Although both players have not been traded directly for each other, they have swapped clubs, a few weeks apart, via the free agency mechanism. Rivers has joined Geelong as an unrestricted free agent and Gillies as a delisted free agent for the Demons.
Gillies said the fact that Rivers was an experienced player moving to an established team would benefit his career, while Gillies was excited by the prospect of having a long-term with an emerging list.
“For Jared, he’s going to a club where the window is still open and for me, I’m coming to Melbourne where there is an exciting future ahead,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“I think it’s the best thing for both of us really.
“I feel like I’ve done all of the training and have got the skills - I’ve just got to put it together and hopefully I’ll have a good year.”
Gillies joined Melbourne on Tuesday after he received an invite from the Demons on Friday to start training on Monday.
After having a team meeting on Tuesday morning, the 22-year-old caught up with backline coach Jade Rawlings. From there, Gillies had a meeting with coach Mark Neeld, who told him the good news about joining the Demons.
“It’s been awesome. I got the news at 1.30pm this arvo (Tuesday),” he said.
“I went into Neeldy’s office and he gave me the good news.”
“Everyone has been great. I can’t speak highly enough of how everyone has got around me and made me feel welcome.”
Gillies said “a couple of other clubs” sounded him out, but his path to Melbourne eventuated after his manager organised a meeting with the Demons “and it went from there”.
“I caught up with Jade Rawlings and Todd Viney in a second interview and then they invited me down to training. So it’s moved pretty quick,” he said.
After playing 13 matches with Geelong from 2009-12 and being part of the club’s 2012 VFL premiership, Gillies suspected he was on the move.
“I was out of contract and I had an inkling my time was up there,” he said.
“It’s been a long six or seven weeks since then. I’ve been trying to keep fit and I’ve been twiddling my thumbs at home, waiting for the phone to ring.
“But Melbourne has been great since they first got in contact with me.”
Gillies wasn’t part of Geelong’s 2009 and 2011 premierships, but he said he gained invaluable experience from the likes of Matthew Scarlett, Tom Harley and Harry Taylor. Although he relished the opportunity to be involved with the club, he said the team’s success meant it was difficult to break into the side.
“I can’t speak highly enough of those guys and how much they taught me,” he said.
“But I never played more than two games in a row, so I was never in the team - I was always on the edge.
“I loved my four years down there, but I was starved of opportunities and I feel I’ve got a lot more to give.”
