Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades feels he’s in the best shape of his career following a strong off-season. 

Georgiades is attacking his first full pre-season in some time, and looks forward to being an important contributor to a new-look forward line in 2025. 

Speaking with the Adelaide media on Monday, the 23-year-old discussed pre-season so far, how he sees his own role evolving, and what the new recruits have added to the club. 

Georgiades on pre-season so far 
“Yeah, it's nice. I was talking the other day, this is probably my first actual proper pre-season where I haven't had to have surgery, haven't had to sit on the sidelines. So, yeah, it's nice to be back now and feeling good. Rory (Atkins) got me just done (in the time trial), but yeah, I feel like I'm in a good place. Had a great off-season, like I said, no surgery. So I’ve felt really fresh, and (excited) to get back into it.” 

Georgiades on the importance of full pre-season 
“I think just continuity, the importance of that, and building on my last year, I obviously took a big step forward in my career last year. So for me, to keep building on the park, off the park. So yeah, by having a strong off season, that's going to put me in good stead.” 

Georgiades on the new-look forward line  
“We haven't talked too much about (what the roles look like) yet. I think we're still just sort of in the running phase of the pre-season. But obviously, we've got a lot of different parts there now. We've got Jack (Lukosius), we’ve got new Jack (Whitlock) as well, a couple Jacks and Joes, we’ve just got Jacks and Joes! So, yeah, we've got a lot of different pieces up there, which is nice. So, I think as we get into a bit more match play throughout the pre-season, we'll figure out a bit more what that looks like. But I think the strength of our forward group is there's a lot of versatility. 

“Luckily now we've got a great period of time between now and the first game, and we've got everyone out there training, which is handy. So I think each session we have, we're learning about each other better, which is great. I think you look at the personnel we've got up there, between myself, Toddy (Marshall), Jack (Lukosius), Jez (Finlayson), and all those little whippets running around, I think it's going to suit us if we're pretty mobile.” 

Georgiades on his role 
“I like kicking goals. I think that's probably what I like doing the most, so if I can keep doing that, I’ll be happy. I think I’ll keep building on my last year. We haven't talked too much about the actual ins and outs of the way the forward line will work. I think it's going to obviously be slightly different with no Charlie, and we're pretty mobile up there, so I think the way we might move the ball is going to be very fast.” 

Georgiades on his pre-season fitness 
“I like to pride myself on being able to get up and down the ground. So for me as a player, I think being fitter is only going to help to race my opponents up and then to race them on the way back, and that's the way I like to play. I'm pretty mobile, I think so. I think I've always been reasonably fit by, like I said, this is probably the first pre-season where I've actually been available day one of pre-season, which is good. So, yeah, I feel like I'm in a really good spot now, and I'm just going to keep building. In the gym I’m) feeling stronger. We've got weights testing this arvo so we'll see how strong I am. I’m feeling like I'm in good nick so I'm really looking forward to it.” 

Georgiades on his confidence following his return from knee injury 
“I'm 100 per cent confident. I think probably I surprised myself last year with that a bit. But yeah, I feel like my body's in as good a condition it's ever been, despite obviously having a knee almost two years ago. So yeah, I feel like I'm a really good space.” 

Georgiades on his goals for 2025 
“Yeah, obviously it's slightly different circumstances to last year, but I'm trying to approach it with the same mentality, just to go out there and enjoy, to be consistent, to be a good teammate, and the rest will sort of take care of itself. I think, yeah, I’ve put myself in a great place right now.” 

Georgiades on the new recruits 
“They’re pretty impressive. I mean, Jack (Lukosius) is probably the purest ball striker I've ever seen, kicking wise, which is very impressive. And then both the Joes, the other Jack, the new boys, they're really quick. Chasing them around is not fun at pre-season. But, yeah, it's exciting.” 

Georgiades on Todd Marshall 
“Yeah Toddy’s in a really good place out there and he just keeps building. So, I think, yeah, post-Christmas, he’ll be flying, I think he's flying already at the moment.” 

Georgiades on Ivan Soldo 
“No, no, not at all (awkward). I mean, it happens every year. People come and go (in football). I don't think there's any grudges or anything like that to be held. So yeah, it’s nice having him back. He’s slotted back in nicely, which is good.” 

Georgiades on Sam Powell-Pepper 
“Oh yeah, I forgot about Pep! He’ll be a really nice person to have back. Obviously, we know what he brings. He's probably one of the most important key roles in our team, so to have him back bashing around out there, yeah, it'll be handy. That's for sure.” 

Georgiades on the finals series 
“Yeah, it's obviously disappointing to fall short, but I think we've got to take a lot of learnings out of last year and know that we're only growing. I think look at our list in that semi-final, we had one of the youngest lists out there. So the new roles that people are playing, the ability for us to be versatile, and I think that's going to hold us in good stead for next year.” 

Georgiades on strapping his knee 
“I think that's I think that's more my own mental thing. I think I stuck with it last year, and now I'm just going to keep rolling with it. The docs are telling me every day to take it off, but it’s sort of like a goal kicking thing now! I do feel like it's a bit of an extra support that can help, so that's it.” 

Georgiades on goal kicking in pre-season 
“We obviously had a big focus on goal kicking last year, and I think it'll run through into this year as well, with our goal kicking program with Chad, and we've had our blocks out there already. So it's all about just getting some reps in and starting to figure out your routine for this year.” 

Georgiades on the Christmas break 
“Just heading back to Perth, see the family and head down south for a good time, which will be nice.”