Former Port Adelaide small forward Jake Neade will feature with North Adelaide next SANFL season

Jake Neade says he can add some speed and class to North Adelaide’s forward line next season as the SANFL premiers look to go back-to-back.

Jake Neade (pictured right) has joined North Adelaide after being delisted by the Power. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Media/Getty Images

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Jake Neade says he can add some speed and class to North Adelaide’s forward line next season as the SANFL premiers look to go back-to-back.

The former Port Adelaide small forward signed with the Roosters last week after the Power delisted him.

North’s rise from cellar-dweller in 2017 to premier this season was recognised with five players – Robbie Young and Callum Wilkie (St Kilda), Jordon Sweet (Bulldogs), Connor Rozze and Boyd Woodcock (Port) – picked at last month’s AFL drafts.

Ex Port speedster Jake Neade is keen to link up with Josh Carr and Jacob Surjan again at North Adelaide after signing with the Roosters last week. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Neade, 24, is keen to work again with ex-Port assistant coaches Josh Carr – North’s premiership mentor – and Jacob Surjan.

“I have that experience with playing footy at a higher level, so I can add that and a bit of class back into North Adelaide,” Neade, of Grange, says.

“I obviously have connections with Surj and Carry from their days at Port, so they gave me a

ring and said there was a spot for me at North Adelaide.”

Neade was recruited to the Power during the 2012 trade week following a deal with Greater Western Sydney and booted 55 goals across 66 games.

He found it tough to break into the Power’s line-up this past season and only featured in eight matches.

Jake Neade, celebrating a goal during Port’s clash with Geelong this year, will feature with North Adelaide next SANFL season. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Things happen and I guess it gives other boys at the club (Port) an opportunity now,” Neade says.

“I just want to play footy and enjoy it.

“If another (AFL) opportunity comes up, it does – if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“My goal is to get back, but we’ll see.”

Neade hails from Elliot, a town in the NT with a population of 355.

He received a call from the NT Thunder, which attempted to lure him back home after the Power axed him, but chose to remain in Adelaide.

In another boost for North, Ben Jarman, the son of three-time AFL premiership player Darren Jarman, has also returned to the club after being axed by the Crows.

The 20-year-old small forward played three league games for the Roosters in 2016 before Adelaide selected him as a father-son pick at the rookie draft that same year.

He will don the No.8 guernsey in 2019 – the same number that Darren wore during his playing days with North.