HAWTHORN wingman Bradley Hill says it was a weight off his shoulders when his meeting with Fremantle coach Ross Lyon about a potential return home to Perth became public last week.
The West Australian will wait until the end of the season to make a decision on his future, after a quest for a fourth consecutive flag is complete.
Hill played his best game of the season, with 31 disposals against Richmond, after Lyon and Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed the Dockers' discussions last week.
"I haven't made any decisions on what I'm going to do," Hill told Channel Nine on Monday.
"I'm still just focusing on playing for Hawthorn, keep playing the best I can to help out the team. Whatever goes on after that we'll work out after the season's done.
"It probably took a little bit of weight off my shoulders (when the meeting became public)."
Clarkson admitted over the weekend he had been aware of the Dockers' interest in Hill for "five or six weeks" and knew that the club had spoken to the 23-year-old.
Hill said he was "a bit nervous" telling players including Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne of the discussions with Fremantle.
"Clarko brought me in with the leaders, they spoke to me and they were very good about the way they said it to me, made me feel a bit more comfortable," Hill said.
"They're a great club and they helped me a lot.
"They've done a lot for me over the time, (now I want to) repay them with playing some good footy."
The meeting with Lyon came at the North Coogee home of Hill's brother, Fremantle star Stephen, over a club-approved return west in Hawthorn's 10-day break before the match against the Tigers.
Hill put no timeline on his decision to move back with family.
"It would be great (to play with Stephen) but I haven't really thought about it too much yet," he said.
"I'll make a decision. It might be next year or in a couple years but I've just got to keep on focusing on this season.
"I'm at Hawthorn now, I could still be here next year and years to come. Hopefully I can keep being consistent over the next five or six weeks or whatever there is left."
Hill admitted to early homesickness on being drafted at pick 33 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft before winning three premierships with the Hawks.