VETERAN forward Mitch Hahn says it was tough to digest that his AFL career was as good as over when the Western Bulldogs delisted him in November.
But given he had spent 11 years on the Dogs' senior list and was confident of a contract extension, it was just as hard for him to accept their offer to rejoin them as a mature-aged rookie.
The compromise from the Dogs was for Hahn to start a coaching apprenticeship at VFL affiliate Williamstown, although the 29-year-old also had to consider the significant salary cut.
"I still had to have a think about it. It wasn't set in concrete. I had to talk to Lana (his fiancée) about it and my family and have discussions with them," he said.
"Obviously you're not on the list. You still need someone to get injured and realistically, at the end of this year, it's going to be my last year anyway.
"It's only a one-year thing and that's what you have to weigh up as well.
"I'm a realist and I know at some stage footy does have to end, but the toughest thing was I didn't think my time was now," he added.
Hahn kept training with the club while he considered its offer and, after deciding to accept it, travelled to New Zealand for the Dogs' adventure camp during the week of the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
"It was different. I pretty much knew the Bulldogs were going to pick me up but there was obviously the possibility of someone else picking me up as well," he said.
"But no one had spoken to me and the Bulldogs were confident, otherwise they wouldn't have taken me on the camp.
"It was still a hard decision to make. In the end, I've been at the club for 11 years and I felt like I still had something to offer in terms of playing."
Hahn, who has had some coaching experience to date with TAC Cup club Western Jets and a local team in the western suburbs, wants to move into a development role once he's finished playing.
He will be able to work with the Dogs' youngsters when playing at Williamstown, and is keen to help interstate players get used to living in Melbourne.
In an extension of his own fate, he also wants to ensure that footballers have something to fall back on once their careers end.
"It's a unique situation and I'm thankful the club has given me the opportunity to be able to do the coaching as well as still have the opportunity to play," he said.
"If all goes well, there may still be a role for me at the Bulldogs at the end of the year.
"At the end of the day, you don't know how long footy is going to last. I'm a perfect example of that and I want to make sure the younger guys are doing something other than playing."
