There’s no place like home for ruckman Scott Lycett as he gets down to the business of pre-season training

Scott Lycett wouldn’t change anything about his time at West Coast but the Power recruit sure is happy about being back home at Alberton and says he’s free of a Premiership hangover.

• Lycett on winning Premiership at West Coast

For Port recruit Scott Lycett, it sure feels good to be home: even though the pre-season’s tough, the game plans are new and his 2018 AFL premiership medal can’t immunise him against getting some “k’s” into his legs.

The 203cm tall ruckman, who played six league games for the Port Adelaide Magpies before being drafted by West Coast in 2010, has been back at Alberton for only three weeks but he’s loving everything that’s familiar.

For one, he’s back training alongside one of his best mates in Sam Gray. And secondly, he’s well acquainted with Port’s history.

“Playing for Port Adelaide (in the SANFL) before I got drafted was a really big eye-opener and I felt so much pride wearing the jumper because it’s got so much history behind it,” he said.

Port Adelaide announces a premier partnership with the Dock One Development, as new recruit Scott Lycett is happy to be back in his home state. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“I loved my time at West Coast and would not change a thing about my time over there but it’s really exciting to be back home and playing for a team that I’ve always admired, and hopefully we can taste some success in the near future.”

Having been traded to the Power under free agency after eight years at the Eagles, it’s a little too early to start comparing the pre-seasons of the two AFL teams.

“Every pre-season you’re going to do is hard, so in that way it’s pretty similar, but I guess just being the new guy and having to learn different terminologies and styles of game plan and new teammates and how they play, I guess kind of makes it a bit difficult to look at the similarities between the two teams because there’s so much going on,” he said.

“But I’m loving every minute of it so far and there’s not enough hours in the day at the moment.

“I’m mindful I’ve only been here for three weeks and I’ve still go to work hard and earn my spot in the team and earn the trust of my teammates.”

And he’s shaking off any talk of a West Coast premiership hangover.

“I definitely did celebrate — you don’t win one every day — but I worked hard in the off season and I’ve come back pretty fit and that’s the case of every AFL player these days,” he said.

“If you don’t turn up fit, you’re going to get left behind and I’m looking to improve my game this year and that’s well on its way at the moment.

“I’m really just enjoying being back at Alberton and the rich history of the club.”

Lycett said he was looking forward to taking up the ruck alongside former All-Australian Paddy Ryder but he hadn’t yet discussed the intricacies of his role with coach Ken Hinkley.

“We haven’t really knuckled down into the specifics of what’s going to happen throughout the year next year, but I’m sure that will come,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to working with Paddy. He’s obviously a great ruckman and I’m looking forward to silencing the critics of people who say you can’t play two rucks in a team.

“I think there was a time there when people thought you couldn’t do it and obviously in the grand final both teams had two ruckmen.”

Lycett also said it was too early for him to start predicting who would fill the current vacant captain role.

Port Adelaide announces a new, two-year premier partnership with the Dock One housing Development. Pictured are managing director of Dock One Damon Nagel, Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett and Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“It’s really important to have a strong group of leaders, not sure who will be the skipper but there are plenty of candidates to go around,” he said.

But he said so far at training the likes of Ollie Wines and Sam Powell-Pepper had been impressive.

Lycett was standing in the shadows of Port Adelaide’s historic lighthouse on Monday as the Power’s CEO Keith Thomas announced a new two-year premier partnership with housing development Dock One.

Thomas said the sponsorship agreement with the masterplanned community by Starfish Developments — which will feature 750 homes and will launch early in 2019 — was part of the club’s commitment to shining a light on their patch.

“For every step that we take towards China and growing our international interests, we double down in Port Adelaide,” he said.

“Port Adelaide is our home and we’re very excited about the development that is happening here.”

The announcement comes as the club prepares to release its financial results in the next few weeks.

Thomas said the club would not be recording a loss.

“It’s been a difficult year because we didn’t make finals and that puts pressure on just about all of your revenue streams, but the result will be pretty similar to what it’s been over the last few years, which is better than break even,” he said.