Essendon forward Mark Williams bowed to the inevitable on Monday, announcing his AFL retirement due to a degenerative knee injury.

Williams, 28, enjoyed the best years of his career at Hawthorn, where he was twice the club's leading goalkicker and a member of the 2008 premiership team.

He joined the Bombers on a three-year deal before the 2010 season as part of a complicated four-way swap that cost the Bombers draft pick No.16 and saw Andrew Lovett briefly join St Kilda.

But injury and form issues meant Williams only managed four games in almost two seasons for the Bombers, none of which came in 2011.

"I am grateful for the career I have had at Essendon and Hawthorn and the opportunities that football has given me," Williams said in a statement.

"I would have loved to have been able to keep playing and while my injuries have not allowed me to do that, the experiences that I have had - including a premiership at Hawthorn - far outweigh that.

"I can't thank everyone enough for the support they have provided me throughout my career - my wife Belinda and children Mia and Kobe, all my team-mates, coaches, support staff and of course my family."

Williams played a total of 115 AFL games and kicked 247 goals.

Essendon general manager of football operations Paul Hamilton congratulated Williams on a successful AFL career.

"This is obviously a difficult decision for Mark but he should be enormously proud of his achievements throughout his career," Hamilton said.

"Mark will be remembered as a 100-game player with a remarkable natural football ability who could prove damaging in front of goal."

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