In the end it was a seemingly harmless set of four steps which convinced Nathan Bock to end his fight against injury.

The Gold Coast veteran defender made the realisation he could no longer handle the physical requirements of playing AFL when just the short flight of steps leading into the Suns’ training facility proved a painful hurdle.

Bock’s woes stem from an aerial contest early in the 2012 season against Fremantle which broke his right leg so badly he never fully recovered.

Despite surgeries and an abortive comeback in 2013, the ex-All Australian has finally given in to his body and called time on his 140-game AFL career.

“When I walk up them every day and struggling to get up them and feeling pretty sore I sort of know AFL footy is a far way off the cards,” Bock said of those stairs.

“When I played my last game in the NEAFL and struggled to walk for about a month, it was probably when it really came to light that I’d struggle to play AFL footy this year.

“I was obviously hopeful, but that was probably the biggest reality check of it all.”

Bock, who played 113 games for Adelaide and was a club champion at the Crows before heading north to the Suns at the end of the 2010 season, said there had been some dark moments in his near two-year battle to overcome his injury.

The 31-year-old eventually returned to the AFL in 2013 but could only manage two games before undergoing further surgery.

He also found himself dragged into the supplements scandal last year after a newspaper report claimed he was being investigated for alleged use of banned peptides in late 2010, although the Suns denied at the time Bock had been specifically named by the AFL or ASADA as a player under investigation.

Bock said despite the disappointing end, he leaves the Suns ultimately happy with his decision to move to the expansion club.

“I’m forever grateful of the Gold Coast Suns in giving me the opportunity of being part of the inaugural club,” he said.

“Going forward they’re going to be in really good shape to push for finals and hopefully a few premierships.

“It’s been a great journey … I’ve enjoyed my journey over the last four years up here on the Gold Coast and it’s been a good time.”

Bock said he was unclear what his future held, saying he needed some time away from the game to clear his head, but he has begun acquiring his coaching qualifications and is also considering a role in the media.