The 23-year-old has been locked in the middle of a tug of war between the Roosters and Redan since November last year, when he first told the Roosters he no longer wished to play for them in 2015.

He concedes he should not have signed a contract to play for North Ballarat last year, but says all he wants from football is to play alongside his brother Damien and close friends at the Lions.

With the Ballarat Football League season just weeks away, Horbury said he was willing to go as far as a tribunal appeal with AFL Victoria in order to be released.

However, he hoped the situation would not reach that point.

“I just want to play back at my home club,” the star midfielder said.

“I’m just not into it as much as I used to be (at North) and I can’t commit to training three nights a week. I should not have signed the contract and I don’t blame North for wanting me to stick with it – it’s nothing against them.

“I knew they would push to try and keep me for a little bit, but I didn’t think it would get this far when I gave them plenty of notice.”

Horbury said he dreaded the thought of being forced away from the game.

However, he said he simply could not imagine returning to Eureka Stadium on the verge of the season, having not trained with the playing group since November.

If North Ballarat does not clear him to return to Redan, Horbury said he would have to sit on the sidelines for the season.

“My family’s at Redan, Damien is there and my parents are around the club – that’s where I want to play footy,” he said.

“It would be too hard to go back to North.”

Redan football manager Damian Linton said it was ultimately up to Horbury as to whether an appeal was submitted. But he said the club would back whatever decision he made.

Horbury has played 35 games with the Roosters during the past two years. 

He had previously won two premierships in maroon and gold before taking the step up to North Ballarat in 2013.

Roosters chief executive Mark Patterson has previously said North Ballarat was reluctant to let Horbury go, based purely on the fact he had signed a contract to play this year.

patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au