Melbourne defender Colin Garland is reportedly weighing up his future in the game, after missing the entire 2017 season due to a knee injury.

AFL Trade Radio's Mitch Cleary reports Garland and the Demons are in mutual discussions about a possible retirement.

Garland, 29, was part of Melbourne's best 22 for the best part of five years, playing 95 games over a six year period from 2010 to 2015, before managing just six games in 2016 due to the emergence of younger defenders such as Oscar McDonald.

He then suffered an ACL injury in a VFL practice match against Port Melbourne in April this year, ending his season before it even begun.

Garland has played a total of 141 matches for the Dees since making his debut in 2007.