Andrew Hoole admits his career is in limbo but he hopes a stint back where it all began will offer him a fresh start on and off the pitch.
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The 2013-14 Jets A-League player of the season returned to Broadmeadow colours last Sunday in a scoreless draw with Edgeworth in round 12 of the Northern NSW NPL.
The 25-year-old, who has played 137 A-League games across stints with Newcastle, Sydney and Central Coast, was a shock signing for Magic immediately after his Mariners contract ended.
Hoole remains hopeful of a new deal at Central Coast, and said there had been some interest from overseas, but nothing was on the table.
"I don't have any offers so if I just sit there for six weeks doing nothing, it's not helping me," Hoole said.
"The Mariners are not out of the equation. That is still 50-50 and I think it will be a few weeks before anything is concrete or not there."
The ex-Australian under 20 and 23 representative had been keeping fit with Magic, where he debuted in 2011, before he approached coach and former Jets teammate Ruben Zadkovich about playing. Many former teammates, including brother Matt are still at the club and his father, Paul, is manager.
Hoole hopes to help the club chase trophies while also sparking his love of the game again after back-to-back wooden spoons at the Mariners.
"The biggest thing was just to enjoy it again," he said. "At the highest level in Australia, there's always so much pressure, on and off the field.
"I think coming back to Broadmeadow is a good move. I don't know how long I'll be there for. It's hard to say, but the main thing was just to enjoy it and be in an environment where I know a lot of the boys.
"Obviously these past two years at the Central Coast, we've come rock bottom and people don't understand how much it does affect you.
"In everyday life, even just sitting in a cafe after we lose 4-1 or 5-1 or whatever, you are constantly thinking about it. It's not a good place to be in. It even got to the point last year where I was embarrassed to even speak to my family."
Hoole could command at least four times more a game in interstate NPL leagues but said "I didn't even think about moving".
"It's a great environment here, especially with Rubes, who will look after me and who has my best interests at heart," he said.
As for a potential third stint at the Jets, Hoole said: "I would love to one day come back to this club, but I just don't know. I haven't spoken to them and I'm not thinking about it at all. I just want to play well at Magic."
The local product has been a regular target for Jets fans since his move to rivals Central Coast in 2017. Before signing, Hoole, who hoped to eventually get a deal in Europe, could not come to an agreement over a transfer fee clause with Newcastle, who then withdrew their offer.
References to Europe have since been common in F3 Derby banter from Jets fans.
"I laugh about it now, but at the start I didn't," he said. "Any young player would want to go overseas and play. The opportunity was there but it didn't happen.
"Obviously you'd want to do it, but I never came out and said I want to leave Australia or I'm better than this environment. I was never like that."
He said he had matured and learned from his mistakes, but he was determined to keep improving. Body language was one area he was working on at Magic.
"It's hard because the way I walk around in games is just the way I walk, but it looks like I don't care," he said.
"It's actually the complete opposite. In every game, when I finish, if I haven't affected the game, I take it personally. I've always worked hard and given 110 per cent."
"Even the game on the weekend. I hadn't trained or played but I wanted to affect the game more, to create a chance or score.
"It's hard to put my finger on it exactly but I feel a little bit that I have [been misunderstood]."
Hoole said it was difficult as a young starting player at a struggling Jets side early in his career but "I've matured a lot since I was there before, on and off the field".
"I don't really worry about the little things anymore.
"Remembering back, in training sessions when someone did something wrong, I used to get really angry and say things, but I used to say it the wrong way.
"Now I say it in a better way and sometimes I feel it's not even necessary, whereas before I used to just say it straight away."
For the moment, Hoole was focused on helping Magic, who take on Edgeworth in the FFA Cup on Saturday.
"I just want to give a bit back in terms of winning games and being successful because that's the main goal," he said.
"If I can help do that, I'll be happy.
"And at the Mariners I always take time to give advice to youth players coming in, so I'd like to do that here as well."
Zadkovich said Hoole was a good person who just wanted to do better, and the coach believed he had plenty more to offer at A-League level.
"Hooley is showing it's not about the money for him," Zadkovich said.
"He's 25, he's got his best years ahead of him, so if he gets into the right environment with the right coaching and management, plus what he's learned from the mistakes he's made - if you add it all up, you get a pretty experienced and talented player."
