The South Warrnambool export believes he’s still capable of playing at the top level after Collingwood delisted him on Monday.

Dwyer, 29, joined the Magpies as a mature-age rookie following a long VFL apprenticeship at Port Melbourne.

He repaid the Pies’ faith, becoming a regular in his first season at the Westpac Centre in 2013.

But he could only muster five games this season as Collingwood turned to youth.

Dwyer met with coach Nathan Buckley and director of football Neil Balme last Wednesday where he was told his 39-game career in black and white was over.

“I was pretty disappointed and pretty flat with it all but I had a bit of a feeling with the way things were going,” he said.

“In the second half of the season I struggled to get a game and was stuck in the VFL for extended periods.”

Dwyer is eager to extend his AFL career, believing he can offer a club an option as an experienced head.

The skillful 180-centimetre utility will sit down with his manager in coming days to build a plan.

“I don’t know if we’ll put the feelers out and see if there is anyone else looking for a player like myself,” Dwyer said.

“If there is, we’ll go from there, and if not then I’ll weigh up what my future holds. I didn’t miss a game at all through injury this year and my body feel good, fit and healthy.

“If the opportunity arose and a club was willing, then I think I still have the ability to play at least another two years.”

Dwyer is grateful for the opportunity Collingwood gave him as a rookie, enabling him to play in front of packed MCG crowds and fulfill a life-long dream.

He said it was a “rewarding and eventful three years”.

“I didn’t think the opportunity would come, so to be able to play be there for three years and play 39 games, I was still pretty happy,” Dwyer said. “As I said to Bucks and Balmey with my exit interview, I can’t thank the club enough.

“They took a bit of a gamble to take a 26-year-old who had been playing VFL for eight years.

“For them to give me an opportunity – it’s memories and experiences I will take for the rest of my life.”

Dwyer played alongside Kolora-Noorat export Ben Moloney in the Pies’ heartbreaking seven-point VFL semi-final loss to Sandringham on Sunday.

Dwyer confirmed South Warrnambool had called to discuss his plans for next season.