LONG-TERM recovery from a pectoral injury hasn’t stopped Matt White putting pen to paper on a one-year contract extension tying him to the Power until at least the end of 2017.
White injured his pectoral against St Kilda in Round 1 and has been in recovery since.
Expected to return after the Power’s Round 14 bye, the speedster has become a cult figure at Alberton for his hard-running style.
“I’m really excited to commit to Port Adelaide, this is a great footy club and I’ve loved the time we’ve spent here,” White told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“This year’s been a bit of a tough one for me, but I’m hoping to be back out soon after the bye and make up for a bit of lost time.
“To sign on for another year gives me a chance to keep playing with these great guys and I’m really looking forward to the next 18 months of footy.”
Ken Hinkley said the prospect of White returning in the next month was an exciting one for the Power.
White, 29, is a former AFL Goal of the Year (2014) winner and has regularly used his burst speed and toughness around the ball to kick goals or set up teammates.
Matt White has signed on for another year [pic: AFL Media]
“People know what Whitey gives us, unfortunately we just haven’t been able to seen it because of injury this year,” Hinkley said.
“It’s that exciting run with the football and his ability to create score from it that we really like, and we’re looking forward to getting him back on the park.
“We see him as a really important part of our forward structure and this announcement is a good boost for him ahead of his return after the bye.”
Matt White has played 146 AFL games (41 for the Power) and kicked 96 AFL goals (42 for the Power).
