St Kilda midfielder Hunter Clark has opened up on the off-season that had him linked with a move to North Melbourne and how it now feels as though he has "been drafted again" to the Saints.
Clark, who is contracted at Linton Street until the end of this season, saw his name tied to a potential move to North Melbourne as Brady Rawlings' list management team looked to pry the 23-year-old away from St Kilda.
Discussions between the two clubs would go back and forth throughout the trade window, with St Kilda standing their ground as offers for Clark would continue to be tabled by the Roos in the hope of further bolstering their list amid a busy window for Rawlings.
Negotiations would be revived on the final day of the exchange period with St Kilda open to moving on Clark, however it would cost North Melbourne Pick 3 in the National Draft.
The Saints were prepared to move on Clark and their own first-round pick, but their advances were shot down by North Melbourne and a deal would remain off the cards.
Five months on, Clark is preparing for his sixth season in the red, white and black in what will feel like a fresh start for the Mornington product.
Speaking to The Age on what was a chaotic off-season, with St Kilda's coaching changes adding to his own trade whirlwind, Clark said the experience all came as a shock.
"It was a bit different, nothing I had ever experienced or really thought I would ever have to experience," Clark said.
"It all came around pretty quickly. I wasn't too sure what was going to happen, but I was stoked to still be at St Kilda.
"All the new coaches that have come in have given me a fresh start as well. I have loved the new change at the club.
"I got the clean start without leaving the club. I didn't even think about needing to change club, stuff came out all of a sudden. With the new coaches I feel like I have been drafted again.”
While still at the Saints for 2023, Clark will again be faced with discussions surrounding his future as his contract reaches its cessation at season's end.
Primed for more midfield action this year after spending large portions of his younger years as a defender, Clark will have his eyes on a breakout season for the Saints under new senior coach Ross Lyon.
A 24-disposal and four-clearance effort against Essendon last Friday was an early sign of what could be in store for Clark this season, with Lyon set to shuffle his midfield pack around.
Already without Jack Billings, Dan McKenzie and Zak Jones for Round 1 due to injury, while Seb Ross and Marcus Windhager are also in some doubt with ailments of their own, St Kilda's midfield will take an intriguing shape when they go head-to-head with Fremantle's engine room in Round 1.
Clark believes he's ready to step up to the plate and be a key contributor in the middle of the field for Lyon, with a promising pre-season buoying his prospects for the year ahead.
"It just feels like a fresh start," Clark added. "I'm feeling good."
St Kilda will host Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, March 19 to open their new campaign under Lyon.
