Collingwood's Chris Mayne has revealed that his first season at the Holden Centre was so tough he would cry in his car moments before training.
The former Docker signed with Collingwood on a four-year deal worth a reported $2 million, soon debuting for the Magpies in 2017.
Mayne was dropped from Collingwood's first team in Round 4 of 2017 and played the rest of his debut season in the Pies' VFL side.
At the end of the 2017 season, rumours emerged that he would be moved on from Nathan Buckley's side with a return to Fremantle on the cards.
The Collingwood utility worked back into selection for Collingwood's Round 6 side in 2018, playing out the remainder of the Magpies season as one of their most consistent performers, including a strong performance in the Grand Final.
Mayne revealed to ABC Grandstand that a mixture of having just joining the club and unclear long-term relationships lead to difficulties coping with a difficult situation.
“It was tough. There were times I would rock up at the club — I got there early which I like to do — and I found it very difficult to get out of the car,” Mayne said.
“I would break down calling my fiancé saying, ‘What do I do?’, and she was just saying, ‘Don’t show it, keep believing in yourself and the short-term pain will be long-term gain’."
“I hadn’t had time to build the relationships and be part of the club." Mayne added.
“For me it was tough but I had mum, dad, my wife and there were little connections at the club getting stronger and in the end it worked out pretty well.”
Mayne has carried over his run of form under Buckley into 2019, reaching his 200th game in Round 4 against the Western Bulldogs before sustaining a fractured back in the first quarter.
The 30-year old said there is no set return date to football, but is currently expected to miss a few more weeks.
"When I copped the knee I could feel something towards my disc area and spoke to the docs and said I know it’s not a cork, it’s something a bit deeper,” he said.
“It’s not really a time frame but it’s improving each day and hopefully each day I will keep pushing it to see what I can do. Once it knits together you can push through the pain.”