Port Adelaide young gun Miles Bergman rejects significant interest from Victorian clubs and stay at Alberton

Victorian Miles Bergman knocked back strong interest from Melbourne-based clubs to re-sign with the Power. The breakout star opens up on why.

Port Adelaide halfback Miles Bergman is set to remain at Alberton. Picture: Getty Images

Feeling at home at Port Adelaide has led Miles Bergman to spurn Victorian offers and sign a two-year contract extension.

After months of speculation about his future amid strong interest from Melbourne-based clubs, Bergman was relieved to announce his deal on Thursday.

The 21-year-old defender said his lure of returning home was not dissimilar to other players.

“Everyone understands that being from interstate, family and friends are a big deal,” Bergman said.

“But at the end of the day, Port Adelaide is like home to me and I love the club, so that’s why I chose to stay.

“Now that we’re halfway through the season and I’m back fit, playing consistent footy, it’s good to get it all sorted.”

Miles Bergman has inked a new two year extension with Port. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

This masthead revealed on Wednesday that Bergman had decided to stay at the Power.

The Sandringham Dragons product said he had become more settled at the club each season since arriving via pick 14 in the 2019 national draft.

He was homesick early in his career, when Covid hampered the competition, but was now in the middle of a breakout campaign for the second-placed Power, playing every game so far.

“As a young kid, you’re just trying to fit in, footy’s almost the last thing on my mind,” he said.

“The more I play footy, the more I get along with the boys, the easier it’s felt.”

Bergman said he had built a close bond with prized recruit Jason Horne-Francis over media attention about them looking alike, their similar personalities and what drove them in and outside footy.

He hoped to eventually line up alongside Horne-Francis in the midfield.

For now, the 189cm Victorian was learning to play on taller forwards, including stars such as Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron.

Bergman says Port Adelaide is home to him now. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

It was a role he said could be pretty stressful because it required plenty of mental preparation to calm himself down and not overthink things.

“All the key backs have been really helpful for me,” he said.

Bergman’s new contract tied him to the Power until the end of the 2025 season.

“I’m excited to see what we can do these next few years,” he said.

Teammates and coaches were told of Bergman’s news before training on Thursday.

Port list manager Jason Cripps described him as an extremely determined and driven player who was starting to see the benefits of his hard work through his performances this year.

“We’re pleased that he has elected to remain at our club and looking forward to the next period of his growth,” Cripps said.

Exclusive: Bergman set to stay Port

Port Adelaide young gun Miles Bergman is set to reject significant interest from his home state of Victoria and stay at Alberton.

The 21-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is believed to have agreed to a two-year extension at the Power.

Rival clubs keen on the half-back, such as St Kilda and Essendon, have been told he is remaining with Port.

Finer details of the new deal are being completed and an announcement is expected on Thursday.

Bergman has blossomed this season amid the club’s 11-game winning streak, playing all 14 matches, mostly at half-back.

He is averaging 14.4 disposals, 3.5 rebound 50s, 2.4 inside 50s and 5.7 contested possessions for the second-placed Power.

Miles Bergman is sticking with the Power. Picture: Getty Images

Taken at pick 14 in the 2019 national draft, Bergman found it difficult to move away from Victoria to South Australia during the start to his career as Covid hampered the competition, restricting how often players could return home.

He waited a year to make his AFL debut in round 1 of 2021, going on to feature in 23 games that campaign, including both of Port’s finals.

Last season, Bergman lined up in six SANFL matches and 10 at AFL level.

He is said to now be very settled at the Power and in SA.

Bergman is understood to be close with prized recruit Jason Horne-Francis and coach Ken Hinkley has instilled a lot of belief in him in his role down back.

There was no clearer example of Port’s faith in Bergman’s defensive qualities than when he lined up on and helped stifle Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron in the Power’s most recent match, a fortnight ago.

Roles further up the ground on a wing and in the midfield loom as the Sandringham Dragons product develops his game.

Bergman joins a growing list of emerging stars that Port has drafted from interstate and been able to lock away during Hinkley’s coaching tenure.

A two-year extension will tie him to the club until the end of the 2025 campaign.

Originally published as Port Adelaide young gun Miles Bergman rejects significant interest from Victorian clubs and stay at Alberton