Schneider announced his retirement from AFL football on Tuesday and will play his final game at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

After 227 AFL games, five grand finals and a premiership, Schneider has decided it was time to call it a day and decided on the clash against the Swans to bid farewell.

“I’m pretty lucky, it’s a bit of a fairytale ending,” Schneider said.

“It’s pretty fitting to finish against the old club.

“Hopefully we can put up a good fight and hopefully come away with the win.”

Schneider, 31, had a fair idea that the 2015 season would be his last but some good early season form had him briefly second guessing.

“Two or three weeks ago I made the call,” he said.

“I probably knew at the start of the year that this would be my last but I started feel like I was contributing pretty well and getting a couple of kicks early on and I thought I could go again.

“But the time is right and it’s a good chance to step aside, we’ve got some good kids and it’s time to give them a go.”

Despite his time coming to an end, Schneider said it was a difficult decision to make.

“It’s always a tough call because I’ve done this since I was 17,” he said.

“It’s what I love doing, to do it for work I couldn’t ask for a better job.

“Getting to hang with 44 mates every day, it’s a weird environment but I’ll miss it now I have to go to a normal job.

“Football to me has never been a job.”

As for jobs, Schneider did not rule out a fairytale return to Osborne.

He would love to stay involved at AFL level, but will wait until after Sunday before looking at what opportunities arise.

“I’ve done football all my life, it’s all I know,” he said.

“The last couple of years I’ve really enjoyed the talking and coaching side of it.

“I also love the country environment and it’s no secret that I love Osborne and would love to coach a country side.

“I’m just going to wait and see what happens and enjoy this week with friends and family first.”

Schneider hopes he is remembered fondly, most of all by teammates.

“At the start of my career I actually wrote down that I wanted to be a skilful, reliable, trustworthy player,” he said.

“Someone you wanted to play with and be around.

“I knew I was never going to be a Brownlow Medallist or anything like that so if I finished with that I would be happy.”

Schneider remembers Andrew McLeod as his toughest opponent.

Having played alongside the likes of Tony Lockett, Paul Kelly, Adam Goodes, Barry Hall, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey and Lenny Hates, he could not single out the best he played with.

The 2005 premiership at Sydney is a clear highlight.

“I can’t go past winning premierships, it’s everything I had dreamed of,” he said.

“I’ve had so many good times, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“Injuries, losing grand finals, they’ve made me the person I am.

“I’ve been doing what I love for all these years, now it’s time for the next chapter.”

A large contingent of family and friends will travel to Melbourne for Schneider’s final game.