West Australian forward Matthew Parker says his family is behind the decision to leave Richmond and return home, just weeks out from a potential finals campaign.

Parker will leave the Tigers to bring his young family back to his home State, after 11 games at the club that offered him a mid-season AFL lifeline.

“This club and its supporters will hold a special place in my heart,” Parker told the club website.

“Dimma and the people at our club always say family comes first and living away from home has not always been easy for me.

“Now is a time that I must put my family first and return home to Perth with my partner and three children.

“I have made some lifelong friends at Richmond and have made many great memories during my time in the yellow and black.”

The 26-year-old was first drafted to St Kilda as a mature-aged selection after emerging in the senior team at South Fremantle.

He impressed in a 19-game debut season at the Saints but would play only a pair of matches in his second year before becoming a surprise de-listing after the clubs fleeting finals run in 2020.

The Tigers then brought him back to Melbourne with pick 10 in the 2021 mid-season draft — following in the footsteps of fellow South Fremantle midfield gun Marlion Pickett.

The versatile forward played five games this season.

After Richmond missed out on playing finals last season, Parker returned swiftly to WA and was given approval to play for the Bulldogs in all four of their finals, including the grand final defeat to Subiaco.

It is unlikely he will be allowed to return to the club this season, having not played a game for them before the June 30 clearance deadline.

It comes less than 24 hours after fellow forward Kane Lambert retired effective immediately due to an ongoing degenerative hip condition, which he said had reached a point where he could no longer perform to AFL standard.