GOLDEN Square star Simon Rosa desperately wanted to bow out with one more premiership, but he was denied a fairytale finish by Sandhurst in Saturday’s Bendigo league grand final.

In his last game for Golden Square, the silky Rosa gave his all for the Bulldogs in winning the AFL Victoria Medal, but there was no hiding his bitter disappointment post-game that it wasn’t accompanied by a fifth premiership medal. Instead, it was a 32-point loss.

“The feeling you get when you lose a grand final is just so empty,” Rosa said.

“For this to be my last game and it a losing grand final… it’s tough, but full credit to Sandhurst, they have now beaten us four times this year and been the best side.

“I guess though I was fortunate to play in a grand final in my last game. I’ve always loved playing finals on the QEO and knowing this was going to be my last year, I saved myself throughout the year to make sure I was right for the finals series to try to finish well.”

Rosa ended his career at Golden Square not in the famed No.3 jumper he wore in premierships in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, but rather, No.47 after his jumper had been ripped.

“It felt a bit different in the 47… everyone was probably thinking ‘who’s this bloke’?,” he said.

Rosa described his AFL Victoria Medal in his last game as bittersweet.

“I suppose you’re only as good as you’re last game, but I’d certainly trade it any day to share a premiership with 22 blokes,” he said.

“It was good to get a few kicks and I just tried hard all day.”

Since joining Golden Square in 2010, 33-year-old Rosa – a former Bendigo Pioneer and Bendigo Bomber – played 110 games, winning 89 of them.