Grateful Salopek wants to repay fans' patience

STEVEN Salopek has broken his silence on his year from hell and vowed to repay Port Adelaide fans for their support.

Salopek

STEVEN Salopek has broken his silence on his year from hell and vowed to repay Port Adelaide fans for their support.

After swapping SANFL clubs - from Glenelg to the Port Magpies - Salopek admitted how tough this season had been for him, declaring it had been "hard for me and my family".

"Now that it's all over, now it's been done, it's nice to get mentally sort of stable now and really focus on the coming week," Salopek said of his change of SANFL teams, which the Power hopes will revive his stagnant career.

The No. 6 pick at the 2002 national draft has not played an AFL game this year because of poor form.

The 26-year-old's form slumped so badly that he was this month dropped to Glenelg's reserves and had been given no guarantees of a league recall, prompting Salopek and the Power to seek a change of clubs.

"It's just nice to get some clarity now, I suppose," Salopek said of the change, which is understood to have cost the Magpies a modest transfer fee of about $5000.

Salopek - who has played 121 AFL games - will play his first match for the Pies in the Foxtel Cup quarter-final against Queensland's Morningside at AAMI Stadium on Saturday morning.

"It's a good opportunity to get back into some form and I'm just really looking to get out there and play well and really help out the team," said Salopek, whose fragile body has copped a physical pounding in his 10 years in the AFL.

"It's about trying to enjoy it (football) again. I've spoken to Bangers (coach Tony Bamford) and his message was to really go out there to enjoy it and make life easy for myself, for him and the team."

Salopek told Power TV the support he had received from Port fans had been "terrific".

"I've got a Twitter account and Facebook and also through the club support has been overwhelming," he said.

"It's nice to know that they haven't forgotten about me.

"I've sort of laid low for a while and it has been a difficult year but there is still a lot of footy to be played  ... and hopefully (he can play) a few good games for the Maggies and then see how we go after that.

"But I just want to thank every one of them (fans) because it does mean a lot  ...

"There's no doubt I'll be out there to repay them all."

Salopek - once considered one of the best midfield prospects in the country - is out of contract at the end of the season and is playing for his Power future.