INJURIES have forced former NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Ben Sinclair out of the game, with the Collingwood defender retiring at the age of 26. 

The Magpies have also delisted fellow backmen Jackson Ramsay and Adam Oxley, but have committed to re-drafting the latter as a rookie next month. 

Sinclair played just 63 games in eight years, having started a battle with hamstring problems in 2014 after early issues with shin splints. 

Last year, he suffered four concussions in 14 rounds; the last of which ended his season five weeks early. 

This year, he badly tore a hamstring tendon in a pre-season game against Essendon, and despite seeing a specialist again mid-year after struggling with subsequent nerve entrapment, failed to get back on the field. 

The Pies say Sinclair has retired "in the interests of his health" after a tough four seasons.

Check out all the retirements and delistings

Ramsay, 22, played 17 games since being recruited with pick No.38 overall in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.

He had a wrist injury in 2013 and then shin issues in 2015, before he ruptured his left anterior cruciate ligament at training after round two in 2016. 

He started this season in the AFL side, but his form stalled mid-year and he wasn't able to reclaim his spot after round 15. 

"It says something about both men that they shared reasonably long careers with Collingwood despite their numerous setbacks," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said.

"Ben and Jackson were extremely popular teammates who leave us with a lot of friends and goodwill.

"The game is tough, it can be punishing and it isn't always fair. Ben, who has had to retire from the game at 26 years of age due to his physical issues, and Jackson understand this as well as anyone.

"AFL football is a tough caper. We can only thank them for giving all they had to Collingwood in their time with us." 

Oxley, 24, has played 31 games since he was drafted as a rookie in 2012, but was cut down by hip and groin problems this season. 

The Magpies have pledged to offer him another rookie contract if he isn't snapped up first by another club in the upcoming NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

They've already delisted Lachlan Keeffe, Liam Mackie, Mitch McCarthy and Henry Schade, while Jesse White has retired. 

A decision on the future of Chris Mayne is yet to be made, with the first list lodgment to take place on Tuesday.