St Kilda onballer Maverick Weller has called his delisting from AFL rivals Gold Coast a blessing in disguise.
Weller added that he did not believe in his coach during his time at the Suns, Guy McKenna, or the club.
His comments have come after signing a contract extension with the Saints until the end of the 2018 season.
Weller later tried to tone down the remarks, saying they were taken out of context.
His original quotes about the Suns appeared in a Saturday morning story on the AFL website.
Weller, a foundation Gold Coast player, joined the Saints after the Suns delisted him at the end of the 2013 season.
Gold Coast sacked McKenna after last season and he took up an assistant's role last month at Essendon.
"I had an up and down final year there, broke my shoulder which didn't help, then played a couple of really good games at the end of the year and they said 'nah, not good enough'," the website quoted Weller as saying.
"I was always going to ask for a trade anyway and get out of there because I didn't believe in the club, didn't believe in the coach and just wanted to get out of there to further my footy.
"It's been a blessing in disguise."
Later on Saturday, Weller spoke at a Saints media opportunity.
"I was just asked a question - how I felt about my last year at the Gold Coast Suns," he said.
"I just didn't enjoy it, just because of injury, I was a bit out of form and that sort of stuff.
"There was nothing spiteful towards Guy - I have the utmost respect for him and the club as well."
Share
