Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades says he’s disappointed with the loss to Carlton last Thursday night, but is able to draw some personal confidence from his own performance. 

Fresh from a five-day break home in Perth, following an equal career-high four goals, Georgiades is feeling refreshed and ready to go for the second half of the season. 

The 22-year-old spoke to the Adelaide media on Wednesday about the mental side of goal-kicking, how he’s finding being back at AFL level, and the connection of the forward group. 

Georgiades on the bye 
“Yeah, the break’s been really nice to get home and have a little freshen up. See the family and friends, obviously being a Perth boy I don't get to go back all that much. So to see them was really nice and yeah, feeling really good about going into the rest of the year.” 

Georgiades on enjoying being in Adelaide 
“Not so much (missing living in Perth). It's more just enjoying my time when I am back there. Like I've got my family here, which is all my teammates, all the players, staff and everyone but then I go back I just make a real emphasis of enjoying my mates and family and getting a freshen up because it gives you a nice little time away.” 

Georgiades on his own form 
“Like you said, disappointing night (against Carlton). But yeah, happy to get some form out of that game and go into the second half of the year with a bit of confidence, knowing that (I kicked four in) my last game. 

“I think, obviously, being able to convert and kick straight does certainly help (with confidence). But just the movement, when the ball was coming down the way it did at certain times, it made it a lot easier for my job. And then yeah, just being on the move as much as possible.” 

Georgiades on being back at AFL level following his ACL rehab 
“I think obviously being away from the game for 12 months, this game is rapid. It's extremely high intensity and getting back into it, despite having now eight games, you’ve got to be on your toes 24/7. Yeah, I definitely feel like I'm adjusting now and getting back into it so yeah, feeling good. 

“Even from training out to, to SANFL and then to AFL, it's just a split second you think you have you don't have anymore. So yeah, it’s a definite step up but yeah, something I’m adjusting to.” 

Georgiades on his role in the forward line  
“Yeah, just being able to adjust to what the team needs. Obviously, with Charlie, Todd and Jeremy there, there's four of us. We like to think we're pretty mobile, between us three, toddy, Jez and myself so being able to play roles to get up the ground, get back down. It’s something that I think suits me and suits the other players as well. So just adjusting to what the team needs at the time.” 

Georgiades on the loss to Carlton 
“I think we’ve just got to recognise the position we're in. We're pretty happy with where we're at now, it’s eight and four going into the bye. Obviously disappointed with the loss and the last quarter we had, but we thought we were really competitive up to the third quarter. So we haven't reviewed it yet. Obviously first day back today so we'll go in and see what (the coaches say). 

“I try to disconnect (from the outside noise) and it probably helped going back to the family over the weekend and just taking time away. I sort of put my phone down and just enjoyed being around the people who I care about.” 

Georgiades on the possibility of Connor Rozee returning after the bye 
“Connor’s had probably a pretty tough run over the last couple of weeks. So hopefully two weeks now until the game almost, so he'll hopefully be able to get up which would be great because he obviously is a massive part of our team and it'd be really nice to have him back.” 

Georgiades on working on his goal-kicking accuracy 
“It's obviously something as a forward you pride yourself on, having shots. Not only that, but just being able to convert makes such a difference. So for me, it's always been, I feel like it's a strength of mine. You go through patches with kicking straight and then kicking not so straight. So for me, it's just about sticking to my process. I know what it is. I've done repetition on it. So it’s just the confidence to go back and do it now.” 

Georgiades on how he manages goal-kicking form 
“It's challenging. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't play in your head at some stage throughout your career. Probably before I did my knee, it was something I struggled with but we do so much work out here and the mindset stuff as well is huge, so just backing yourself in, backing your process knowing that you can do it and you've done it before.” 

Georgiades on Charlie Dixon 
“We know what we get from Charlie and despite maybe not having his best game last Thursday, we know he brings his strong contests and it's the stuff away from the ball as well. He often two or three hanging off him at times so even though he might not be getting the ball, he might be freeing someone else up. We know we're going to get and I'm sure he's excited for the second half (of the season).” 

Georgiades on the tall forward group 
“I think us big boys, we want to take it on, it’s our forward line and we want the responsibility of kicking goals. So it's something we're still working on and week to week. It's a challenge, but you’ve just got to keep pushing each other and trying to get better. 

“I think obviously, the more you play with each other, the better you're probably going to get. I think it's more just, week to week, making sure that each player is doing their thing. And not everyone's going to play their best game every week so it's taking the load off each other and then yeah, stepping up when it is your turn. 

“Because we're the big boys down there, well I'm not so big, but the other boys are pretty big, we like to take it upon ourselves. And I think when we bring so much energy to the group in terms of taking marks or even just bringing the ball to the ground, little things like that, it drives the group so absolutely, we take it upon ourselves and want to drive the group.”