24 players who returned to their original club after playing elsewhere

Star ruckman Luke Jackson has been embroiled in persistent trade speculation that he may want to return to where his AFL career started.

Jackson was drafted by Melbourne and was a significant factor in the club ending its 57-year premiership drought in 2021.

Hailing from Western Australia, there was always a pull back home, and fortunately for the 2021 Rising Star, clubs were willing to accommodate.

Fremantle secured the deal for Jackson ahead of the 2023 campaign, but in recent months, reports have indicated that a "fresh" start could be on the agenda.

And the Demons are more than willing to facilitate that.

If Jackson were to head back to Melbourne, he wouldn't be the first player to do so in the competition, with over 20 names repurposing the phrase 'back to the future'.

Hawthorn's Jack Gunston is the only player on the list who is still active, returning to Hawthorn after 12 months in Brisbane colours.

Gary Ablett Jr. was the marquee signing of Gold Coast when they entered the league in 2011, but a homecoming felt right when he donned the Geelong hoops again in 2018.

Ruckman Carl Ditterich couldn't decide between St Kilda and Melbourne, bouncing between the two clubs on three occasions between 1963 and 1980.

Ironically, Fremantle features the most in this list, with the club involved in seven players' careers, whether it be the home base or merely someone just passing through.

GWS and West Coast are yet to feature in the illustrious list.

Players who returned to their original club after playing elsewhere

Player	Original Club	Secondary Club
Aaron Lord	Geelong	Hawthorn
Adam McPhee	Essendon	Fremantle
Brad Wira	Fremantle	Western Bulldogs
Brett Montgomery	Western Bulldogs	Port Adelaide
Carl Ditterich*	St Kilda	Melbourne
Chris Heffernan	Essendon	Melbourne
Chris Tarrant	Collingwood	Fremantle
Corey McKernan	North Melbourne	Carlton
Daniel Pratt	North Melbourne	Brisbane
David Cloke	Richmond	Collingwood
Dayne Beams	Collingwood	Brisbane
Eddie Betts	Carlton	Adelaide
Gary Ablett Jr.	Geelong	Gold Coast
Heath Black	Fremantle	St Kilda
Jack Gunston	Hawthorn	Brisbane
John Barnes	Essendon	Geelong
Josh Carr	Port Adelaide	Fremantle
Justin Murphy	Carlton	Geelong
Nathan Krakouer	Port Adelaide	Gold Coast
Paul Salmon	Essendon	Hawthorn
Peter Bell	Fremantle	North Melbourne
Trent Croad	Hawthorn	Fremantle
Wawrick Capper	Sydney	Brisbane Bears
Zac Smith	Gold Coast	Geelong

*Played for both listed clubs twice.