Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades says he “really feels part of this club” after signing a two-year extension, set to keep him at Alberton until 2029. 

After three consecutive years of being the club’s leading goal-kicker, Georgiades has owned the forward line, and has helped develop the young forwards he plays alongside. 

Fronting the Adelaide media on Wednesday, Georgiades spoke about his contract decision, how he wants to move the club forward and the importance of securing the win this weekend. 

Georgiades on his contract extension 
“It was obviously a big decision. Any decision like this is a massive one, and you go through all the processes and talk to the people around you. But it’s one I'm very excited about and very comfortable with, so very excited to be here for a couple more years.  

“I think there's a lot of excitement. I mean, this year hasn't gone to plan necessarily for us as a club, but you can take a lot of positives out of it with the coaching, with the group, with the players. I think there’s been a lot of excitement. I really enjoy my time here. I really feel part of this club. It's like my family almost, and I'm really settled in Adelaide. This is my seventh year, so I'm really enjoying it. So there were a lot of points for me to stay.” 

Georgiades on making the decision before his contract year 
“It's probably a great reason (seeing what Zak Butters has been through this season). I have obviously seen what's happened with Zak this year, and there's a lot of pressure and media around it all, and the decision, I just felt like I was in a good place to do it now. And again, having conversations with the people around me, my manager, my family, the club. This was the time for it. 

“We've been having discussions with the club (for much of the year). I mean, you're always having discussions with the club, and I think probably throughout the season, the discussions probably grew more and more as they do, and got to a point where all the cards were on the table, and that's the decision that I made, and I was very excited to make that one.” 

Georgiades on his thoughts early in the year 
“To be honest, at the start of the year, I was obviously contracted ‘til next year, so I wasn't thinking too much about what was going to happen and what it was going to look like. I think as the year played out, obviously you look at all cases and all scenarios, and it's a big decision. You have to do all your due diligence with that, and that's what your manager's there for. I think as everything played out, this was the clear decision for me.” 

Georgiades on his confidence in Josh Carr 
“I think with Josh, all the coaching group, with Reeva (Darren Reeves), with the players as well, I think this year for me personally, I've taken a step in my leadership and taken a bit more enjoyment out of the players around me. Working with Whitters (Jack Whitlock) and Bam (Xavier Bamert) and the young forwards, it's been exciting, so that's been another thing that's also taken me to this decision. (My teammates) are all pretty stoked. I've kind of let a couple know in the last couple days, when it came out today, I think everyone's pretty happy about it. So I'm excited about that.” 

Georgiades on wanting to move the club forward  
“Yeah, I definitely feel like I want to help. With the players we've got around us in the group, and you look at the core of our group, and there's a lot of young players. Even our captain is only 26, and Jason, and some of the players we've got there, there's a lot of excitement. I think as a group, we can take it forward, and it is our responsibility to do so. But it's a nice responsibility to have.” 

Georgiades on Zak Butters’ upcoming contract call 
“Each to their own (with when they make their decisions). It's obviously a massive decision for him, and I think he's handled it extremely well, from living with him and being one of his best mates. I think he's done a great job of it this year. It’s obviously out there every five seconds with people talking about it but from within the four walls here and the way that he's played footy, I think you've got to respect what he's done this year.  

“I will give him a little elbow, well and truly. But obviously he's got to make his decision, and it'll play out over the next couple of weeks or whenever it happens. But yeah, I'll give him a little nudge tonight on the couch!” 

Georgiades on turning the team’s form around 
“If we can build that group together over a couple years of sustained growth, I think it's really exciting, and obviously hopefully bring some really good talent in this year with Dougie (Cochrane) around the corner. I think you look at the core group; it's an exciting one. I'm very confident where this group will go. And like you said, we've had a fair few injuries this year. So if we can get a couple back, that will certainly be nice at some stage.” 

Georgiades on his 2026 season 
“It's a tricky one. I feel like I've played probably my best football, but I haven't converted, and that's a challenge for me. I think it's a combination of obviously my kicking and sometimes where I'm having my shots from. I think growth-wise, there's a lot of growth to be done, but it's also very exciting. I think off-field as well, the leadership stuff has definitely taken a step forward this year (for me). 

“We work so much on it (goal kicking). We work so closely with the coaches, and I've said it 1000 times, I've got a really strong routine, but clearly it hasn't worked quite so well this year. But I think just going back to the well and keep working away. I felt really confident on the weekend, and finally a couple went through straight, which is nice. But I'm confident that it'll turn.” 

Georgiades on how his body is feeling 
“I think everyone at this stage of the year has certainly copped a fair few knocks, and I think I've copped a fair few in the last couple of weeks. But my body's feeling good. I'm feeling fresh, and probably had the flu, which helped me with a week off. But I'm feeling good. I'm looking forward to a break towards the end of the year, which will be nice to freshen up and go again next year. But I'm focused on this week and getting a win, hopefully.” 

Georgiades on the importance of getting a win this weekend 
“I think it's super important. I think it'd be a lot of reward for hard work we've had. I think we've obviously we lost a lot of close games this year, and in the last couple of weeks we've had some pretty big losses, and with a fair few boys missing. And I think as a group, it'd be a really nice thing to propel into the off-season rather than limping towards it, so I think as a group it'd be really great.” 

Georgiades on his family’s reaction to the extension 
“Yeah, they're stoked. I’ve obviously had discussions with them for months now about the whole process. They love it coming over to Adelaide and visiting. So they're very excited. As long as I'm happy and enjoying where I'm at, they're stoked.”