MELBOURNE is home for Viv Michie. Always was. Always will be.
So when the opportunity to return from Perth presented itself, the 22-year-old jumped at the chance.
"Being at Fremantle for a couple of years was good fun, but it was tough being away from family support and friends back home," Michie told AFL.com.au during Melbourne's community camp in Alice Springs last week.
When he sat down with Demons coach Paul Roos and football manager Josh Mahoney at the end of last season, he knew his decision to make the move back east was the right one.
The paperwork was drawn up and Michie was traded from Fremantle to Melbourne for a fourth-round draft selection (No. 54).
As the pre-season began, Melbourne had pencilled his name in to form part of the club's round one squad to face St Kilda.
By the end of the NAB Challenge series and Saturday afternoon's practice match against Hawthorn, Roos may well be using black ink for Michie's name on the teamsheet.
Playing mainly through the midfield and half-forward, Michie averaged 19 disposals and seven marks in Melbourne's opening pre-season games against Richmond and Geelong.
His ability to take the ball cleanly in congested situations and then distribute accurately to teammates was a feature of his play.
Michie has settled into his surroundings back home and his teammates have welcomed him into the fold.
Along with fellow recruits Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross and Dom Tyson, Michie will be relied upon to boost the Demons' on-ball unit dramatically in 2014.
There have already been signs of improvement early in the season.
"Hopefully we can build a deep midfield and really drive the team, as well as starting to build a winning culture," Michie said.
The main reason Michie sought a transfer to Melbourne was for greater opportunity on the football field.
Despite setting the WAFL alight in 2013, and often sitting on the cusp of selection for the Dockers, Michie cracked the senior side just once last season, against Geelong in round 14.
Lyon told him he needed to lift his endurance, after what was virtually a two-year stint on the sidelines with a lingering stress fracture to the navicular bone in his right foot.
The Dockers initially drafted Michie with pick No. 40 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, after a standout junior career with the Oakleigh Chargers.
From the time of his arrival, it was clear things were not going to go to plan.
"You do realise how quickly it can go by. When I first did it (the injury), I was hoping it wasn't going to be a serious lay-off," Michie said.
"But unfortunately I had a lot of problems with it which wasn't ideal.
"Being away from home probably amplifies it a bit and you certainly go through some rough times when you're not able to train or play."
Now injury free, Michie feels right at home as part of the Demons' midfield rotation.
"The injury was pretty devastating but it makes you appreciate when you are fit and able to play; there's nothing better," he said.
