Collingwood veteran and former Fremantle defender Chris Tarrant will retire at the end of the season.

Tarrant broke the news to teammates after training yesterday, according to a report on the AFL website.

The 31-year-old has played 263 games (191 for Collingwood, 72 for Fremantle) since being drafted by the Magpies with pick No.8 in the 1997 National Draft.

Starting his career in the forward line, Tarrant was a key part of the Magpies' push for a premiership in the early part of last decade, earning All-Australian honours in 2003 and playing in the club's losing grand finals sides of 2002 and 2003.

A trade to the Dockers in 2007 didn't pay early dividends for either the player or the club, but a move to the backline in 2009 saw Tarrant play some of the best football of his career.

After requesting a trade back to the Pies, he played in another grand final loss before moving to the forward line again this year.