In March, he made the decision to skip the Suns' final practice match of the pre-season – a clash with Melbourne at Southport – to travel to Tasmania for his brother's wedding.
He was best man, and making the trip south to his native state wasn't a tough choice for Weller.
But, it turned out missing that game would contribute to why he only managed four senior games for the season.
"It probably took myself out of selection in the first round," Weller told AFL.com.au this week after being rookie listed by St Kilda.
"In the end, I was the first emergency and went and played reserves and 10 minutes into the first quarter I got cleaned up and broke my scapula.
"That was another unfortunate event and then I just missed the first half of the season."
The injury sustained in the NEAFL meant he didn't play again until round eight, and then needed six weeks before being considered for a senior game.
He played against Adelaide at Metricon Stadium and collected 15 disposals but was dropped the following week and restored to first emergency status.
"I was just finding my fitness and putting my hand up for selection, which was probably left too late," he said.
"I only ended up playing three more games."
Weller had an inkling his time was up at the Suns. He had been one of their access selections in 2010 as a 17-year-old but he was starting to feel like there wasn't much further he could go with them.
The fact the Suns' expanded list, as part of their establishment concessions, had to be reduced before next season - and they had a plethora of midfielders - also worried him.
Still, it hurt when he realised the Suns were also thinking it was time for him to move on.
"It was a bit of a shock, I suppose. It was out of my control; all I could worry about was playing good footy and in my last game, I played a good game and I was interested to see what they were going to say," he said.
"But in my mind, I was probably ready to move on anyway.
"I'd gone to the club and asked for a trade and they sort of delisted me in goodwill, really, because then I could have signed with any club as a delisted free agent, which wasn't the case in the end."
He left the Suns with "no beef" and some terrific memories of the club that gave him his AFL start.
He had lived on the Gold Coast with his parents, Judith and Darren, who moved from Tasmania after he was drafted.
But he knew he had more to give, and when St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen and list manager Ameet Bains called and asked if he'd like to train with the Saints ahead of the NAB AFL Rookie Draft, he jumped at the chance.
He'd kept himself in good shape after round 23 and moved to Melbourne where his manager Tim Hazell put him up.
On November 6, he started training with the players who would become his new teammates on Wednesday when the Saints read out his name at No.20 in the NAB AFL Rookie draft.
He made an immediate impression, placing himself at the front of the pack in running drills and showing a fierce desire on the track.
"Maverick has impressed everyone since he started at the club three weeks ago," Pelchen said.
"There's no doubt that his application to his training is first-class and he's a player we not only followed in 2013, but certainly some members of staff have known Maverick for three and four years.
"We were somewhat surprised he became available this year."
Weller didn't meet former Saints coach Scott Watters before he was sacked on November 1. All his dealings were with Pelchen and Bains before he started training shortly ahead of Alan Richardson's appointment.
Richardson spoke with Weller before the Saints went to the US last Tuesday for their Colorado altitude training camp and impressed the midfielder with his approach.
He then rang Weller from the States soon after Wednesday's rookie draft, welcoming him to the club.
Weller and fellow new rookie Eli Templeton left on Friday to join their teammates for the rest of the training camp, which has just under two weeks left.
When they get back, he'll move from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. He's got his eyes on the bayside suburb of Hampton but will leave the ultimate decision up to his girlfriend.
He's not sure if his parents will shift as well; they're pretty happy with their decision to trade Tasmania's weather for sunny Queensland and are established with their own business on the Coast.
While Weller might not find himself in line to play senior football right away at St Kilda, given his rookie status, he's simply thrilled to be given another chance at an AFL career.
"It didn't worry me where it was. I just wanted a foot in the door and I'll make it work now," Weller said.
"It's just good to get some clarity of where I'm going to be and now the hard work starts and the journey begins."
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
