That feeling has pulled at Aliyah Dunn for the past couple of seasons and the thought of returning to the Southern Steel has always lingered.
Everything has finally fallen into place for Dunn, who has signed with the Steel for the 2025 season.
Dunn, 24, was "pretty excited" to join the Steel and the chance to be closer to her family in Invercargill was too good to pass up.
"That was always in the back of my mind every season that I’ve had for the past couple of years now," Dunn told the Otago Daily Times.
"Being home around family was pretty important to me, especially because my nans are getting a lot older now.
"I think there’s huge opportunities down here to really build a good culture, a good team up."
After debuting for the Steel as a replacement player in 2017, Dunn plied her trade at the Central Pulse where she won three titles in her five years before moving to the Tactix last year.
Dunn, who went to Verdon College, joins what is shaping to be an exciting Steel roster for 2025 with new additions Kimiora Poi and Carys Stythe, and returning players Kate and Georgia Heffernan, Renee Savai’inaea, Serina Daunakamakama and Summer Temu.
Playing alongside Georgia Heffernan — "I do remember playing her and her sister at high school when we were way younger" — out in front gave them an opportunity to create a style that benefited them both and grow alongside young Temu, whose sister, Elle, played with Dunn at the Pulse.
Linking up with Poi, who Dunn has formed a good connection with away from the court, at a new franchise was also exciting.
"We’ve only actually played together one proper season," Dunn said.
"It’ll be cool to continue to build that because I don’t think we’ve reached what our proper potential is in that combination."
It has been a different season for Dunn, who spent most of the season sidelined with a knee injury.
While she returned to the court late in the season, Dunn could still see the silver linings of seeing things from a different angle.
"I know injuries are tough ... but I didn’t realise how tough.
"It was a big learning curve, but definitely an experience I’m grateful for.
"When we play sport, injuries are part of the package, so you’ve kind of got to learn how to deal with it and have that experience.
"But it makes me excited to be able to play again in the future."
That future is very much with the Steel under new coach Wendy Frew, who helped coach Invercargill sessions when Dunn represented them at the national open championships last year.
Frew was a "hustler" throughout her career and Dunn knew she would bring that attitude to making sure the Steel were well polished on the basics.
Dunn also hoped she could pass on the knowledge she soaked up from the Pulse, and the Tactix, to help her new team-mates.
The Steel have had a rough time winning only two games in the past two seasons — but Dunn felt they had been hard done by with injuries.
Helping turn that around added a fire in the belly.
"It’s going to be hugely exciting, especially for the region.
"Because Steel fans are like die hard, man.
"They love their team — it’ll be real cool to give back to them."
Playing in front of those "die hard" southern fans instead of being on the opposition? Priceless.
"It definitely will feel a lot better.
"It’ll be so cool to actually be able to play for them and actually have them cheering for our team."
