Zach Merrett finally got his wish on Monday as he was traded from boyhood club Essendon to rivals Hawthorn.
The star midfielder is fresh off his seventh best-and-fairest win, 12 months on from when he first requested a trade to the Hawks.
The deal got done on the first day of this year's trade period. Merrett told Hawthorn Media that he can't wait to get started in the brown and gold.
"It was a really hard decision (to leave the Bombers). It was something I weighed up for six to nine months," Merrett said.
"It felt like Hawthorn was going to be the best place going forward for me and my family to keep achieving what I wanted to achieve out of footy.
"It was something I pursued last year and to be here 12 months later officially is a very exciting time. But I also have so much respect and love for Essendon as well. It is a unique feeling."
Merrett will slot into a Hawthorn side that was one goal away from its first Grand Final since 2015.
The Hawks midfield was critiqued pre-season, but performed better than expected with the likes of Jai Newcombe, Will Day, Josh Ward, Cameron Mackenzie and Conor Nash impressing.
Merrett, 31, said there will be some familiar faces at the club when he rocks up to day one of pre-season training.
"Obviously, I know Massimo (D'Ambrosio) from our time at Essendon together. I played a little bit of junior footy with Jarman Impey and Karl Amon so familiar with a few of the boys," he said.
"Im really keen to get stuck in and meet all the boys and get to know them as quick as I can and hopefully be a strong leader for those boys and add to what they have grown on over the last three or four years."
Hawthorn head of development Daniel Giansiracusa was formerly an assistant coach at Essendon. Merrett said Giansiracusa helped evolve his game.
"It is funny that Gia and I are back together. For three years we worked on trying to be the most flexible player in the competition, being able to play a number of different roles," he said.
"I have no preconceived ideas with Sam (on where I will play). I think we are going to be pretty open-minded to what that can look like.
"There is obviously so many incredible players out there for the Hawks, so wherever it is I'll make sure I make that work whether that is back, forward, mid or wing."
