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PORT Adelaide recruit Lindsay Thomas isn't planning on making up the numbers and believes his best is still good enough to be one of the premier small forwards in the AFL.
The 29-year-old has joined the Power on a one-year deal after he was taken with the 12th pick in the rookie draft on Monday.
Thomas booted 325 goals in 205 games with North Melbourne, but played just nine matches for the Kangaroos this year before coach Brad Scott told him he wasn't in their plans for the future.
"I'm not here to make the numbers up," Thomas told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.
"I had a pretty quiet year this year, it's well documented, but if you look at my stats before this year, I think they match up with some of the best small forwards in the competition.
"There's no doubt my best footy is still ahead of me and coming to a new club, I feel re-energised and like I've been drafted again.
"If I can work hard on the track, I've got no doubt I can squeeze into the best 22 and play some good footy."
Thomas kicked 207 goals in 105 games at an average of 1.97 per game from 2012-16, with a career-high of 53 goals in 2013.
He should be a handy addition to a Power forward line led by key target Charlie Dixon and three-time All Australian Robbie Gray, while fellow new signings Jack Watts and Steven Motlop should help with the delivery into the forward 50.
Thomas knew about six weeks ago he would be joining the Power, and has been working with good mate and former Kangaroos teammate Brent Harvey to make sure he's in good shape.
"He's a pretty professional kind of player and someone I look to lean on," Thomas said.
"I've been training with him for the past five or six weeks.
"I just gave him a cheeky text, he's a competitive kind of person still and he had no problem with running a few laps with me."
Thomas hails from Port Lincoln and played 38 junior games, 11 reserves games and six senior games for the Port Adelaide Magpies before being drafted by the Kangaroos.
He said it was an emotional to return to Alberton Oval for the first time in 11 years.
"I got here this morning and I kind of had to pinch myself," he said.
"To look at on to the ground brought back some good memories.
"I probably had 30 seconds to myself to scope out the place."
Apart from losing his spot in the Kangaroos' team this year, the other concern about Thomas was the fact he was suspended twice in the VFL.
Thomas was banned for three weeks for a high hit on Corey Maynard, then given another week out for striking Rhys Palmer in his return game.
But the veteran forward isn't worried and won't be changing the way he plays the game.
"People that know me know that I play on the edge," he said.
