Midfielder/forward Connor Rozee has extended his stay at Alberton through to at least the end of 2024. Image: AFL Photos.

YOU might think after eight other re-signings this week Port Adelaide’s playing group might not have been all that excited to hear that a ninth name had put pen to paper to recommit to the club.

But that was far from the case at Saturday’s team meeting when the players and coaches were told Connor Rozee was the latest player to commit to spending the next three years at Alberton.

The applause in the rooms showed the high regard with which Rozee is held and the excitement the 22-year-old brings to the group.

From his perspective, it was an easy call to make to stay at the club he grew up supporting.

“I’m from Adelaide and have loved my first few years at Port Adelaide so it was a pretty simple decision,” Rozee told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“My family is here, my friends and family, so that and loving playing at the club made it a really easy decision.

“We wanted to get something done before the start of the season and I’m obviously really happy at Port Adelaide and I want to be here for the future so it was best for both parties to get something done before the season and probably takes a bit of stress off my shoulders and I can just focus on football now.”

Rozee’s re-signing comes off the back of first- and second-year players Josh Sinn, Dante Visentini and Ollie Lord recommitting on Thursday and Willem Drew, Ryan Burton, Tom Clurey and Dan Houston doing the same on Friday.

Rozee was joined by fellow 2018 draftee and good mate Zak Butters in recommitting to Port Adelaide. Image: AFL Photos.

Then on Saturday, Rozee’s good friend and fellow 2018 draftee Zak Butters added his name to the list.

“Him and a lot of the other boys who have done that over the last couple of years shows the club is in a really good state culturally,” Rozee said of Butters’ re-signing.

“We’re in a really good spot and it definitely proves that the boys from interstate, especially with the boys from Melbourne and Western Australia, wanting to recommit and not wanting to go home.

“It seems we don’t really have that go-home factor at this club and I think it says a lot about the group and the staff and everyone involved in the club that everyone wants to be here and be here for the long run.”

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With the season opener against Brisbane just a week away, and his future locked away, Rozee’s attention is firmly on finding a way to beat the Lions at the Gabba.

He has yet to play in a win over Brisbane at the venue with Port’s last win over the Lions in Queensland coming in Round 6 of 2017.

But with a host of new faces at the club and some real excitement around the playing group, Rozee is hoping it could be the time.

“With that comes another opportunity,” he said. “It’s a new year and we’ve added a couple of extra pieces.”

“They’ve been our bogey team the last couple of years and I think the boys really want to prove a point that this year is going to be a bit different.

“It’s round one, we’ve got a few different ways we want to play and a few different people so we just can’t wait to get up there and hopefully prove a point.”

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Rozee’s own preparation has been impacted by having to isolate under the AFL’s health and safety protocols but he expects to be available for selection to face the Lions.

And if he is on the plane to Queensland, he will be hoping his impact will go beyond kicking goals in the forward line.

The club has long planned for Rozee to spend more time on the ball where his dynamic lateral movement and speed of foot and decision making will add value.

“There’s been a few young boys that have pushed in there and I think that will be one of our strengths throughout the year – just how many people can roll through there,” Rozee said of Port’s refreshed midfield.

“We’re a pretty flexible side and everyone brings different strengths to the midfield so I think being able to rotate different people through there helps us going forward.

“I’ve enjoyed getting in there. I think I can impact the game more and use my legs and take the game on a bit and bring something different so I’ve really enjoyed working in there in pre-season and can hopefully have an impact there during the season.”