Port Adelaide is confident of retaining blossoming forward Mitchell Georgiades despite as many as seven rival clubs holding an interest in the 21-year-old.
At present, Georgiades will enter the 2023 season with an expiring contract and 47 games of senior experience in silver, teal, black and white under his belt.
While Port rebuffed advances from West Coast for mid-sized forward during last year's trade period, Georgiades remains hot property in high demand, with Victorian clubs Essendon, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and St Kilda all primed to make plays.
The Eagles' major rival Fremantle also have a keen eye on the Western Australian, with 7News' Ryan Daniels reporting last week that both Geordiades and key Bulldog Aaron Naughton were "very firmly" on the Dockers' trade radar.ย
However, according to recentย News Corpย reports, neither forward holds any interest in returning to Western Australia, with Georgiades and Naughton instead preferring to remain put at Alberton and the Whitten Oval respectively.
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Further reports have stated that Georgiades' wish could soon be granted, as his manager, Tom Seccull, is set to sit down with Port Adelaide list boss Jason Cripps within the next month.
Still, as the fresh-faced forward inked his most recent extension in November of his rookie year, pen is unlikely to meet paper on a new contract until after the bye.
Georgiades' choice to bide his time before agreeing to terms is likely to be linked with the Powers' immediate fortunes, as well as the future of head coach Ken Hinkley.
Entering his 11th season at the helm, Hinkley is without a deal beyond the end of 2023, with Port Adelaide president David Koch claiming earlier this month that Port powerbrokers would convene in August to decide the 56-year-old's future.
Georgiades, Hinkley and the Power will face off against Fremantle this Thursday in the pair of club's final pre-season hit-out at Fremantle Oval.
Port Adelaide will open their 2023 season proper when they play host to Brisbane on Saturday, March 18 at the Adelaide Oval.
