"Fun."
That's the word that permeated through the ears of those listening Melbourne recruit Jack Steele following the club's surprising victory over Gold Coast on Easter Sunday.
But it's not a feeling Steele has experienced over the past few years.
"That's something I told ‘Kingy' I wanted to do," Steele said on 3AW after the win.
"I hadn't really enjoyed footy my last two years. He just said he wants to help me get back to my best playing and really find the love of the game again.
"That was really the message, it was pretty simple. So far, so good."
Steele was unceremoniously traded away from St Kilda, as a club captain, with two years remaining on his contract.
The Saints were heading in a new direction, and welcomed Sam Flanders amid a flurry of youngsters who are waiting to take their opportunity.
There was no room for Steele.
But the powerbrokers at Melbourne, who were the same ones that worked with Gold Coast and GWS to ship off premiership duo Christian Petracca (and his lucrative contract) and Clayton Oliver, saw an opportunity. They never thought it'd work as well as it has.
A throwaway 2027 Round 3 Pick was enough for St Kilda to jump at the opportunity to balance its list.
New coach Steven King said he wanted to add speed, dare and excitement to his team, but his midfield needed experience and support, which is something Steele has shouldered for the better part of his career, especially the past five years as the Saints skipper.
On Sunday against the Suns, the 30-year-old produced his third highest rated game in his career, recording 24.4 player rating points (according to WheeloRatings).
Steele was tasked with hindering reigning Brownlow Medallist Matt Rowell, a role he has become accustomed to over his career.
The Demons recruit gathered 26 disposals (at 92.3 percent efficiency), 11 clearances, eight tackles and seven score involvements. Rowell had 13 possessions and four clearances upon his return from injury.
He's playing the perfect complimentary piece to Kysaiah Pickett, Caleb Windsor, Harvey Langford and Tom Sparrow.
But as Steele put it, his time at Melbourne has simply been "fun".
"I'm loving it," he told Channel Seven.
"We're winning games of footy, which is always fun. The brand we're playing is so fun and exciting to be a part of.
"I'm loving it. The brand we're playing is so fun and exciting to be a part of."
🗣️ Jack Steele with Chad Wingard post-game pic.twitter.com/yXc8tYNUaD
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 5, 2026
"We're playing at the 'G, which is also pretty fun too. We weren't really too sure how many fans we're going to be here today, because it's Easter Sunday, but they showed out for us. It's been such a fun day for footy."
Captain Max Gawn reiterated King's message regarding the freedom his players have.
"Without making Kingy's game plan sound extremely easy, we basically have a license with the ball," Gawn said on ABC.
"We've been coached a method that ideally we would like to play by, but the power is in our hands.
"When we have the ball, no matter what I do, Kingy's not going to yell at me, which is kind of a cool spot to be."
And Steele is living that.
