A freak pool accident at the start of the year almost derailed Chris Tarrant's final season in the AFL before it began.

Less than a month after the 32-year-old played his last game for the Magpies, it has been revealed a badly cut toe sustained in early January caused his delayed start to his year.

The injury limited Tarrant's pre-season and saw him miss the entire NAB Cup series plus a chunk of training.

"He was jumping in his pool at home and had his feet over the edge, and as he went to push off, underneath the toe near the crease of the knuckle became lacerated," Collingwood football and coaching strategist Rodney Eade told Collingwoodfc.com.au.

"It was an area that once you stitch it, you can't walk on it because you're splitting the cut.

"He had to go in a moon boot so he couldn't really do anything for three or four weeks, and then it got a bit infected."

Tarrant missed around six weeks with the injury, which delayed his start to the season until round two against Richmond.

It was that game where he hurt his calf in the opening quarter, which then saw him unable to play at AFL level until round 11. 

"[The toe] really affected him," Eade said.

"Then he came back and hurt his calf.

"It was just a whole range of hurdles put in front him."

After suffering from shoulder soreness that kept him from another block of games mid-season, Tarrant managed only 12 senior appearances in his 15th and final AFL year.

He played in all three of the Pies' finals, but retired on 268 games without a premiership to his name after the team lost to the Sydney Swans in the preliminary final.

Eade said it had been an unfortunate way for Tarrant to spend his last season but was glad the well-liked defender/forward was able to get back playing after it looked as though his season was ruined.

"Unfortunately, his body was just starting to give up on him at the end," he said.

"He was held in such high esteem around the place, everyone wanted him to play and I think he contributed pretty well but obviously his time was up, he's had a great career but unfortunately he didn't win a flag."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.