OLLIE Lord is recovering strongly from his ruptured ACL and despite being delisted by Port Adelaide, is convinced his best footy is ahead of him.

The 24-year-old key forward had his sixth, and ultimately final, year at Port ripped away in April when suffering the season-ending injury in a SANFL match.

Now, halfway through his rehab, Lord is looking for a new home.

"I've never questioned do I still want to play AFL or am I good enough. In my mind I know I am. Not once have I wavered from that view," Lord told AFL.com.au.

"Port is such a great club, and I really enjoyed my whole time there.

"I would love to have had a bigger impact, especially the last 24 months, but it went a different way with injury and form."

Taken with pick No.49 in the 2020 Telstra AFL Draft, Lord played 35 games, kicked 33 goals, and showed a physicality in contests that was a nice complement to his 197cm frame.

In just his 12th career game, the Victorian was given a defensive role on Brisbane captain Harris Andrews in a 2023 qualifying final at the Gabba. Not only did he do his job, Lord kicked four goals in a breakout performance, despite his team's loss.

However, there would be no momentum heading into 2024 after fracturing his leg in a pre-season marking contest that would cost him the first half of the season.

It would be an uphill slog from there through the rest of his time at Port, culminating with the cruellest of injuries earlier this year.

"I was devastated at the time," he said.

"I was still in shock for a couple of months. Everyone battles with injury, and knees are pretty common these days, but a few months in I thought 'geez, this is pretty tricky and I'm a bit unlucky'.

"I'd set myself for such a big year. I did every single kilometre and all these extra hours over off-season and pre-season. I just needed to keep my body right.

"Injuries happen. That's sport."

Lord said Sam Powell-Pepper, who was going through his second knee reconstruction at the same time, was a huge help during rehabilitation.

He described the robust forward as an "inspiration" who helped enormously through the tough early months.

Lord is running strongly and confident of being available around the start of next season.

"I'm 24 now. I always thought if I put all this work in, I'm going to be really good at 28 or 29.

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"Twelve months rehab is challenging, but I'm highly motivated and still keen to see what I can do.

"My determination and motivation to play hasn't wavered."

Lord said he didn't mind whether it was through delisted free agency, supplemental selection process or any other method of being listed, he was hopeful of getting a second bite in the AFL.

"It's tough to get your name out there when you're slogging away in the gym," he said.

"I'm in ripping nick now, feel good and confident with my knee.

"I certainly see myself as a key forward still, but I'm open to any ideas that a club has.

"I'd be open to anything."