NEW Port Adelaide recruit Angus Monfries says his best footy lies ahead of him as he prepares to begin a new chapter in his football career at Port Adelaide.
Monfries, 25, met his new teammates for the first time on Monday and spoke of his desire to come home to South Australia playing a big part in joining the Power.
It was a phone call with new Port coach Ken Hinkley that sealed the deal for Monfries and saw the first round draft pick become one of the first players to move clubs in the current trade period.
[ Related: Hinkley helps hook Monfries ]
Recruited to Essendon in 2004, the one-time underage All Australian has been one of Essendon’s most prolific goal kickers during the last five years.
He plans to undergo an intense preseason under Port Adelaide’s new high performance manager Darren Burgess with a view to earning a spot in the Power’s midfield.
What position do you think Gus should play in 2013? Click here to have your say!
“I’m going to work really hard over the pre-season to get my body up to standard to get my fitness levels to an elite level,” said Monfries.
“I’ll be putting every foot forward to try and make an impact in there [the midfield] next year.
“I want to impact games a lot more than what I have been ... to get up the ground into the midfield is something that I’ve always wanted to do and hopefully if I can do that I can take my career to a new level.”
Monfries was a restricted free agent at the completion of the 2012 season and was a possibility to become one of the first free agents to ‘come home’ to South Australia.
[ Related: Trading Places ]
The Power instead elected to give up its third round National Draft selection (currently pick 48) in a trade for the forward.
The Bombers’ 2010 leading goal kicker is a strong possibility to finish his career with Port Adelaide having signed a four-year deal with the club.
He hopes to play beyond that end date.
“For me to be able to come home and play footy in front of my family is a big thing.”
“Guys play their best footy in their late twenties and I’m hoping that I’ve got four or five or six years at Port Adelaide and really want to help the club get back to where it should be.”
“I’m going to work really hard over the pre-season to get my body up to standard to get my fitness levels to an elite level,” said Monfries.
“I’ll be putting every foot forward to try and make an impact in there [the midfield] next year.
“I want to impact games a lot more than what I have been ... to get up the ground into the midfield is something that I’ve always wanted to do and hopefully if I can do that I can take my career to a new level.”
Monfries was a restricted free agent at the completion of the 2012 season and was a possibility to become one of the first free agents to ‘come home’ to South Australia.
[ Related: Trading Places ]
The Power instead elected to give up its third round National Draft selection (currently pick 48) in a trade for the forward.
The Bombers’ 2010 leading goal kicker is a strong possibility to finish his career with Port Adelaide having signed a four-year deal with the club.
He hopes to play beyond that end date.
“For me to be able to come home and play footy in front of my family is a big thing.”
“Guys play their best footy in their late twenties and I’m hoping that I’ve got four or five or six years at Port Adelaide and really want to help the club get back to where it should be.”
