Hawthorn recruit Tom Phillips is content with how his exit from Collingwood played out.
It comes after Adam Treloar and Jaidyn Stephenson admitted that they were hurt by their recent departures from the Magpies.
Phillips was traded to Hawthorn in exchange for pick 65 just before Thursday's trade deadline. And although he did not wish to go into detail or talk on behalf of the others that were traded, he said he was happy with what transpired from his standpoint.
โI canโt talk on behalf of (the other guys who were traded), theyโre all good Collingwood people, Iโve had so much support and messaging from everyone at Collingwood, thereโs a lot of people disappointed to see me leave, but also excited about the opportunity that lies ahead,โ Phillips told SENโs Dwayneโs World.
โIn my personal case, Iโm pretty rapt and throughout this whole period Iโve kept a really open mind with what could occur because for me there was every opportunity that Iโd be playing for Collingwood into 2021 and at the same time there was also opportunity elsewhere if the right fit came up.
โI was never ready to lean one way or the other, I always of the belief that Iโd embrace any opportunity that would fit best for me and my future and the greater good of the club.
โChatting to Buckley, we had some pretty good discussions and those conversations were based on the greater good of the club and thatโs what we all need to remember.
โI think sometimes as individuals we can think our case is more important than the next person or the company or the football club, but at the same time the football club, thereโs a lot of people within every club and they make it work.
โItโs not one person, itโs many, so the conversations that came up for me, there was a different dynamic the club was wanting to go and that was totally understandable.โ
Phillips also admitted that discussions about his future begun during the season and believes in the end, it was all handled very professionally.
โItโs something that was discussed during the year, more so towards the back end of the year after I got injured,โ he said.
โAll conversations were maturely had and it can get a bit tense sometimes and a little bit emotional, but itโs the name of the game and I think both parties and everyone involved has got a positive out of it.
โIn my case itโs all been really well handled and maturely with both parties.
โI think from my perspective, Iโve been very lucky and privileged to be part of one of the greatest clubs in Australia and Iโll still hold that perspective.
โYou move different clubs and these things happen and this is the environment. The footy industry, this is the business and thatโs what we all need to accept and thereโs no issues with that, thatโs how it goes.
โFor me, Iโve been lucky to have the greatest five years of my life at Collingwood and I think all the fans, the staff, the coaching staff, all the players and lifelong friends Iโm going to have from that great club and a club I was a part of for those years.
โIโm really excited to get to a new club in Hawthorn thatโs also a really good club.โ
Phillips has played 89 games over the course of his young career, averaging 22 disposals and five marks per game.
He played a key role on the wing in Collingwood's run to the Grand Final in 2018.
