FORMER Carlton rookie Luke Reynolds will resume his SANFL career with Port Adelaide in 2015.
The 20-year-old from North Haven was picked up by the Blues in the 2014 Rookie Draft and trained under Mick Malthouse at VISY Park throughout 2014.
He is the first player to sign up to one of the vacant contract positions at the club, following several departures in the off-season.
Debuting with Port Adelaide's League side 2013, Reynolds played two League games in the black-and-white guernsey before swapping for the navy blue of Carlton last year.
Playing the whole season for the Northern Blues in the VFL, where his highlight was undoubtedly the after-the-siren goal that sealed a three-point victory over Frankston in April, Reynolds is looking forward to being a Magpie once again.
"It's good to be home where I grew up playing all my footy, and I love the club and love playing for it as well, so it's refreshing to be back," Reynolds told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"Carlton taught me about being an elite athlete and what it takes to make it at AFL level, and living in Melbourne as a different and challenging experience."
It's that experience at Carlton that Reynolds hopes will give him a good start to life back in Adelaide.
Port Adelaide's SANFL program aims to emulate the training standards employed by the club's AFL playing list.
Reynolds believes his time with the Blues will help him hit the ground running as a Magpie once again.
"The program and stucture here has changed a fair bit since I was last here, and it's been fantastic to be back here now where the standards for the SANFL boys are almost identical to the AFL team," Reynolds said.
"It's great and I'd love to improve some things about my game and help improve the club on the field as well."
Port Adelaide has several vacant contract postiions following the departures of Ben Haren, Aseri Raikiwasa, Angus Bruggemann, Jake Johansen and Matt Venter in the off-season, with several players from the club's Academy team shaping as potential candidates for a 'League' promotion.
