Lindsay Thomas admits he'll have to work his backside off to make Port Adelaide's best 22 after they handed him an AFL lifeline.
The veteran goalsneak will look to revive his career in his home state of South Australia after being selected by Port in Monday's rookie draft.
He has signed a one-year deal with the Power, who have made 11 changes to their list during the off-season including the addition of big-name recruits Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop.
Thomas spent 11 seasons at North Melbourne, playing 205 games and booting 325 goals to sit 11th on their all-time goal-kicking tally.
The 29-year-old fell out of favour with coach Brad Scott this year, managing just nine games for the rebuilding side.
Thomas remains confident in his abilities but accepts he won't be guaranteed games in the strengthened Port lineup.
"I've been in the game long enough. I'm under no illusions that I'm just going to come here and walk into that best 22," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"They're an exciting list and they've got some absolutely great players in that side. The only way I'm going to crack into that team is I work my backside off on the track and get the respect of the players and the coaches.
"Once I do that, (coach Ken Hinkley) said 'there's a position there for you', so my main focus now is getting my body sound and having a good preseason."
Thomas clearly struggled for form in 2017 and spent a number of weeks on the sidelines for disciplinary issues in the VFL.
Both parties will hope he can recapture the form of his best years between 2012 and 2016 when he snared 207 goals at almost two per game.
"I had a pretty quiet year this year, it's well documented," Thomas said.
"But if you look at my stats before this year, I think they match up with some of the best small forwards in the comp.
"If I can work hard on the track, I've got no doubt that I can squeeze into their best 22 and play some good footy."
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