After 196 games for Collingwood and 72 for Fremantle, Chris Tarrant is bowing out of senior football.

The much-loved defender farewelled the game in his retirement speech at last Friday's Copeland Trophy dinner.

Watch Chris Tarrant's farewell speech at the Copeland Trophy on CTV in the video above.

Tarrant spoke of his love for the black and white and laid bare his emotions after 15 years at the highest level, a period that saw him play in three Grand Finals, feature in an All-Australian team and finish runner-up in the 2003 Copeland Trophy.

"I've grown up into a 32-year-old man who has had a 15-year career at the greatest sporting club in Australia", said Tarrant.

The retiring star also paid tribute to the contribution of club President Eddie McGuire who stuck by Tarrant as he settled into Melbourne life after he was drafted as a 17-year-old.