Chris Tarrant walked back into Collingwood on Monday saying he owed the club for his lack of dedication in his previous stint with the Magpies.

Recruited to Collingwood as a 17-year-old from Mildura, Tarrant went on to win five club goalkicking titles and All-Australian selection in 2003, the year he was runner-up in the Copeland Trophy.

But the talented forward lost his way and it was actually a move to defence during his four-year stint with Fremantle which has rejuvenated his career.

Keen to return to Melbourne for business and personal reasons, Tarrant had threatened through his management to retire if he went into next month's national draft and a club other than Collingwood chose him.

But thankfully for Tarrant, the deal with Fremantle came through in the final 30 minutes before Monday's 2pm deadline to end AFL Trade Week.

The Dockers traded Tarrant and pick 44 for pick 43 and pick 55.

But it wasn't all smiles for Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh who had another pressing issue, a threat from Travis Cloke's father/manager David Cloke to put the premiership forward in the draft if a two-year contract couldn't be finalised in the next few days.

Walsh says he's confident an agreement can be reached with the Cloke family, while Tarrant is already talking about playing beyond his new two-year deal with the Magpies.

"I was a late maturer you could say, I've just turned 30," Tarrant said.

"When I was 25-26, I don't think I was fully grown-up.

"I didn't really have the dedication and the hunger.

"I really owe this club.

"I've definitely got some unfinished business and I'm a pretty focused player at the moment.

"I've probably changed a lot in four years since I haven't been here.

"Towards the latter part of my time there, the last two years, there was a few mistakes that I made and a few things that I probably would have regretted, if I didn't have that opportunity to come back to the club and just do everything possible that I can do to try to help this club win another premiership."

Tarrant says he expects to play a variety of roles in defence and attack.

"Hopefully I can sneak up forward and kick a few goals," Tarrant said.

He watched Collingwood's grand final win earlier this month on TV from Byron Bay.

"I was very envious. Hopefully now I do have a chance to do that," he said.

"When something's taken away from you, you really realise how much you miss it.

"I realise now that I've got a few years left. I've got a two-year contract and I hope to play past that.

"This is my opportunity and I'm certainly not going to let this one slip."

Tarrant is keen to improve on his grand final record with Collingwood which stands at 0-2 (2002-03).

"Back in 2002 I played for a team that just liked to work for each other. It's a very similar team (now), with a lot more class," Tarrant said.

Walsh said the 193cm utility's addition would strengthen any list, even the defending premiers.

The Magpies are losing several players including Josh Fraser to West Coast and retired trio Shane O'Bree, Tarkyn Lockyer and Paul Medhurst.

"The turnover of our players will be not something you'd expect from a side that has won the premiership," Walsh said.

Walsh said he didn't feel let down by David Cloke's comments.

"I'm not disappointed. It certainly wouldn't detract or affect any negotiations we've had," Walsh said.

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