Collingwood veteran and two-time Geelong premiership player Travis Varcoe has retired from the AFL after 230 games and 171 goals.
Varcoe, 32, played nine games this season but wasn’t selected for either of Collingwood’s two finals, with the round 18 loss to Port Adelaide his last game.
“I’ve run my race,” Varcoe said.
“I don’t have another season left in the tank. I leave feeling very fortunate and thankful for all that two wonderful clubs, Geelong and Collingwood, did for me and my family.
“I hope I was able to give something back to both of them in return for the support and care I received. As a footballer, you don’t do it alone on or off the field.”
Selected by Geelong at pick No.15 in the 2005 AFL draft, Varcoe debuted in 2007 and went on to play 138 games for the Cats.
He won premierships in 2009 and 2011, kicking three goals against Collingwood in the latter grand final.
Varcoe arrived at Collingwood at the end of 2014 as part of a three-way trade that saw Heritier Lumumba join Melbourne and Mitch Clark head to the Cats.
He played 92 games for Collingwood, including helping the club to a grand final appearance in 2018 – a season where he also suffered the death of his sister Maggie just before the finals.
“At his best, Trav was a dynamic player who could hunt opponent or ball with real intent,” Collingwood general manager of football Geoff Walsh said.
“He was what we needed when he joined us and he has never stopped being a solid member of the group.”