Geelong recruit Josh Caddy says Gold Coast had his body but not his heart during his two years with the AFL expansion club.
The Cats this week won a bidding war to recruit the 20-year-old midfielder, who was chased by several Victorian clubs after revealing his desire to return to his home state.
While he has shown little yet in his 24-game AFL career to justify the fierce interest, averaging just 15 touches per match with the Suns, Caddy said it was tough playing while longing to be elsewhere.
“Playing AFL footy is hard enough as it is, so I think your heart’s got to be completely in it,” he told reporters on Thursday.
“To be completely honest, my heart wasn’t completely in playing footy for the Gold Coast, just because I’d rather be living in Victoria.”
The Cats gave up the first round compensation pick they received for losing Gary Ablett to the Suns two years ago to snare Caddy, taken at No.7 in the 2010 draft.
the two clubs will also exchange some lower order picks.
Caddy said a visit to Geelong several weeks ago, when he was shown around by skipper Joel Selwood and Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel, helped convince him it was the place to be.
“They’re definitely two of the players I admire most in the competition. To get to know them and learn off them is a dream really,” he said.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
The AFL has an unusual code of loyalty by players - they cant merely up stakes and go for better opportunities, the way that, say, rugby league or association football players do. "Homesickness" seems to be the only acceptable excuse. so it gets used by players like Mitch Clark, who was sufficiently homesick for Fremantle that he signed for Melbourne. Im not reading much more into this than 'Unlike Bennell or Swallow, Caddy doesnt want to play at the Suns".
Breezy
Guest
I'm not agreeing with Mike, as just about everyone else seems to embrace the fact that football is a national sport. Just saying it's poor by Caddy and also Toy as well.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
So far, we're up to *one* failure of border control for the two new clubs. *One*. This is compared to, what, twenty five contract extensions ?
Breezy
Guest
It isn't good. Everyone is different I guess, but I don't really understand 20 year olds saying they are homesick. Especially when they have the opportunity to travel back to Victoria 7 or 8 times during the season, then they can go home after the season, family and friends can visit them during the season. The Gold Coast is not exactly the worst place to live either.
Mike
Guest
Fancy the kid saying his heart wasn't in it at the Suns. That dosen't auger well for the expansion sides down the track. It only takes one or two players not having their "heart" in it to ruin the culture and morale at the entire club.