Being out of contract at the end of a season in which the team has performed terribly is the worst possible timing when you are 26 years old, and neither the hope for the future nor the avuncular favourite son.
Maverick Weller fell victim to St Kilda's poor season and niggling injuries that kept him at the fringe of the team this year.
Determined to kick on: Maverick Weller in action for St Kilda.Credit:Wayne Ludbey
The forward and midfielder who began his career at the Gold Coast Suns was cut by the Saints after five seasons, but remains hopeful the move does not signal the end of his AFL journey.
"I was a bit surprised to be honest, I want to have another go at it," Weller said.
"I am at that phase now where I am talking to other clubs, and there's a bit of interest, but until you get a firm commitment in writing there are no guarantees.
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"A lot of people (at clubs) have been surprised by St Kilda's decision but no one is giving guarantees yet.
"I just want to play as much footy as I can at the highest level and I don't care what role that is."
Weller feels that he suffered from the team's form, and sacrificing his own game for others.
"I think I have a lot of good footy left in me, I had a couple of little injuries this year and I think the collective form of the team affected (my situation)," he said.
"I think I have a lot to offer a team, especially one knocking on the door of the finals where I can go in and just play a role and not worry about getting the most out of the other blokes, which is the role I played at St Kilda this year.
"If I can go somewhere and just play a role and contribute I think I can offer something."
Weller played 89 games for the Saints, including just 13 this year, after crossing from the Suns at the end of 2013. He played 32 games with the Suns.
"I had a bit of an issue with my ankle last year but I am over that. I had a couple of little things this year, corks and a concussion at training and then you have to come back through the VFL each time, so it was an interrupted season."
His brother Lachie moved from the Dockers to the Suns at the end of last season. Lachie said recently he was keen for his brother to join him back on the Gold Coast.
The delisted free agency period opens November 1. Weller is among the players hopeful of a club reaching out to offer him a chance.
Michael Gleeson is a senior AFL football writer and Fairfax Media's athletics writer. He also covers tennis, cricket and other sports. He won the AFL Players Association Grant Hattam Trophy for excellence in journalism for the second time in 2014 and was a finalist in the 2014 Quill Awards for best sports feature writer. He was also a finalist in the 2014 Australian Sports Commission awards for his work on Boots for Kids. He is a winner of the AFL Media Association award for best news reporter and a two-time winner of Cricket Victorias cricket writer of the year award. Michael has covered multiple Olympics, Commonwealth Games and world championships and 15 seasons of AFL, He has also written seven books – five sports books and two true crime books.
