Collingwood pair Alan Toovey and Brent Macaffer have announced their retirements from AFL football.

Toovey played 159 games for the Magpies, including the 2010 premiership, after being selected with pick No.2 in the 2006 rookie draft.

The 29-year-old was a mainstay in the Collingwood backline for the best part of a decade, as he helped shut down some of the league's best small forwards.

Coach Nathan Buckley said Toovey was an incredibly reliable competitor for the Pies over his time at the club.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Alan Toovey of the Magpies celebrates with the Premiership Cup after the Magpies won the AFL Grand Final Replay match between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 2, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Alan Toovey of the Magpies celebrates with the Premiership Cup after the Magpies won the AFL Grand Final Replay match between the Collingwood Magpies and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 2, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“Alan achieved the ideal of being a great teammate from his first game and carried on for 11 seasons,” Buckley said.

“Tooves’ contribution to his team was consistent effort and attitude and you knew he would just get the job done...every time."

Macaffer played 77 games for the Pies after being selected with pick No.26 in the 2006 rookie draft.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Brent Macaffer of the Magpies handballs during the round 16 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Collingwood Magpies at Metricon Stadium on July 5, 2014 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Brent Macaffer of the Magpies handballs during the round 16 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Collingwood Magpies at Metricon Stadium on July 5, 2014 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

He suffered several setbacks during his career, including two knee reconstructions in 2012 and 2014.

Buckley hailed Macaffer's resilience throughout his time at Collingwood.

“His growth as a person through it all has been significant. He played many roles in his time and gave everything he had to them,” Buckley said of Macaffer.

“Above all, his care and support for his teammates endeared them to him and he became a strong leader as a result."

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