St Kilda captain Jack Steele has looked back on the moment he landed at the Saints from GWS in late 2016.
Steele was traded to St Kilda in exchange for a future second-round pick, a move he never wanted such was his desire to stay with the Giants.
The 26-year-old has reflected on the time he walked into GWS coach Leon Cameron's office, at a stage where contract discussions were reaching a crossroad, and emotionally pleaded to remain on their list.
Speaking with Dylan Buckley on his podcast Dyl and Friends, Steele revealed that he was “gutted” to leave the Giants especially when there were current players on the list that were planning to leave and return to Melbourne.
“I was gutted, I went into Leon’s office mid-week when things were coming to a close where I needed to make my decision and I remember just crying in front of Leon saying, ‘mate, I want to be here,” Steele said.
“I knew there were others that were planning on leaving when their current deal was done, they were already talking about getting back to Melbourne and I just never understood why they wouldn’t want to sign someone that wants to be there.
“I think I was the only person that was from the area at the time, I had family in Sydney and no one else had family in Sydney, I just felt I had a great network there and it was perfect for me.
“I just never really wrapped my head around why they wouldn’t want to keep someone that wants to be there.”
Since the trade, Steele has evolved into one of the best players in the competition, describing the move as the “best decision” he’s ever made.
“In hindsight, it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” he added.
“That’s what I felt I needed all along, just a crack at the level, and if I did play one or two games, to have just a bit of faith in me to get going a bit.
“That’s the one thing I struggled with the whole time (at the Giants), you couldn’t get a rhythm, you couldn’t find form so that was one benefit.
“I was never sour towards anyone at the Giants. At the end of the day, it’s a business, you’ve got to think that they’re trying to win games of football and if they sign someone else in front of me, they're doing what they can.
“Brett Ratten was the one that gave me a great opportunity at the Saints, he said to me, ‘mate, I think you’re a great player and I’m going to let you off the leash and see how you go’.
“That belief in me allowed me to go out and play footy. The belief that I never really had in myself came out.”
Steele, who has won two Trevor Barker Awards, signed a five-year contract extension to commit to the club until 2027 on the back of a stellar two years.
He finished equal third in the 2020 Brownlow and fifth in 2021 in a campaign where he averaged 30 disposals, five inside 50s and six clearances - all career highs.
Catch the full Dyl & Friends podcast here.