RETIRING Port Adelaide ruckman Dean Brogan has declared himself a certain starter for his farewell game against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

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Brogan, 32, hasn't played since announcing his plans to retire at the end of the season more than two months ago.

There were fears a nagging calf complaint would deny the premiership veteran an opportunity to play one final game for the Power, but he completed training on Wednesday and said he was ready to take on the Demons.

"I felt really good at training last night and pulled up well today … so hopefully Matty [Primus] can squeeze me in somewhere," Brogan said on Thursday.

"It's been a long time since I last played [in round 13]. I don't intend to go out there on Sunday and set the world on fire, but I'll give effort and do the best I can.

"I doubt I'll be playing a full game, but I'd say most of the game [will be played on] emotion and adrenalin and that should get me through."

Reflective of the changing of the guard at Alberton, Brogan will play a back-up role to emerging ruckman Matthew Lobbe in his AFL swansong.

The respected 173-game player has earned a reputation for his feisty nature and fierce competitive streak, but said he expected to keep his emotions in check against the Demons.

"If someone throws a punch, I'll throw one back," he said with a laugh.

"No, I've mellowed with my old age. I'm not like that any more.

"I want to go out on good terms and have a smile on my face at the end of the game win, lose or draw.

"The game is a bit bigger than me this week, as much as it is my last game.

"We want to get off of the bottom of the table and we're at Adelaide Oval, so it's a big game for the club."

Brogan responded, "never say never" when asked if he could be lured out of retirement, but conceded 11 seasons at the elite level had taken its toll on his body.

He's expressed an interest in coaching next season, but is yet to make a decision on his next career move.

The former basketballer has experienced the full cycle of success since joining Port Adelaide as rookie in 2001.

He became the first person to win both an AFL premiership and NBL championship when the Power capitalised on a sustained period of success in the early part of the last decade, claiming their inaugural premiership in 2004.

The former vice-captain has also witnessed the tough times at Alberton, which have seen the club miss out on finals in the past four seasons.

Brogan said it was important the Power's next generation of stars took responsibility for propelling the club back up the AFL ladder.

"When you first start out, all you want to do is get a game. Then when you start playing, you're just happy to be getting a game," he said.

"There comes a time in your career when you say, 'I'm sick of just playing. I'm sick of finishing in the last week of August and having Mad Monday when other teams are getting ready for finals'.

"That's what these players have to start asking themselves.

"As much we talk about what we don't have upstairs [financially], the players need to take a bit of ownership and say, 'I'm sick of not playing finals and I want to get better'."

Brogan was confident the club possessed enough talent to turn its fortunes around quickly, saying promising forward John Butcher was one of the most exciting young players he'd ever seen.

"I haven't seen a kid in the 12 years I've been here come onto the scene like John Butcher has," he said.

"To come in and do what he has done in testing times, he's going to be something special."

Butcher, who has put off contract talks until the end of the season, is yet to commit to the Power, but the club remains confident he'll stay at the club.

Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill