Tom Hunter's AFL career is over before it began.

And the 20-year-old's premature retirement because of a spinal condition has reminded his Collingwood teammates of the frailty of a career as an elite footballer.

"Having been involved in that sort of club environment for so long, it's hard to be told you won't be doing that any more," Collingwood defender Heath Shaw said.

"All the boys are fully supporting him. It's a tough game football."

Hunter was left with numbness and pain in his arm and neck after colliding with West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey during the pre-season semi-final in Perth last month.

It led to doctors discovering he had cervical spinal stenosis - a progressive narrowing of the spinal canal.

They warned Hunter he could be paralysed with another hit to the head or neck.

Rookie-listed Hunter had not played a senior AFL match, but had starred in the club's reserves last year and was on the cusp of a call-up for the premiers.

He had played in several pre-season matches, culminating in the match against the Eagles which landed him in hospital.

Drafted two years ago, Hunter admitted to devastation at the realisation he would now never play AFL football.

"You work so hard for pretty much your whole life and then to be told something you can't control is ending your football career, you don't wish it upon anybody," he told the Nine Network.

"I had a knock in August last year and the one in March this year - it was a warning sign that I could lose (the use of) an arm or not walk at all."

Hunter will remain at Collingwood this season to complete his injury rehabilitation - the Magpies vowing to stand by him as he returns to peak health.

"He's going to be around the club for the rest of the year doing his rehab and we want to keep him involved as much as we can," Shaw said.

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