Collingwood has bid farewell to midfielder Tim Broomhead and defender Matthew Scharenberg, who will not be offered contracts for 2021.

Lynden Dunn has also announced his retirement, joining Ben Reid and Travis Varcoe as veterans to have called time on their careers.

Dunn, Scharenberg and Broomhead shared a total of 19 seasons in black and white and luckless fates that said much for their perseverance, resilience and football craft.

All three made comebacks of sorts in 2020 but were unable to consolidate positions in the senior side.

Dunn, 34, leaves Collingwood after four seasons and 16 years at the highest level. He was recruited by Melbourne with pick 15 in the 2004 national draft and in 2020 was one of only two players from that crop still active. The other was Lance Franklin.

A popular figure in the change room – Dunn won Collingwood’s best clubman award in 2018 – his return from two knee reconstructions in round 11 against Adelaide, and the goal he kicked in that match, made for one of the memorable moments of the club’s 2020 season.

Dunn played two matches in 2020 for a total of 33 with the Magpies and a career tally of 198.

Scharenberg spent seven seasons as a Magpie for a total of 41 matches. He played three matches in 2020 and hopes to continue his AFL career elsewhere.

The 25 year-old South Australian was selected by Collingwood with pick six in the 2013 national draft but his journey was to be a star-crossed one. Foot problems delayed the start to his career and three knee reconstructions interrupted it.

In only one season, 2018, when he played 17 matches, was ‘Shaz’ able fully express himself and then, with finals looming, he suffered his third serious knee injury.

Broomhead spent eight seasons with Collingwood after arriving as one of three South Australians the club recruited in the first round of the 2012 draft. The others were Brodie Grundy and Ben Kennedy.

His speed and clean hands impressed but as he was poised to consolidate a place in the senior side he suffered a badly broken leg in the second round of the 2018 season that cost him the best part of two years out of the game.

His comeback, in round 11 this year against Adelaide, was a personal triumph but he was unable to hold his place in the senior team. Broomhead’s Collingwood career amounted to 37 matches. Like Scharenberg, Broomhead hopes to continue playing at the highest level.

Collingwood GM of Football, Geoff Walsh, thanked all three players for their service.

“We say thanks to each of them and wish them well for the future. They have been a part of our story and I trust we will always be a proud part of theirs.”