Sturt Football Club recruits former junior Dean Gore for 2019 SANFL season
His career has been dictated by the blockbuster deal to get Patrick Dangerfield to Geelong and a serious knee injury, now a former Crow has chosen to return home to the Double Blues.
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The big moments in Dean Gore’s football career to date have been decided out of his control.
But a fresh start at an old home is what the former Adelaide and Geelong midfielder says he needs after an unpredictable football journey.
Gore has signed on for the 2020 season at Sturt – the place that first propelled him to the AFL.
The 23-year-old says he “couldn’t be more excited” on a return to the Double Blues.
“I caught up with (coach) Nathan Grima and (football manager) Chris Trapp earlier in the week and I love their values, how they see the game and how they see the club going forward,” Gore said.
“I wanted to be a part of that.”
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Gore came through the ranks at Sturt before he was selected by Geelong with pick No.55 in the 2014 draft.
But his time at Kardinia Park would last just one season before being thrown into the blockbuster deal to get superstar Patrick Dangerfield from Adelaide to the Cats.
“The trade was something I really wasn’t expecting – I was contracted at Geelong for another two seasons,” says Gore, who grew up on a 23-acre farm just outside Hahndorf.
“It didn’t cross my mind until I started getting phone calls and then it all just happened in a matter of days.
“But it’s part of the AFL industry and every player has to be prepared for it in some capacity.
“As a 19-year-old you’re not really expecting it but that’s just how the cookie crumbles.”
Two years with the Crows ended after the 2017 season without an AFL appearance and Gore then returned to Geelong’s VFL side to have another crack at the top level.
He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in an internal trial and missed all of 2018 before hand and finger injuries interrupted the recent season.
“After getting delisted it’s a pretty tough time as a 21-year-old, all you wanted to do was play AFL football and then it’s over,” he says.
“Then you do your knee.
“I learnt a lot in that year off, that there’s more to life than football and learnt what I really value in terms of family, friends and things outside of football.”
Gore arrives at Unley Oval similar in some ways to when he left – a tough inside midfielder – but with a different perspective.
His return is welcome news to the Double Blues faithful after the high-profile departures of premiership players Aidan Riley, Jack Stephens, Fraser Evans and John Greenslade.
In particular, Gore’s ability on the inside is handy cover for losing the bash and crash style of Riley.
“Some important players have left the club at the end of the season and there’s a little bit of change,” he says.
“I think it’s going to be a very exciting time at Sturt in the next few years.”
patrick.keam@news.com.au