Collingwood have bolstered their attack by recruiting West Coast AFL premiership forward Quinten Lynch.

The 29-year-old has played 209 AFL games with the Eagles, including their 2006 premiership.

Lynch has signed a two-year deal with the Magpies, with West Coast powerless to stop him leaving as he was an unrestricted free agent.

His move gives Collingwood another player who can play the tall forward-ruckman role which has been a problem area for the Magpies this year after the retirement of Leigh Brown.

Chris Dawes played that position for most of the season, but struggled for form and was dropped for a game late in the year.

"We're extremely happy to have Quinten with us," Collingwood director of football Geoff Walsh said.

"Another strong-bodied marking target up forward will really suit the Collingwood game and Quinten can also play in the ruck.

"We know very well how valuable a player is who can play those two roles."

Lynch spent 11 seasons with the Eagles and played both of their finals this year.

But he said the prospect of playing a flexible role with the AFL's biggest club and regularly playing at the MCG was impossible to pass up.

"I'm a life member of West Coast and I'll always think well of the club, so I hope everyone there understands that joining Collingwood was an opportunity I couldn't refuse," Lynch said.

"The chance to reinvigorate and extend my career in Melbourne with Collingwood I had to take."