Hore earns second AFL opportunity

By Josh Huntly

Nov 27, 2023

Back where he belongs: Marty Hore on the burst during his debut season with Melbourne in 2019. Photo: AAP Photo by AAP

There’s smashing the door down, and then there’s the two-year window of footy where Marty Hore’s form could no longer be ignored.

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And on Monday, his comeback to the AFL was confirmed.

Hore’s long overdue reinstatement to the league is complete after being taken in the preseason supplementary selection period by Melbourne, two years after the Dees delisted the key defender from Leitchville-Gunbower following an ACL injury.

Since then, Hore has starred in the VFL for North Melbourne and then Williamstown, named club best-and-fairest at the Seagulls before earning his second consecutive VFL Team of the Year accolade.

The 27-year-old played 14 games for Melbourne after being taken with pick 56 in the 2018 AFL National Draft.

The club confirmed reports of Hore’s reinstatement on Monday, and although he admits he wasn’t expecting a call from Melbourne, he’s thrilled to have a second chance in a remarkable story of persistence.

“It caught me by surprise a bit,” Hore said to the Riv.

“They sort of tracked me over the last couple of years, and I’ve been able to put a few good seasons together where I’ve stayed fit and on the park, which is what I had trouble doing at the back end of the last Dees stint.

“They thought I was worthy of another opportunity, and I’m just over the moon to get another go.

“I was holding out the dream that I would get another chance because I didn’t finish how I wanted to last time with the knee injury.

“I think I’ve got lots of good footy in front of me.”

Hore’s bid for a rookie position fell short in 2022 during his time with North Melbourne, and despite thinking there wouldn’t be much interest from AFL clubs this season, he was primed for another tilt in 2024 after re-signing with Williamstown.

But a meeting with Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb and Dees coach Simon Goodwin saw Hore’s immediate future pulled back towards Gosch’s Paddock, where he had his first training back at the club on Monday.

“I was getting to the point where I’m 27 and I wouldn’t have too many clubs looking at me,” he said.

“It was getting to the point where it might have been over, but I did sign at Williamstown for next season, so I wanted to give it another crack.

“I thought I was playing pretty good footy at VFL level, so I wasn’t ready to come home just yet. I loved my last year at Williamstown. They’re a fantastic footy club.

“That was pretty enjoyable, and it reflected on my footy; I was having a lot of fun and stringing some good games together.