MITCH GEORGIADES says friendships and the excitement of what the club could achieve in coming years kept him at Port Adelaide.

The talented forward will remain at Alberton for at least the next four years after agreeing a contract extension.

There had been reports that the 21-year-old would be pursued by other clubs despite a knee reconstruction prematurely ending his season.

However, Georgiades told media on Monday that it was an easy decision to stay.

He also talked about resuming running shortly and how he has been supporting his teammates as they prepare to play finals.

Mitch Georgiades on his gratitude to the club for his new four-year contract:

“It’s amazing for the club to give me that much faith and over the next four years to lock in and do as much as I can to play as well as I can. It’s obviously not the year I’ve envisioned but this is a great way to sort of finish the year going into the off-season.”

Mitch Georgiades on what he weighed up before re-signing:

“It was just talking about where’s best for me to play my footy and at the end of the day I look at this group, the youth and the players we’ve got here, it’s pretty hard to leave some of my best mates behind as well.

“When it came down to where I’ll play my best footy it was here.

“Obviously with my knee it was a bit different and I took a bit longer with everything and the club was awesome with just not putting any pressure on me. For me it was about getting all facts on the table about where I’ll play my best footy, obviously where I’m happy as well – I love Adelaide, a lot of people that are over here have made me so comfortable – so the decision took a bit longer but it came up with the right one.”

Mitch Georgiades on being on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury:

“This year not being out there has challenged me harder than anything and not being part of the group as much as I’d like to but the support from the players, the coaches, the fans, has just been amazing so this club is pretty special to me. It’s like a big family.”

Mitch Georgiades on how he’s progressing through his rehabilitation:

“The knee is tracking well. I had a couple of hiccups at the start, which is pretty usual with these kinds of things. It’s never smooth. But definitely the right track now and hopefully back running in the next two or three weeks, just ticking off a little box and head into the off-season just doing some normal stuff like running.

“It’s been about ticking boxes along the way and it’s been just about looking to run at this stage and get stronger in the gym.”

Mitch Georgiades on not being on the park while his side is entering finals:

“It’s pretty frustrating at period but so exciting at others. Obviously, my best mates are out there, doing what they do.

“When they were on that 13-game winning streak it was pretty exciting. Even sitting back home in Perth after my operation, just watching them and it’s almost like being a fan, it was really exciting. It’s frustrating not being out there but I’m just doing as much as I can to bring as much excitement and energy to the group, despite some of them probably not liking it too much.

“You play for a bigger cause. I’m not part of it this year unfortunately, which is frustrating, but to see what they’re doing is so exciting and to watch all the players grow and play the way they have has just been nice to watch.”