Collingwood premiership player Tyson Goldsack will retire at the end of the season.

Having decided 12 months ago that the 2019 season would be his last, Goldsack made the call formal by telling his teammates on Tuesday. He will be moving to Adelaide with his wife, Chelsea, and their two daughters in the New Year.

An immensely popular figure – for his versatility, penetrating kick and team-first mentality on the field and irreverent good humour off it - Goldsack leaves the game after 13 seasons and 165 matches.

His career with Collingwood began on the night of the 2006 national draft. With selection 63, ‘Goldy’ joined Ben Reid, Nathan Brown, Chris Dawes and Brad Dick in the ’06 draft class. Four of the five became premiership players. Of that group only Reid remains in the change room.

A rangy 193cm tall and quick, versatility became his strength. Goldsack set the tone for a famous victory by kicking the first goal of the 2010 grand final replay, kicked 24 goals as a third forward in 2012 and played full-back throughout the 2018 finals campaign.

The four games he played in 2018 were all finals and those opportunities arrived after a swift return from a knee reconstruction in March.

“I gave it one more year but football’s grim reaper got me,” Goldsack said.

“But I’m content. How could I not be? I realised all of my football dreams, met some outstanding and interesting people and, in a sense, grew up with Collingwood’s arm around me.

“Chelsea and I made the call after the grand final last year to relocate to South Australia in 2020, so we’ve been preparing for the next chapter.

“I hope I did the jumper proud and thank the many, many people who helped me along the way.”

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Goldsack earned what some might consider more precious than his premiership medal; complete trust.

“From his earliest days ‘Goldy’ was always one of the most intense players in the contest. His speed and courage either in the air or on the ground quickly earned the respect of his team-mates,” Buckley said.

“He was also a great clubman, someone people liked to spend time with. In the confines of a football club, who you are is as important as what you can do and ‘Goldy’ is a first class human.”