Young Port Adelaide flanker Josh Sinn has been left feeling "pretty sick of the talk" around his patient build back toward full fitness, flagging a desire to cement his place in Ken Hinkley's side for the season ahead.
Since joining the Power as the 12th overall pick in 2021, Sinn has played just four games at senior level - with only one not coming as either the starting or finishing sub.
Groin and hamstring injuries have heavily hampered Sinn's first two seasons at Alberton, with the Sandringham Dragons product also coming back from a season-ending ankle injury prior to being drafted by the South Australian club.
His "frustrating" start to life at Port Adelaide has given him time to learn about his body, taking up Pilates to help his recovery conditioning.
His luckless spell on the sidelines also has Sinn wanting to give back to the club that took a chance on him after his previous injury concerns.
"It's been really frustrating. In a sense, I've learned so much already in such a short period of time," Sinn told media.ย
"I think even playing last year, I maybe played 17 games, although they weren't AFL level at least getting through some sort of games (helped). Ken's been really big on just playing minutes. That's been really big and I think that's going to show this year.
"I'll be able to hopefully perform better, like last weekend.
"I knew I wanted to give back to the people of Port Adelaide and especially Ken for putting his faith in me and drafting me. I just wanted to get back as quick as I could and pull on the Port Adelaide guernsey because that's what I'm here for.
"Over the last three or four months I've been building (towards my best). I've always had that belief in myself that I can play some pretty good football. I just haven't been able to show it as much as I'd like to."
Floated as a backman, midfield and forward option for Ken Hinlkey to consider, Sinn is set to slot into a more defensive role for the Power this season as he looks to show off his speed and line-breaking.
With an uninterrupted pre-season under his belt - including a promising intra-club session last Friday - Sinn is ready to do what the Power drafted him to.
"I've been training pretty much as a sole half-back this pre-season, mainly just to get some consistency around my game. I think that's helped a lot," he said.ย
"I'm sure if there's an opportunity moving up the ground then I'll take that too.
"I'm pretty sick of the talk of just getting through games, getting minutes done. I'm here to perform, to play AFL.
"I think if I can keep putting my best foot forward, week in week out, then I'm sure I can be there."
The Power meet Adelaide and Fremantle over the coming weeks for their pre-season practice matches before a Round 1 encounter with West Coast at home.
