Collingwood star Dane Swan has confirmed his AFL retirement.

Dane Swan's emergence from run-of-the-mill AFL player to genuine midfield star seemed to sneak up on much of the football world. Maybe even him as well.

Collingwood champion Dane Swan is likely to receive a substantial payout for the foot injury that has ended his career.

MELBOURNE, Aug 22 AAP - Collingwood premiership duo Brent Macaffer and Alan Toovey are retiring from the AFL.

It was 1995 when Robert Walls, his side scheduled to play back-to-back games in Perth, had his Brisbane Bears spend an entire week in the western capital. It failed to work, the Bears losing the first game of the extended road trip by 66 points, and the second by 45.

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There's plenty at stake as finals loom, with five of the top-eight sides in action across five big games. Don't miss a kick.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said on Friday night that he had no doubt he would lose his job if the Magpies failed to make the finals in 2017.

Things weren't going to plan, so James Aish got back to doing all the simple things.

Six years on, there has been no "era of dominance". The picture at Collingwood is of change pushed too swiftly.

By Rob Forsaith

Collingwood have officially joined the race to sign banned Essendon defender Michael Hurley.

Competitive football Pies played in three-point loss should serve as a minimum standard for the club.

Collingwood gave the Western Bulldogs an almighty scare on Friday night, making them work all match for a three-point win.

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Can the Pies defy the odds and upstage the Dogs in their first 'prime time' home Friday night game in four years?

Collingwood football manager Neil Balme has insisted the club would not actively seek to trade Travis Cloke to another club later this year.

Travis Cloke's future at Collingwood is set to come into focus yet again after the Magpies spearhead was axed for the third time this AFL season.

The odd-couple ruck pairing of Jordan Roughead and Tom Boyd have become the Western Bulldogs' most irreplaceable players.

Richmond showed what they were made of in a tenacious win against Collingwood after a shocking start.

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This match won't influence the top eight, but it still means plenty to the Magpie and Tiger armies who will come out in numbers to support their sides.