Port Adelaide recruit Aliir Aliir is out of quarantine and ready to hit the ground running

Aliir Aliir is chomping at the bit to impose himself on his new Port Adelaide teammates when his jaw fully heals, and there’s one player in his sights.

Aliir Aliir at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Keryn Stevens

He was able to battle it out with one of the greatest modern-day forwards on a daily basis at his previous club.

Now Port Adelaide recruit Aliir Aliir is licking his lips at the prospect of going at it with Power big man Charlie Dixon – as soon as his recently operated jaw allows it.

Aliir made the move from Sydney to Port Adelaide in last year’s trade period but recent jaw surgery – on wisdom teeth and then correcting an underbite – which required a post-Christmas trip to Sydney for a check-up meant the 26-year-old got caught up in South Australia’s border restrictions against NSW.

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This meant the former Swan had to self-isolate at Sam Powell-Pepper’s house for 14-days, and now out of quarantine Aliir is thrilled to be out at Alberton with his new teammates.

“I had a treadmill and bike there so I was able to do some work,” he said.

“But it is just good to be out there with the boys and get to know them and go around Adelaide.”

The jaw surgery means Aliir is still a couple of weeks away from participating in full contact training at Alberton.

Aliir Aliir in front of the Fos Williams grandstand at Alberton Oval on Wednesday. Picture: Mark Brake

But once he can go toe-to-toe with his new teammates, Aliir said he had one in particular he could not wait to have a crack at.

“Yeah of course, me being a key back if I can match up as much as I can on Charlie (Dixon) at training it is going to make me better and hopefully I can make him better,’ he said.

“Back in Sydney I tried to play on Buddy (Lance Franklin) as much as possible just to be able to learn as much as I can.

“There are a lot of gun key forwards out there and the work you can do on the track can help prepare you for games.”

The prospect of playing as a key defender, where Aliir feels he plays best, with stints in the ruck was big in the 196cm utility making the move to the Power.

But first he needs to win a spot in the team, most likely at the expense of Tom Clurey or Trent McKenzie.

“They have been playing some good football and for me it is just coming in and working hard and putting my best foot forward,” he said.

“It’s a healthy thing to have fighting for positions and I’m looking forward to putting my best foot forward.”

Where does Aliir fit in Port side?

- Matt Turner

Aliir Aliir is out of quarantine and ready to make an impression at Port Adelaide.

The former Swans defender trained with the Power for the first time at Alberton Oval on Wednesday after finishing his 14-day stint in isolation on return from Sydney.

Undergoing light duties with the rehabilitation group, Aliir still has bands in his mouth from his jaw surgery last year and is eating mashed food.

Port Adelaide traded for Aliir and signed him to a four-year deal to help replace the retired Justin Westhoff’s versatility and add height to the club’s backline.

He might also prove a SuperCoach bargain.

Aliir, 26, is priced at $321,200 based on his 2020 average of 59.8 from 14 games.

But with Port Adelaide already having a settled defence and the league’s most miserly last year, he could play a SuperCoach-friendly intercepting role that could lift his average towards 80.

In 2018, Aliir averaged 79.5 from 11 matches.

Aliir Aliir at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Keryn Stevens

He backed that up with 77.5 from 22 the following season, including three centuries.

If Aliir is used in Westhoff-like fashion, floating between defence and attack with stints in the ruck, that will also have SuperCoach benefits.

As he prepared to exit quarantine, Aliir told the Power website he had been using weights, a treadmill and an exercise bike to stay fit in quarantine.

“The hardest thing has been trying to stay out of my own head as much as I can so I’ve made sure I’ve had a routine,” Aliir said on Tuesday.

“The boys have been good texting me and calling me to check in.

“Obviously, it’s not the ideal start when you move to a new club and move to a new state. “You want to hit the ground running in a new environment and I feel like I’ve been missing out when you see them all at training.”

Aliir Aliir signed a four year deal with the Power. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Last week Port Adelaide was forced to train in squads of 10 at a time but restrictions eased over the weekend and all players were on the field at once on Wednesday, split into smaller groups.

The only player missing from the session was new dad Sam Mayes.

Mayes and his partner, Cass, welcomed their first child, Cooper, on Saturday night.

Pick 16 Lachie Jones ($139,800, defender) and former Bomber Orazio Fantasia ($271,800, defender/forward) are other new Power players with SuperCoach relevance to track during pre-season.

Originally published as Port Adelaide recruit Aliir Aliir is out of quarantine and ready to hit the ground running