Port Adelaide tall-man Jeremy Finlayson has opened up on a challenging 2022 which saw a dramatic change of roles while juggling stresses at home after his switch to Alberton from GWS.
The 197 centimetre Yorta Yorta man had a rocky start to life with the Power, dropped to the reserves early on before remerging to be a key contributor his usual position up front.
After experienced ruckman Scott Lycett fell to injury toward the back end of the season he quickly found himself thrown into the middle to cover the loss.
"I trained all pre-season as a forward knowing I'd help out in the ruck but I've learned that with teams you just need to adapt to whatever the group needs you to do," Finlayson told portadelaidefc.com.
"I decided to just embrace it and take it on. I wanted to be playing in the AFL because of what was going on off the field."
The change proved an unlikely but welcomed distraction from the cruel twists dominating his world.
The 26-year-old was already adjusting to life as a new dad before partner Kellie was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier in the year.
Fortunately Kellie's health has since taken positive steps throughout her treatment.
The shock expectedly took a major toll but birthed a support network from his new club, namely with Whadjuk-Ballardong teammate Sam Powell-Pepper.
Finlayson said the pair have since become "like brothers", creating a bond and sharing the stresses of professional football and being young family men.
Having only just landed in Adelaide, it all started when Finlayson reached out to Powell-Pepper hoping for someone to join in attending the funeral of Port Adelaide great Russell Ebert.
"We just clicked from that point and now we're like brothers.
"We spend every day together on and off the field and more importantly our families, our little girls and our partners, are really good friends, which helps them get through life as well."
Later, the pair would find themselves covering for one another on the field.
Powell-Pepper became an eventual back-up for Finlayson in the ruck as Port adopted an unorthodox approach trying to wrangle together wins and make jolt at finals.
"We laugh about it now but it's what we did throughout the year. He was number one and I was number two. It's pretty funny but it seemed to work," Powell-Pepper told portadelaidefc.com.
"From the first day we met we clicked straight away,"
"I'm proud of how far he has come given all the struggles he and Kel have had. He's a really good dad and a really good mate too."
The relationship has stretched to include teammate Aliir Aliir and former player-turned coach Chad Cornes with their respective partners.
Finlayson said he now feels right at home in black and teal.
"Obviously the first year was a bit rocky. I had my ups and downs but looking back at it now, it feels like I've been here my whole footy career," Finlayson said.
"I can't wait for 2023."
Incredibly, 2022 proved his most consistent season to date after struggling to string together consistent games with the former club the Giants since arriving in 2015.
Finlayson played a career-high 20 senior games and kicked 21 goals across the year.
