Valeri said last week he was focused on the finals, not retirement, and would be thinking about the decision during the off-season.

The 33-year-old also added his body felt good after he managed two hours in their thrilling 3-2 extra-time semi-final win away to Sydney FC last week.

Victory now meet Newcastle Jets away in the Grand Final on Saturday.

And with the talks of potential retirement, Thompson said he contacted Valeri after the game, urging him to play on.

“I thought Carl was excellent, 120 minutes and maybe talk of him hanging the boots up,” Thompson told FourFourTwo.

“I texted him ‘Mate, if you can punch out 120 minutes and play the way you did, you at least have another year.'

“He could definitely keep on going. It’s always hard, I think the way Victory play - it’s a heavy workload for the midfielders.

“OK, I said you can punch out 120 minutes, maybe that was a one-off game? It could be, because if they lost, they’re out.

“Hopefully he keeps going, because you’re a long time retired and I still get itchy-feet going out into the stadium and listening to the atmosphere.

“Those are the sort of moments you can’t get back and I always stress ‘When you feel like it’s time, don’t let people force you out, if you still have love for the game, just go for it’.”