There was shock, disbelief even, from teammates when reports declared Brisbane's star man Lachie Neale wanted out.
The man himself admits he was left scrambling but, still at Brisbane and in career-best condition, the Brownlow Medallist has confidently and calmly defended his actions ahead of the 2022 AFL season.
"I'd had some minor discussions to my family and wife about it," he told AAP of his potential move back to Fremantle in his first interview since being forced to confirm his future at the Gabba last September.
Neale had left the Dockers for Brisbane on a five-year deal after the 2018 season, finishing third then first in Brownlow voting and guiding the Lions to three-straight top-four finishes.
After an injury-plagued 2021 season he was unimpressed by allegations of duplicitous behaviour when forced to front up to the club, following reports of a contract-breaking move back west.
But with a child on the way and his West Australian wife separated from family due to COVID-19 border restrictions, he said it was an inevitable consideration.
"Guys would be lying if they said they'd never spoken about their future and what it looks like," he told AAP.
"That's what I was doing and I'll never apologise for looking out for my family and what's best.
"But at the end of the day we decided to stay in Brissie, so we clearly hadn't made the decision, it was just a discussion.
"We're still here and happy ... it was a bit of a weird time and it (becoming public) probably just rushed the process.
"The way it came out, I would have liked to have spoken to the club but didn't want to do that as I didn't feel it was an issue at that time and we weren't at that point yet with anything to request."
Brisbane had regularly leaked key personnel before Neale's arrival, which steadied the ship and brought immediate success.
That's why the idea of him leaving caught his tight-knit teammates so off guard.
"I wasn't expecting it and neither was anyone else," star small forward Charlie Cameron told AAP.
"But he's got a young family now and you've got to respect that."
"I chatted to him; he is happy and fit ... up there with the top runners in the group.
"It shows that that little thing, not a setback but a shock ... he wanted to repay the club.
"To come back fit and firing after his injuries last year, he's going to have a good year and show a few people he can get back to his best."
Neale, 28, agrees that the episode served as a timely individual reset as the club again eyes a premiership after three disappointing finals exits.
Criticism of their 1-5 finals record over the last three seasons grates on coach Chris Fagan, who, like Neale, views it as simplistic and unfair.
"If we won against the Bulldogs last season (instead of losing by one point in a semi-final) then lost a prelim, does it enhance our reputation that much? Probably not," Neale said.
"Even if we had made the final and lost, we'd still be in the same position. Regardless, it's a hungry group."
Neale left Fremantle with a year to go on his contract but insists "unless Brisbane get rid of me" he'll at least see out his deal, which expires after next season.
"Who knows what's going to happen down the track, but I'm fully committed to what we're doing here at the moment and we've got a pretty special group," he said.
"I want to win a premiership in a Lions guernsey.
"(Injuries) didn't help my performance last year but the team still went pretty well.
"We didn't play how we wanted to in finals, but that's what this year is all about.
"There's always next year and hopefully this year's ours."
