The GWS Giants' greatest ever player, Toby Greene, has provided an update on his future, courtesy of a weekly podcast spot.
On the Ausmerican Aces network's TFG Tuesdays show, Greene admitted to recent meetings with power brokers from Geelong and Essendon, as the 32-year-old weighs up where to spend his career's twilight years.
The support of extended family as Greene eyes more children with long-term partner Georgia Stirton is a major factor in his impending decision, he told co-hosts Tommy Sheridan and close friend and potential teammate, Jeremy Cameron.
“It's just family really. There's no doubt having family support, and wanting potentially to have more kids, life's a bit easier in Victoria," Greene said.
“I love the people, I love the Giants footy club - having success there would be the most fulfilling thing I could ever do in footy. That's pretty much what I'm wrestling with - I wouldn't have one bad word to say about the Giants, and I'm really passionate about getting the club to where I want it to go, but there's the family aspect.
"I want to have two or three kids, and it's a bit easier to do that down here, with family support. That's it in a nutshell.”
Geelong's ever-stable partnership - the one enjoyed by head coach Chris Scott and footy boss Andrew Mackie - again presented to Greene, in a casual, albeit serious, conversation.
“It was just with Scotty (Chris Scott) and (footy boss) Andrew Mackie. Just had a chat. I pretty much told them about where my head's at.
"We spoke about different things, different scenarios, and that's what it was. I already know everything about the place, "Jez" (Jeremy Cameron) is one of my best mates and I know a couple of people there, I know the lifestyle - I know all that stuff. Really casual, but still a serious conversation."
Greene, a childhood Bombers fan, also took a meeting with Essendon decision makers almost as a professional courtesy to Mark "Spike" McVeigh, the former Giants assistant, who recently won the head coaching position at the Hangar.
Greene was impressed by McVeigh's presentation, and by president Andrew Welsh's involvement.
“It was with Andrew Welsh, just at his apartment. They presented really well - the Bombers were really great," Greene said.
"Obviously “Spike's a good mate, and someone I've known for 10 years, since he's been at the Giants. The Bombers were never really something I'd ever thought about. They're in a different stage to where the Giants are, and where Geelong are, and I rate their really young talent - I reckon they'll be good in a couple of years, but that was how the meeting went. They presented amazingly well.
“I reckon Spike's a great motivator, a great uniter, and great for culture, so I hope he does really well.”
The Giants' games record holder remained tight-lipped about his potential leaning, revealing that further conversations which people he trusts are in order before a decision is made.
“I'll be sitting on it for a week," he said.
"I'll call lots of people I really trust and speak to them. I won't say everything I'm thinking on a podcast, but the people I call - I'll tell them everything. “This is the scenario, this is what it looks like, these are the contracts, what do you reckon?”"
Cameron reminisced on how much he grappled with his defection from the Giants to the Cats some six seasons ago. The two men have remained close since, with the lure of playing with his "best mate" again, rumoured to be a driving factor in Greene's potential move.
“I've always stood by that being the toughest decision of my life, and it still is," Cameron said.
