Considered by many the best Ovens and Murray backman of the decade, Tafft informed the Roos of his decision earlier this week.

The dual premiership player and best and fairest’s departure comes just days after star midfielder Sam Carpenter told the Roos of his move to Queensland.

Roos coach Peter Tossol admitted it had been a tough week.

“Sam and Craig have been (two of Tossol’s favourite players to coach), which isn’t disappointing because they’re moving on for their reasons, but it’s a shame for the club to lose two terrific people,” Tossol said yesterday.

“Craig’s been a wonderful servant of the club and terrific to me the way he came back a couple of years ago.”

Tafft, a member of Corowa’s 2000 and 2003 flags, left the Roos after the 2004 season to pursue his running career, but returned in 2008.

“We knew it was probably only going to be a couple of years that he came back for,” Tossol said.

“I think the athletics probably took a toll on his body ... and he probably struggled a bit at the start of last year, but I thought he was starting to re-find his touch and thought he probably could have gone around again.

“But that’s his decision and I didn’t want to try to talk him out of it ... it had to be a decision he made for himself.”

Tafft’s retirement puts the Roos, yet to make a major signing for 2010, further onto the back foot in their bid to stay inside the top five this year.

Along with Tafft and Carpenter, forward Jamie Seymour and tall Aaron Robbins are a confirmed departures while veteran Richard Ambrose’s future is up in the air.

Quality quartet David Clark, Robbie Ferraro, Chris Oliver and Lachie Longmire have committed but Tossol admitted the Roos have some work to do before their season starts against North Albury on April 3.

“We have to do some recruiting,” Tossol said.

“We can either sit back and do nothing and bottom out, or we can get active and bring some new people into the club.

“Clubs like us and Myrtleford, we just don’t have the population to produce enough local talent so we rely on bringing people from outside, but then to do that you need to find the money.

“Bottoming out can’t be an option because it’s so hard to come back.

It is believed Tafft is being sounded out by Tallangatta league club Rutherglen.