Collingwood defender Darcy Moore has revealed he was made aware of reports linking him to Richmond by a homeless man on Smith Street.
Moore, who is out of contract at season’s end, told SEN’s Bob and Andy he googled his own name to find out what the man was talking about.
“It doesn’t really affect me much on a personal level (the speculation) other than you start walking down the street and you get people telling you not to leave,” Moore said.
“That was actually how I found out about it (Richmond rumours); I was walking down Smith Street … there’s a bloke there who sleeps rough on Smith Street and he actually yelled out to me, ‘Don’t go and bloody play for Richmond!’ and I was like, ‘Oh god’.
“And then I’ve got to go pull out my phone and google myself and work out what the hell he is talking about.
“It happens basically every time I come out of contract. I get spotted in a different suburb and then all of a sudden I’m getting traded. It’s something that I’m used to.”
Moore, 24, says negotiations with Collingwood are going “really smoothly” and is optimistic a deal will be done soon.
“I’m someone that likes to be involved (in contract negotiations),” he said.
“Obviously, these decisions require a lot of thought and you have to consider a lot of different areas of your life and your career.
“In this particular situation, the club has had a lot to work through this pre-season. I’m pretty open about it and not really in a hurry and from all reports the process is going really smoothly with the club.
"I’m sure it will happen in no time.”
Moore will line up for Victoria in Friday night’s State of Origin bushfire relief match against the All-Stars.
Listen to Darcy Moore's chat's chat on SEN's Bob and Andy in the player below