PORT Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper says he has a better perspective on his career as he sets his sights on returning from a knee reconstruction.
Powell-Pepper was appointed a member of Port’s leadership group a year ago but endured a torrid season, playing only three premiership games.
The 27-year-old was initially suspended for four games for rough conduct for a bump that knocked out Adelaide’s Mark Keane in a trial game.
He returned in round six but three weeks later, on April 26, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Powell-Pepper’s recovery has been smooth and next week he expects to get rid of the dreaded pink hat, which signifies non-contact, at training.
“It has been close to 10 months now,” he told reporters on Thursday.
“I’m definitely grateful for everything now, even just basically warming up … not being a part of it is just something that I’ve missed quite a bit.”
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Powell-Pepper, who hopes to feature in Port’s trial games on February 21 against Adelaide and on March 1 against St Kilda, said his injury had a silver lining: becoming a better leader at his club.
“I think why the boys picked me as one of their leaders is for the things I bring on the field and the way I play and lead by example,” he said.
“So I did have to find quite a few different ways to become a leader in other ways.
“As I’m getting back into games and back to playing, I want to still keep learning and developing other ways of my leadership.
“I’ve improved quite a bit and I just can’t wait to be leading by example instead, that’s my favourite way to lead.”
Powell-Pepper will return to a revamped Port attack without retired veteran Charlie Dixon, but it features a batch of recruits including Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast), Joe Richards (Collingwood) and the highly-rated Joe Berry, who was pick No.15 at last year’s national draft.
But tall forward Todd Marshall will miss most of the season after tearing an Achilles earlier this month.
“It’s obviously really heartbreaking because I’ve been in the same position,” Powell-Pepper said of Marshall.
“But the thing that I said to him was: ‘You’re not going to do it on your own, I’m going to be there every step of the way because I know how lonely it can get’.”
