Shane Nelson knows he’s going to be emotional walking off the ground for the last time.

But in the build-up to his 275th and final WAFL game for West Perth on Saturday at Joondalup, the 33-year-old decorated Falcon is trying to keep a lid on it.

“I’ve been trying to keep this week as normal as possible,” he told PerthNow ahead of his final training session on Thursday.

“I’m trying not to reflect too much.

“I’m sure it will be pretty emotional walking off the ground for the last time on Saturday.”

The veteran is retiring alongside best mate and fellow two-time premiership stalwart Aaron Black.

They came through high school at Woodvale together before carving out distinguished careers at the Falcons.

“Now we get to end it together,” Nelson said.

“We’ll both be able to look back and be pretty proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.”

Nelson won five Breckler Medals, the club’s best player award, as a prolific on-baller, second with club legend Ray Schofield to WAFL games record holder Mel Whinnen with nine medals.

He played several State games and considers the two premierships of 2013 and 2022 as highlights along with a feat he achieved with his younger brother Scott.

“Being able to run out for West Perth alongside my brother is one of the big highlights,” he said.

Family, friends and some old teammates will be out in support as the struggling Falcons try to send their veterans off with a win over Perth.

Present will be his wife and two young children, part of the reason for retiring as “time is of the essence during the week”.

He also believes it’s time to “let the younger generation of players take the club into a new era” of success after some recent lean years.

His body is “still holding up” so the plan is to “play footy somewhere next year” when he will be free to look back on a fine career that started with former Falcons coach Bill Monaghan believing in him.

“Bill was a great mentor for me,” Nelson, who runs a football academy with his brother, said.

“He taught me what it takes to play at this level and the expectations of playing in the WAFL.

“It was the start of a great relationship.”

On Saturday, there will also be a nod to his late father Murray, who died from a heart attack in Nelson’s first year of league football in 2012.

“Obviously I will be thinking of him,” Nelson said.

“He was a big part of my career and the main reason I got into footy.

“He’d probably be proud of what I have achieved at this level.”