Jordan Clark insists his relationship with former Geelong assistant coach Matthew Scarlett was amicable during his time at the club.
Clark, who was traded to Fremantle on Wednesday, says speculation of a falling out with Scarlett has been “overplayed”.
“My personal relationship with Matthew Scarlett, there’s no animosity between us two. We can easily have a conversation and get a long really well,” he told SEN Afternoons.
“Like I’ve said many times, he’s a really good coach and was a really good player at a very successful club.
“He runs a pretty tight ship back there and I had to go away and work on a few things in my game. He was one that was really honest with me at times.
“In the end, I moved up into the midfield and played a different role. I couldn’t quite break into the midfield at that time.
“I think that got a bit overplayed. Me and ‘Scarlo’s’ relationship is by no means toxic or anything like that.”
Clark also responded to reports claiming he recently had a heated phone conversation with Geelong list manager Stephen Wells.
“A few of my mates asked me about it and I said, ‘I actually wish I did hang up on him, it would have been a great story’,” the new Docker said.
“I didn’t hang up on ‘Wellsy’ and our conversation was far from heated. We had a very respectful and calm conversation, and it was more on the basis of Wellsy asking me how I was going and just checking in on me.
“When I saw that come out, I just laughed at it and thought, ‘Wowee’.”
“I’m not entirely sure how it came out and that’s what the club and my manager were doing a lot of work on yesterday, trying to get to the bottom of it, but they couldn’t somehow.
“Wellsy and I have a very good relationship and we left on pretty good terms.”
Clark, 20, gets a fresh start at Fremantle in his home state of Western Australia after playing 32 games across three seasons at Geelong, including 11 in 2021.