The manager of young Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades has stated his client is "really happy" at Alberton Oval amid expectations that interest from WA and Victorian clubs will spike next year.
Georgiades is off-contract in 2023 and even had his name raised in trade talks this year as Port Adelaide and West Coast haggled over a deal that saw premiership Eagles forward Junior Rioli head to the Power.
Tom Seccull of Hemisphere Management was required to extinguish any suggestion Georgiades would be departing Port Adelaide in favour of a move back to his home state, with the 21-year-old backed to fight for his spot in Ken Hinkley's side next season.
Georgiades made an immediate impact for the Power in his debut season of 2020, before enjoying a 32-goal season the following year to impress as a raw prospect.
While Georgiades still came away with 23 goals from his 19 appearances in 2022, the young forward was challenged by coaches throughout his third campaign at senior level, with Hinkley dropping his young star to the SANFL on two occasions.
While fellow young forward Todd Marshall and recruit Jeremy Finlayson claimed the spotlight this year, Georgiades still has his sights set on cementing his role at AFL level next year.
2023 is the final year of the Subiaco product's contract, with both West Coast and Fremantle expected to show interest in his services should a contract extension remain unsigned.
Speaking to the Hard Ball Gets podcast, Seccull revealed interest won't be limited to just clubs from out west, however talks around his future aren't at the front of Georgiades' mind.
“He loves it (at Port Adelaide) and he just wants to work his way in and not be dropped again," Seccull said.
"...The interest is always going to be there in Mitch when you've got a young, developing player that's such a high-end talent.
“He had a lot of interest in the draft after missing a whole year and still got picked in the first round so he's showed his talent and I think the interest in him isn't just coming from WA as well, that won't stop Victorian clubs or anything like that.
“But he's really happy at Port, he loves it there, he's got some great friendships."
Georgiades has booted a total of 63 goals from his 47 matches for the Power and firms as a key piece in their push back up the ladder.
The exciting forward is among a handful of key Port Adelaide players that will enter 2023 off-contract, with Travis Boak, Tom Jonas, Sam Powell-Pepper, Charlie Dixon and Riley Bonner all unsigned beyond next season.