Barry Hall fears his volatile temper might fail him in day-to-day life, bringing even greater trouble than he has caused in the AFL.

Hall, 32, is uncertain about his sporting future after announcing on Tuesday that he is retiring from the Sydney Swans, effective immediately.

The key forward might return to boxing, where he was a talented junior, or there is the slim prospect of continuing his AFL career at another club.

But the three-time All-Australian's two immediate priorities are a holiday and working out how to control his violent streak, which ultimately ended his time as a Sydney player.

Once Hall decided to retire from Sydney, there was no thought of playing out the season or even a final game.

"I'm worried about my actions sometimes, they're natural, they're instinctive and as soon as I do it I think, `why did I do that?'," he said.

"It was a real risk to keep playing and it's something I have to sort out even after this, it's not as if I'm going to let the issue go away because I'm not playing football.

"God help it if it (affects) me in society, it could happen in a night club or road rage, it could happen, but I'm going to sort it out and try and fix the problem."

Hall is serving a two-game suspension for striking Adelaide opponent Ben Rutten in round 13.

That brain snap was the last straw for the Swans and after some initial thoughts of playing on, Hall also realised his time had come at Sydney.

There could be no more lapses after last year's seven-game suspension for striking West Coast opponent Brent Staker.

Instead, the Swans will honour Hall this Saturday when they host Essendon at the SCG, with coach Paul Roos already calling it "Barry Hall Day".

"I want to walk away from the game with my head held high, it's certainly not on a positive note but I think if an incident were to happen again it would be catastrophic," Hall said.

"I'm pretty content with my decision. I'm going on a holiday now and will sort out a next step."

Hall's team-mates applauded him before and after his media conference on Tuesday, while Roos gave him a big hug.

For all his menace, Hall has also been a massive figure at the Swans and played a key role in their historic 2005 premiership.

He played 88 games at St Kilda before joining Sydney at the end of the 2001 season, reaching 250 senior matches overall.

Hall earnt three All-Australian selections with the Swans and led their goalkicking in all of his seven completed seasons there.

Roos made it clear that the Swans would remember Hall fondly.

"I wasn't surprised, I think it was a courageous decision for Hally," Roos said.

"Whatever happens in the past, has happened ... we will remember Hally as one of the greatest players this footy club has ever had.

"We love Barry Hall, we love what he's done for this football club ... we love him as a bloke.

"We wouldn't have won a premiership without him."

But Hall knows outside the club, history will not judge him kindly.

"I can tell you what I hope, but I think I'll be remembered for the negative stuff, there's probably no doubt about that," he said.

Should Hall decide to continue his AFL career, clubs will be ultra-cautious about recruiting him.

The Western Bulldogs need a key forward, but football manager James Fantasia said it was too early to consider.

"You never say never but you'd have to say it is most unlikely," he said.

Was it time for Hall and the Swans to part?
At age 32, do you think he can continue playing AFL?
Would you want him at your club?