Tredrea, 30, relinquished the top job at the end of last season to help blood the next generation of leaders at Alberton and focus on maintaining his own form and fitness.
But far from being ready to fade into the twilight years of his career, a rejuvenated Tredrea said he felt better than he had in a long while minus the burden of captaincy.
“Even though I turned 30 over the Christmas break, I feel a lot younger,” Tredrea said on Thursday.
“There are less expectations and you can step back, go to training and just enjoy it.
“It [captaincy] goes all the way down to what clothes you’re going to wear, who is going to speak at the functions… someone might be having issues off the field, so it’s good to come to training refreshed.
“Life has changed a little bit, but it’s very enjoyable. With relinquishing the captaincy, I guess you go back to being a bit of the old-self and go about preparing yourself more-so than worrying about the team as a whole.”
The 226-game veteran has stepped down from all forms of leadership at the Power, but conceded he’d helped fill the breech while the club decides on a replacement.
“A couple of times I’ve cracked it at training, called everyone in and then thought, ‘what am I doing here?’” he said with a laugh.
“I will take a step back in the [captaincy] role once the person has been appointed and I’ve already taken a fair step back. I’ll still be as vocal as I am at training sessions, but it’s going to be up to the next person to imprint what they want to do and you need to give them that license.”
The four-time All-Australian was hopeful a change of guernsey number would also help him turn back the clock on his decorated career.
Tredrea, who wore the traditional ‘captain’s’ No.1 guernsey during his time in the job, will move back into locker No.16 this season.
Midfielder Danyle Pearce will slide in alongside Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne in the No.6 locker.
“It was either No.16 or 56 and bring back the old [Port Adelaide] Maggies’ number, but Pearcey thought I’d look stupid in 56,” Tredrea said.
“It was good to get the old number back and I understand what Pearcey has gone through in giving it back. I played nearly 180 games in No.16 and it probably means a little bit to both of us.”
Tredrea, who missed the last five games of the season with a shoulder injury, is back into full training and ready to regain some match fitness in the upcoming trial game and NAB Cup competition.
“The body is good. In terms of the football component of skills, I haven’t missed a session. It’s been physically demanding and tough and I feel in really good shape; the best I’ve felt in a long while,” he said.
“I’d expect to play part games for two or three of the games during the NAB Cup and then I’ll probably have a week off to rest the old, weary body.”
