After two years with the Adelaide Crows, Dean Gore feels like he is back home in Geelong colours.

Despite growing up in Adelaide, Gore passed up on the opportunity to continue his football in South Australia, choosing to return to the club that drafted him in 2014.

“Sturt was my club growing up so I was a chance to go back there but I had to weigh up the decision and decided to come to Geelong,” Gore said.

There were many reasons behind Gore’s return but the former Crow believes he needed a fresh start to reignite his love for the game.

“I was probably losing the passion for the game towards the end of last season so I just wanted to get back to loving training and loving being out there,” he said. 

“I hope to get back to enjoying footy and having fun with it while doing my best.”

The skilful midfielder finished third in the VFL Cats’ 2015 Best & Fairest and is a favourite among Geelong’s VFL fans.

After being traded by the Cats, Gore spent two years on the Adelaide senior list but failed to make his AFL debut before being delisted at the end of the 2017 season. 

The 21-year-old has many years of quality football ahead of him and his desire to play at the highest level still remains. 

“I definitely want to get back to the AFL and I think I’m still good enough to play senior football,” Gore said.

“I’ve got to put in the hard work and have a good year this year to get that opportunity.”

Seeing the likes of Tom Stewart get drafted out of the Cats’ VFL program and many other state footballers earn spots on AFL lists was a big factor in Gore’s decision to join the Cats.

“In the WAFL there were a few blokes (who were drafted) so it gives you a lot of hope but you’ve still got to go out and enjoy footy and have fun while doing the best you can,” he said.

Before being traded to the Crows in 2015, Gore spent one season in the Geelong system and still has numerous former teammates at the club. 

“It is good to be back in Geelong catching up with a lot of old mates and getting into the swing of things,” Gore said.

“I had good relationships with some players over here and it is a fresh start to enjoying football.”

The relationship with those players as well as the foundations he built with the Geelong coaching staff were big factors in Gore’s return to Kardinia Park.

“It was one of the big drives to come back over here and learn off all the coaches that I had good relationships with,” Gore said.

“There were plenty (of coaches) but the main two were probably Shane O’Bree and Nigel Lappin who I spent the most time with. 

“They were absolutely awesome so spending time with them again doing extra sessions and doing the fundamentals will help my game a lot and gives me great confidence going into what is hopefully a great 2018.”

Gore is a proven state footballer and showed his durability during his time with the Crows, playing every possible SANFL game (39 matches) over the past two seasons.

He showed his talents as an inside midfielder, finishing second at the club for total tackles two years running whilst recording the most smothers for the SANFL Crows in 2017.

Despite the impressive statistical feats, Gore was disappointed with his form last season.

“It was pretty poor, I thought my preseason was okay and then just had a slow start to the year but didn’t get going,” Gore said.

“I was trying my best and doing everything I could but I’m just excited to see what is in front of me and hopefully have a strong preseason and put my best foot forward for 2018.”

Gore does his best work as an inside midfielder but can also play down back or across half-forward and he believes that versatility is one of his biggest strengths.

“What I can bring is my flexibility to go down to half-back or half-forward and even those outside roles on the wing,” he said. 

“I think of the got that flexibility to keep on improving and it’s a strength in my game so I’ve got to use it.”

With the VFL Cats’ recruitment of former North Ballarat captain Luke Kiel, NEAFL MVP Jordan Keras and proven Geelong duo Tom Atkins and James Tsitas, there will be strong competition for midfield spots, but Gore looks forward to the challenge.

“It has been good fun training with those boys the last month or so, all good footballers in their own right so it has been good learning with them and hopefully we can play a bit of football together this year,” Gore said.

Not only is the Cats’ VFL list stronger in 2018 but it is a very young squad and Gore hopes his AFL experience will allow him to be a leader.

“It is a good bunch of boys and obviously a bit of a difference to the training I was doing last year,” he said.

“I feel like more of a leader out here using what I’ve learnt over the last few years in the AFL system off a lot of great players.

“Hopefully I can bring a few of those things here and help Geelong VFL come better this year.”

The VFL Cats will kick off their 2018 campaign with a series of practice matches beginning on March 11.