PORT ADELAIDE has signed free agent Sam Skinner for the 2022 season.

Skinner played three AFL games for Brisbane during four injury-interrupted seasons before being delisted by the Lions at the end of 2020.

He spent the 2021 season playing with South Adelaide in the SANFL, booting 16 goals in 21 games.

The 24-year-old averaged 14 disposals and six marks per game and starred with eleven intercept marks in South’s semi-final win over Norwood.

At 198cm tall, the 24-year-old can play as a key defender or forward and it is his versatility which appealed to Port Adelaide’s recruiting team.

“We like Sam’s athleticism, aggression and competitiveness and while he has shown an ability to play at either end of the ground, we see him playing mostly in the backline, where he performed strongly with South Adelaide in the back half of the 2021 season,” said Port Adelaide List Manager, Jason Cripps.

“Sam has shown great character and resilience to come back from three ACL injuries and we look forward to him taking his opportunity at the Port Adelaide Football Club.”

Taken with pick 47 in the 2015 AFL National Draft by the Lions, Skinner made his debut in 2017, booting two goals against West Coast.

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Having enjoyed the move to South Australia to play with the Panthers, he said he was grateful for another opportunity to play AFL football and excited to get started at Alberton.

“It means everything to get this chance. My partner and I moved to Adelaide to play in the SANFL to try and get another crack at it,” Skinner explained.

“It was a big thing to pack our things up and move across after South Adelaide gave me a chance, so it means the world to both of us and my family to get that call today that Port Adelaide is willing to give me a chance.

“When I finished up at Brisbane, I felt like I still had a lot to give and I aspired to get back on an AFL list so to get an opportunity to do that, I’m just really keen to get cracking.”