DALE Thomas has admitted that his close bond with Mick Malthouse was a factor in his decision to defect from Collingwood to Carlton.

However, Thomas has rejected claims he fell out with Nathan Buckley during his last season at the Magpies.

"There's no doubting that Mick and I have a great relationship, but I also had a great relationship with Nathan," Thomas said on Wednesday morning.

"It probably wasn't as close as the one I had with Mick, but in footy clubs you have different relationships with different people.

"The one with Mick, we're probably closer because we have that bond of a premiership, and I look forward to working under him again."

When both were at Collingwood, Thomas and Malthouse developed a habit of having a kick-to-kick session in the rooms before every game.

Thomas is hoping the old habit will be revived now that they are back at the same club.

"I'll have to play a game first, but I'm sure Mick will be happy to have a kick with me," he said with a grin.

"I think Jeff Garlett started doing that with him, so I might have to have a word with young Jefferey."

Thomas insists that his parting words with Buckley and Collingwood president Eddie McGuire were amicable.

"I went in and had a meeting with Bucks, and he thanked me then. And I spoke with Eddie on the phone," he explained.

"I'm certainly grateful for the opportunities those two blokes have given me, along with the whole Collingwood footy club.

"It was 150-odd games, a premiership and some great friends that I'll keep for my entire life.

"But the time was probably right for me (to move clubs), in the sense that the last two years hadn't been what I'd wanted them to on a personal level.

"The opportunity came to move, and I took it."

Thomas is already wondering about the reception he'll get from Collingwood's passionate supporters when he lines up against the Magpies for the first time next year.

"I'm pretty sure we all know how I'll be received – with open arms, I'd imagine," he chuckled.

"I'm not sure what they'll do. I presume there'll be a few that are pretty disappointed, and if I do get booed, that's all part of it.

"Hopefully it happens a lot of the time, which means I'll have a heap of the ball."