St Kilda defender Sam Fisher has announced his retirement after 228 AFL games.The 34-year-old had been keen to play on next year but was unable to come to an agreement with the Saints, who put off making a decision on his future until after the trade and free agency periods.Fisher was a key contributor during the clubs successful era under Ross Lyon, appearing in all three grand final teams.However, he has battled injury in recent years - his last uninterrupted season was in 2011 - and managed just 12 games in 2016.Ive thoroughly enjoyed my time playing for St Kilda Football Club and I can retire knowing that I have given my all over the past 13 years, Fisher said.While it will be different supporting from the sidelines, Im looking forward to seeing my teammates and coaches enjoy well-deserved success in the years to come.I dont think anyone imagines theyll play over 200 games but Im so grateful to have had this experience and would like to thank St Kilda Football Club and the fans for their support over the years.Fisher was the 55th player selected at the 2003 draft and quickly made a name for himself as an effective defender, often against taller opponents.He won St Kildas best and fairest award in 2008 and 2011 and was also an All Australian in 2008.Sam arrived at the club before a lot of us, myself included, but he will also leave a legacy that will extend past many of our times at the club, coach Alan Richardson said.While Sams honours as an All Australian, Trevor Barker Award winner and International Rules player highlight the impact hes had on the field, hes also taken the opportunity in the last few years to help and teach our young defenders.Sams definitely made his mark on the club, we thank him for his remarkable service and wish him all the best for the future. Hydro Flask 21 Oz Canada .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Hydro Flask 24 Oz Sale . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. http://www.hydroflaskombrecanada.com/hydro-flask-32-oz-on-sale.html . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Hydro Flask 40 Oz Straw Lid Sale . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Hydro Flask Coffee Mug Canada . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Vanderbilt Commodores and coach Derek Mason know only too well just how big an opportunity they have in their season opener.The can kick off the year with a win at home, and against a Southeastern Conference opponent to boot.Its something theyve failed to do in each of the past two seasons under Mason, and now they get to try again Thursday night when they host South Carolina on national television.We need momentum, and I think thats what were talking about, Mason said. Were talking about a chance to see something we havent had an opportunity to do since Ive been here.Vanderbilt hasnt opened the season with a victory since 2011 against Elon. The Commodores bounced back nicely the last time they opened a season losing to an SEC team, going 9-4 in 2013 after losing to Mississippi. But Mason, whos revamped his coaching staff almost entirely since arriving on campus in 2014, is just 7-17 and is expecting to build on last years 4-8 record.Were a team thats got to earn respect, Mason said. That drives this team.South Carolina has won seven straight in this series and even got its lone SEC win against Vandy last season after Steve Spurrier stepped down. Now Will Muschamp is in charge trying to turn around the Gamecocks after a 3-9 record that was the leagues worst. It doesnt help that the schedule has the Gamecocks on the road for their first three SEC games to kick off the season, making this opener even more crucial.As all first ball games, you go in expecting anything and making sure your players are able to adjust to all the different things that pop up throughout the game, Muschamp said. There are going to be some new things and youve got to be able to adjust as the games goes. Thats going to be really important, especially for us.---Here are some things to watch Thursday night:QB SHUFFLE: Muschamp has held off on naming a quarterback starter until game-time with nobody rising up to grab the job, and the coach says the Gamecocks could use at least two quarterbacks against the Commodores.dddddddddddd Senior Perry Orth has the most experience, starting eight games a year ago with a 78-yard TD pass helping beat Vandy 19-10 in Columbia. Freshman Brandon McIlwain enrolled in January, while freshman Jake Bentley arrived in June.VANDYS QB: For a change, quarterback is not a question for the Commodores. The 6-foot-4 Kyle Shurmur won the job after starting both of Vandys two SEC wins last season as a freshman.GROWING UP: Mason keeps calling this an older team, and he has eight juniors or seniors on offense with the age difference most noticeable on defense where all 11 starters are at least juniors. Thats in addition to eight returning starters on offense and as many as 11 who started multiple games on defense last season.YOUNG RECEIVERS: Needing to replace play-making receiver Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina is looking at its youngest wide-outs. Sophomore Deebo Samuel and freshman Bryan Edwards will both start against the Commodores. Backups include Chavis Dawkins, Korey Banks and Radrecous Davis, all freshmen. I think they are all talented guys and in different ways, Muschamp said. Edwards enters with the most hype, a 6-3 leaper who earned a game-breaking reputation in high school.DEFENSIVE VANDY: Mason is running the defense for a second straight season, and the Commodores expect to improve after ranking 28th in yards allowed in 2015. That was just a taste of what we can do defensively, linebacker and safety Oren Burks said. Weve gotten a taste of that, and were hungry for more.---Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and AP-Top 25 Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '