West Coast champion Dean Cox has announced he will retire from AFL ranks at the end of the season.

Cox has played a club-record 286 games during his glittering 14-year career, but his retirement will pave the way for the Eagles to re-sign talented ruckman Scott Lycett.

Lycett is being hotly pursued by Port Adelaide, but the Eagles want the 21-year-old to remain at West Coast for the long term to support Nic Naitanui.

Cox’s retirement will mean he will finish just short of the 300-game mark.

If he plays the Eagles’ remaining six games, Cox will finish on 292.

West Coast skipper Darren Glass already announced his retirement earlier this year due to hip and ankle problems.

Cox, with six All-Australians and one premiership under his belt, will be remembered as one of the greatest ruckmen the game has ever seen.

“To finally say `it’s finished’ wasn’t easy.” Cox said.

“I’ve built a career where I was at a level consistently having an impact on games. But it got to a stage this year where it wavered away from that. If I was to continue next year, it would probably be an injustice to myself.

“It’s been a decision I’ve been thinking about for a little while. I’ve spoken to people close to me about my future.”