SFNL: Michael Hibberd reveals why he chose a Southern league giant as his new home

Melbourne premiership star Michael Hibberd has revealed why he chose a Southern league power as his new footy home, how many games he will play and where he fits in.

Michael Hibberd is now a Colt. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He was the most prized signature in local footy.

Former Melbourne premiership player Michael Hibberd was sought after by almost every local club in Victoria.

Announcing his decision would be in January, Hibberd selected his local home at the weekend – less than nine weeks out from Round 1.

Hibberd will don a familiar red and blue, linking with Southern league power Port Melbourne Colts.

He said a prior connection to JL Murphy Reserve meant the Colts stuck out from the rest.

“I have a few contacts and mates that are aligned to the club … it might be an opportunity to bring a couple of mates I haven’t played with in years over,” he said.

“I know they went quite well last year, it’s close to home, I didn’t feel like travelling too far.

“Jack Love, who is affiliated with the club and has been for years, he’s been trying to get me and when I had to make a decision, it was the one that stuck out the most.

“I might get a couple of my mates, they’re around the corner, they haven’t signed yet but I’ll throw it to them and see if we can get them there.”

Michael Hibberd. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

A minor hiccup with his firefighter’s application has the 34-year-old waiting until July instead of February to complete his course.

What went from around eight games can now potentially be more.

He will “see how the body goes” but trusts he will want to play as many as he can once the season starts.

“I’ll see how the body goes, the good thing is Round 1 isn’t until April so I will get some running under my belt and see how I go,” he said.

“I assume I will play as many as I can until then and then after that play it by ear.

“I don’t want to put myself through too much but knowing me I will want to play as much as possible.”

After being one of the more reliable lock down defenders in the AFL for many years, Hibberd is now looking forward.

“I haven’t discussed that yet but I have always had a vision of playing forward so I will have that discussion with whoever it may be,” he said.

“I will definitely be putting my hand up to go forward of the ball or in the guts, see how I go, but I am sure there will be periods where I swing behind the ball and try get a couple of cheap kicks.”

The signing caps off an action-filled week for the Colts after they signed Justin Taylor and Chris Deluca as co-coaches on Tuesday night.