FEELING the fittest he has felt “in a while” after “the most professional” off-season he has ever had, Junior Rioli cannot wait to pull on the Port Adelaide guernsey and get stuck into the 2023 season.

But after a difficult last three years, the silky forward is taking no game for granted and wants to earn the right to represent the club.

Rioli booted 60 goals in 51 games with West Coast over six seasons in Perth, Rioli was traded back to Adelaide where he lived and played prior to being drafted.

He says physically and mentally he is in a good place.

“Missing out on footy, it does take a while to get back into it but I feel like this off-season has probably been the most professional in terms of training-wise and break as well – you’ve got to have a break being in this environment,” he said during a press conference on Monday.

“It’s good coming back in good nick and I felt like if I did the work in the off-season it makes pre-season easier and more enjoyable.

“I’m just grateful to be over here and I’m putting in the work to earn that respect to get that jumper.

“I don’t want to come over here with that expectation, I want to earn it.”

It has been no secret that Rioli has had a difficult last three years including navigating a twp-year ban for tampering with a urine sample and the death of his father.

But his motto is that every lesson should be a blessing and he has re-evaluated what is important to him including family, community and helping the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Now settled into life at Alberton after training with the 1-4-year players over the last couple of weeks, Rioli was all smiles with the full squad back on Monday.

“It’s everything I visualised before I came over here,” he explained.

“To come over here training and training with a group of young guys, I feel like I’ve got some good energy with them.

“I go week by week, I don’t look months ahead for my own mental health.

“What people don’t understand is that there’s a lot of things that go on outside of football so to have a fresh start I feel like I can get the best out of my football over here.

“For my own mental state – football is more in that direction that it’s not just a physical game, it’s mental as well – so to get that balance right, I think every player if they get that balance right will get the best out of themselves.”

Port Adelaide will be hoping that rings true for Rioli given the departures of classy stars Steven Motlop and Robbie Gray who leave a big hole in the forward line for small forwards.

The return from injury of Orazio Fantasia should fill some of that need but the mercurial Rioli has set himself on stepping into that role.

“I knew there was a spot available with the likes of their great players leaving – Robbie Gray and Stevie Motlop,” Rioli said.

“I knew there was an opportunity to come over here and play in those similar type of roles. I’m looking forward to the big games over here and I can’t wait.

“I just want to earn the respect of my teammates and the staff and get them to know the real me, not just what they see on the tv or in all the media outlets.”

Rioli can boast having never lost a Western Derby between West Coast and Fremantle, enjoying three wins over the Dockers in three games while in Eagles colours.

He is hoping to replicate those percentages in Port Adelaide colours when it comes to Showdowns.

“Hearing how big it is over here, it’s definitely one of those games you mark down in the calendar,” he said.

“I will have family that comes down for that game.

“But for me every game is now important and I just cherish every game.”