A $1 million price tag being attached to your name sounds like a dream come true, but for Collingwood jet Beau McCreery it was all noise that threatened to derail his season.
The star forward has had an up-and-down year, much like the club itself. But he has found form at the right time of the season with the Pies sitting on the precipice of yet another finals campaign.
This year, McCreery has become a reported top target for the AFL's 19th club, Tasmania, which will enter the league in 2028. The Devils have a war chest to play with money-wise, and a contract worth $1 million a season was allegedly offered to McCreery to become a marquee signing for the Apple Isle club.
McCreery gave a candid response to Zero Hanger on how he believes the trade speculation and heavy price tag affected him on and off the field.
"All the stuff came out, and I've probably seen more of it than people think, and I've always flown under the radar really well, so I was pretty rattled when it all came out," McCreery told Zero Hanger.
"Seeing my name associated with one million bucks, it genuinely rattled me because I'd never seen that. I feel like I battled a little bit with it more than I thought I would have.
"I've still got another year of footy to play at Collingwood. I'd love to play here for the rest of my career, so right now it's not a worry about a contract for me; I'm just trying to enjoy my footy, enjoy off-field, and not worry about that sort of stuff."
The timing of the speculation around McCreery's future coincided, or more likely was a catalyst behind, a form slump for the 25-year-old.
During the midpoint of the season, McCreery's disposal averages dropped. But it was his scoreboard impact that took the biggest hit.
He kicked one goal in nine games and only had three scoring shots during that period. The usually unflustered McCreery said it was the first time in his career he lost track of himself as a footballer.
"I feel like I started off (the season) pretty good and I felt really happy with how I was going, and then I sort of battled with a fair form slump," he said.
"I've never felt like I've had a big slump like that as such, especially one that's so publicised. I felt like people were really starting to notice it; personally, felt like internally everyone's noticing, but I don't think they were.
"I think it was just me in my head. I feel like I struggled for a bit there, but I feel like I've grown a lot. It's probably four or five weeks where I was really struggling, and I sort of put everything in place with the coaches, and (Craig McCrae) was really open and honest with how I felt and how I felt I was playing.
"To come out on the other side of that, felt like it was really mature and I'm grateful that I - I wish I didn't go through it - but I'm grateful that I sort of did and came out on the other side, and I feel like I'm playing much better footy again."
Collingwood plays Western Bulldogs in the league's first-ever Wildcard Round final on Friday night.
Despite the big build-up, McCreery said that after a difficult 2026 season, football has gone back to being a nerve-free zone for him. The fleet-footed Magpie's pressure forward role works perfectly in a finals atmosphere.
While McCreery loves being part of the forward pack, he said he has his eyes set on more midfield time in the future after proving his potential against Hawthorn in Round 23 when he kicked 1.2, had 22 disposals, three clearances and 12 tackles.
"Yeah, 100 per cent, I'd love to play more mid," he said. "I'm pretty open and honest about that with the coaches, with anyone that asks about that. Sort of grew up in the midfield, and then with my pressure, I just sort of fell into the forward line, which I do also love.
"I feel like I can be quite damaging when I go into the midfield with my speed and power. Hopefully, I can keep tinkering away in there and keep building the trust for the boys to want me in there.
"I feel like Hawthorn is definitely a stepping stone for me in the right way. To be able to play that bit more of a mix full-time mid, gonna have to probably work on my fitness. It's a different type of running, stoppage to stoppage.
"Last preseason was sort of the whole goal behind that was to get fit for midfield. Because I've got my explosiveness sort of stuff there naturally. It's just more my tank.
"That was jeopardised with foot surgery, so I didn't have a whole preseason this year, so that's why it got put on the back burner again. I've been probably annoying all the coaches, trying to get in the mid.
"We obviously had a few injuries up forward, so I just had to play my role for the team. I feel like now there's a bit of an opportunity to play a bit of midfield, and yeah, I've been putting my hand up, and hopefully they'll keep letting me tinker away in there."
