West Coast new addition Finlay Macrae revealed that he flirted with a move across the Nullarbor years ago after a "brief conversation" with his manager.
Macrae eventually joined the Eagles after he was delisted by Collingwood at the end of the 2025 season, but not before he was tempted earlier in his career.
The former first-round selection struggled to crack into the senior side that boasted the likes of club stalwarts Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, as well as Jordan De Goey, Taylor Adams, Nick Daicos and Jack Crisp.
Macrae admitted that a switch to Western Australia was previously on the agenda, and his signing as an SSP became a full-circle moment.
"I talked about it to my manager a couple of years earlier about coming to West Coast," Macrae said on Wednesday.
"The change in scenery, and a change up for my career as well. It worked out well. A club I really wanted to get to.
"Nothing came through. It's worked out well now, and funny how it works out in the end.
"There was a brief conversation, that was about it. It didn't go too far, but happy it's worked out now."
Macrae's reasoning for contemplating a move a "couple of years ago" was to play in a youthful side that was building from the ground up. That thought hasn't changed leading into 2026.
"The young group, to be honest," Macrae added.
"It's different to what Collingwood was at the time. I thought there was a lot of growth, and there still is. What the boys were last year compared to this year, especially. Obviously not being here, but they have grown a lot from all reports, and I'm really excited about the growth as well, which was probably the thing for me back then, and now."
Macrae's time at Collingwood was littered with frustration, dealing with a lack of senior opportunity and injury.
The 23-year-old didn't break through Craig McRae's team in 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery in May, which ultimately sealed his fate in the black and white.
"I probably didn't know what I was going to do if West Coast hadn't reached out. I feel like I've got a lot more left in my footy career, I'm only 23, and I feel I can contribute a lot," he said.
"It was a bit frustrating that shoulder. I did it pre-season, got back for a game and a little bit and did it again. I tried really hard to get back for the back end of the year, but just couldn't crack into the team.
"I probably knew I wasn't going to be at Collingwood (in 2026) when I got the surgery, so (it was about) putting my best foot forward for another club. It's in a good position now, and I'm really happy I did it.
"Reading between the lines, you could tell what was going to happen and some very direct conversations with my manager, which was good."
Macrae was among a trio of established AFL talents who joined the Eagles via the SSP, with Brisbane's Deven Robertson and Adelaide's Harry Schoenberg also receiving lifelines.
