future but his commitment to a life-and-death cause remains clearly written all over his newly-shaved face.
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After going an entire football season without lifting a razor, Bartel finally parted ways with his thick, black bushranger beard on Tuesday.
The 2007 Brownlow medallist early this year spoke publicly about how his father Terry had been violent to his mother, Dianne during and after their marriage.
Bartel decided he would grow his beard for the entire football season to remind members of the public about the issue of domestic violence and to encourage people to talk about it.
"It's a traditional part of our culture to bury things deep down," he said.
"We've still got a long way to go. There are still far too many cases and people are actually dying in this country because of it."
Bartel would not reveal what his future holds at the Cats other than to say he would have a conversation with the club's coaches before deciding whether to play on. But after 22 senior appearances in 2016, he faces the prospect of spending more time in the VFL.
"It seems a long way away at the moment," Bartel said of next season.
"[Retirement is] always a thought, once you get to my stage of my career, but I haven't formed an opinion and made a decision."
The 32-year-old's future became a point of conjecture late in the season when his form dipped, but he has the option of continuing his 305-game career having triggered a clause in his current contract.
"I'm just waiting to have a chat with Chris Scott and the guys. I'm sure that will be a really open and honest conversation, he said.
"That will happen in the coming weeks. There's no rush (since) there's no football on now and a lot of people are on holidays."
