But when Gold Coast-raised Sam Gilbert signed on the dotted line for St Kilda at the start of this month, it was a true gesture of loyalty in the face of expansion.
Many big AFL names have not signed on beyond 2010, knowing that their market price could soar with the Gold Coast in the game. But Gilbert did not want to mess around with the club he has called home for almost four years and signed on at least until the end of 2011.
"I never wanted to leave. I see the new team as a great thing for the Coast and I'm more than happy for them, but my home is here at St Kilda and I'd love to stay here as long as I can," Gilbert told saints.com.au.
But Gilbert's re-signing has not brought the rumour mill to a stop. Even has recently as this Thursday, there was a small article in a Gold Coast newspaper suggesting the team will be after him.
But Gilbert said the article had no substance.
"I haven't heard anything about it. I'm not worried about that. For that to happen, something would have to go wrong and at the moment I'm a Saints man and I want it to stay that way."
Gilbert grew up in Tweed Heads on the NSW side of the border but attended school in Palm Beach, and spent much of his youth hanging around the Gold Coast beaches.
But he is now comfortably settled in Melbourne suburb Elwood with Saints teammate Leigh Fisher and is playing the best football of his career, averaging 22.4 disposals per game in St Kilda's back half.
He has earned a reputation as an athletic tall player with the ability to lay a big tackle. He says he has always loved tackling, ever since his days as a junior rugby league player.
"I reckon it has a little bit to do with it. I grew up with rugby league. But I haven't done that many tackles this year compared to the midfielders and a lot of the forwards have laid a lot more tackles than me this year," he said.
"It lifts everyone and I know when I watch my tape I look at the tackles more than the possessions and I think most of the boys are doing that now. It is a good thing and something we are priding ourselves on."
Gilbert has played the majority of his career in the back half but seemed set for a change this year as he spent much of the summer learning the finer points of playing as a forward.
"I thought I might have got a sniff up there but as soon as Max went down I knew I'd be straight back to the backline," he said.
"I did the whole pre-season up forward so I know the setups and if I get thrown up there I'm more than happy to have a crack. With Kosi going down this week I don't know how they'll work it. I'm pretty sure I'll be down back but if I get the opportunity, I'll take it."
