PORT Adelaide mid-season recruit Cam Sutcliffe wants to follow in the footsteps of former Fremantle teammate Matt De Boer and make the most of his second chance on an AFL list.
Sutcliffe was selected by the Power with the ninth pick of the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft on Monday night.
The 27-year-old captained Port Adelaide's SANFL team this year, joining the club after being delisted by the Dockers at the end of last season after 104 games from 2012-18.
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He was told last week the Power were likely to take him in the mid-season draft before he was officially given the good news on Monday.
Sutcliffe is good friends with De Boer, who has become an important run-with player for Greater Western Sydney after he was delisted at the end of 2016.
"I keep in pretty close contact with Matty because we're pretty close mates and we travelled together at the end of the year last year," Sutcliffe said.
"I do look at him for inspiration, and even Tendai Mzungu, who went up to GWS as well.
"Those sort of guys, it probably came down to their work ethic to get another go and I think that's where I stand as well.
"I put in a lot of hard work to get to this point and proud of where I am today."
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Sutcliffe had been working with Port Adelaide's Next Generation Academy and community programs, but he now returns to the life of a professional footballer for at least the next six months.
"It means the world," he said.
"I sort of half expected getting delisted from Fremantle, but to get another chance at the top level, it's always been my dream to continue to play in the AFL.
"Missing out in the rookie draft (at the end of last year) was pretty disappointing, but to come to the club and to be able to captain the Magpies team has been good, and to get another opportunity is great."
The Power get a ready-made player in Cam Sutcliffe. Picture: AFL Photos
Sutcliffe was confident it wouldn't take him long to adjust to senior football after spending seven years at the Dockers.
"I'd say I'm probably fit enough," he said.
"Being in the system seven years before, you know what's expected at the top level.
"Fitness has never really been an issue for me in terms of running, so I'm expecting that my fitness would be good enough at the top level."
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