HAVING battled injury virtually since the day he was drafted by the Power in the 2009, this year has been a fresh start for Port Adelaide midfielder Andrew Moore.

Osteitis pubis and the operations that ensued have kept him down, but with his first full pre-season behind him, Moore has shown the football world why he was rated so highly as a youngster and taken with a top 10 draft pick.

He broke into the Power's line-up for their round 10 win over Carlton and, with the entire leadership group out in round 14 against Geelong, he stepped up and collected 20 disposals and laid 11 tackles.

Against Essendon in round 16, he nullified Jobe Watson for three quarters.

But the 21-year-old knows exactly where his body is at and said it was imperative he kept to his recovery program to remain injury-free.

"My first couple of years have been a bit up and down and to play a full season, so far, it's a big sigh of relief," Moore told portadelaidefc.com.au.

"I'm feeling really good, recovering after games, my body's pulling up really well and I haven't felt like this for many years.

"I'm still on top of all my rehab, I do that a couple of times a week and if I don't stay on top of it I'll go back to where I was a couple of years ago."

The key to Moore's emergence as a genuine prospect this year has been an increased confidence; both in his body as well as a belief he belonged at the elite level.

The two were linked, Moore said, adding he never doubted his ability despite managing only 13 games in his first two seasons.

"I've got a lot more confidence this year in my kicking and especially my strength because I've been able to build it up," he said.

"It (being injury free) gives me the confidence I need when I'm playing out there, knowing that that side of things is all taken care of and I can concentrate on everything else to do with football.

"You don't question your ability…a big thing in AFL is your mindset and I think it's important not to dwell on your setbacks, it's all about how you cope with it."

Like Richmond's Kelvin Moore, Andrew's injury-ravaged older brother, osteitis pubis was a problem very early in his career.

He said Kelvin offered valuable insight into how to deal with the condition, as did Moore's teammates Travis Boak and Steven Salopek.

While the "OP" is every young athlete's worst fear, he said the experience taught him a valuable lesson.

"I was able to learn a lot about my body in that period," he said.

"If I've got sore calves or hamstrings, I know when to step off or when to go harder.

"I've got better knowledge about my body and what to do…I'll be able to use that for years to come."

Finals football might be out of the question for the Power this season, but Moore said he still had plenty to gain and could feel his game developing with "every" match under his belt.

It's a rarity in football when a player admits to "looking forward" to the pre-season, but having developed as much as he has in 2012, it's also clear Moore can see a bigger picture in 2013.

Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.