Out of North’s crop of first year players in 2021, none hit the ground running quite like Tom Powell.

Debuting in Round 1, Powell kicked a goal and collected 19 disposals against Port Adelaide, going on to play in North’s first 13 games of the season, before a groin injury halted his on-field development.

Lighting up the ground with 25 disposals against Fremantle in Round 6, and 23 disposals and a goal in Round 7, Powell has shown the potential to become a key cog in North’s midfield for years to come.

Despite being sidelined for the remainder of 2021, the drive and motivation for Powell to get back fit and into the side has never been higher.

North Media sat down with our number 24, and this is what he had to say.

You started the season like a house on fire and a lot of people would think you were a bit stiff not to earn a Rising Star nomination. What do you think allowed you to adapt to AFL football so quickly?
That’s a really good question. I think my natural football smarts helped me navigate my way on game day. I managed to get a full pre-season in too which held me in really good stead, I didn’t miss a single session in the lead-up to Round 1 and I just tried to go into each game with the belief I was good enough. I didn’t want to see the people I was playing against as these big, scary guys who were too good for me. I like to have that belief in myself and back myself to be good enough to cut it with the best. 

I’ve heard a few of you first year boys talk about the closeness of the group. How good is it to have such a strong group of young men all trying to navigate your early AFL careers together?
We all get along really well and we’re a pretty good group. We all really value each other’s achievements. Four of us have played and it was great to see ‘Fordy’ (Eddie Ford) play really well on the weekend. It’s exciting to see how close ‘Spicy’ (Phoenix Spicer) and Patty (Walker) are to playing and it would be awesome for them to get a taste of it. We’d love to all play together in the future if possible, because we all get along really well. We’re really looking forward to building next year when we come back, and we’re really close with even the second-year boys. It’s a good group of lads and hopefully we’ll all be able to have a good pre-season. I love all the first-year boys, it’s a really diverse bunch with ‘Fordy’, Will (Phillips), ‘Lazz’ (Charlie Lazzaro), 'Hammy' (Charlie Ham), Patty, ‘Spice’ and Jacob. We all get along really well and I can’t wait to hopefully play with them for a good few years.

Being on the sidelines can be tough both physically and mentally, how have you kept yourself occupied and engaged both within the four walls of Arden Street and also outside of footy over these last few weeks?
I’ve been trying to stay amongst the group as much as possible. I’m getting out there and getting into the ears of the coaches as much as possible while they’re on the track, and I try to help out with the drills as well, even though sometimes I think I’m just getting in the way! My hands are pretty full with my recovery, I’m spending extra time in the gym putting on some size and doing a lot of bike and swimming sessions to maintain my fitness levels. While the boys are on the track I’m out there with them, and I’m working hard in the gym as well. Off the field I’m doing a uni degree so I’m keeping up with my commerce degree which I’m enjoying. I’m just ticking that over in the background and it gives me something away from footy to keep working towards. I can’t say I have more time now that I’m injured since I’m doing as much as I can in my recovery, but it’s good to have that goal away from footy.

Do you think not being able to play and taking that step back has given you a better understanding of the game and what will be expected of you when you’re back fit and firing?
When you’re on the sidelines watching you can see pretty clearly how the team is working. It’s definitely helped to improve my understanding of the game and the role that each of the boys is playing in the team. One thing it’s definitely taught me as well is not to take anything for granted. I really value my spot in the side and it’s given me a lot of drive to get back out there and play with the boys. We’ve been playing much better footy in the last few months so I can’t wait to get out there and show everyone that I’ve still got more gears to go through.

You often hear about the competitiveness within the rehab group, or close bonds that are formed by players on the comeback trail. Is there anyone in particular you’ve learnt from or become particularly close with over this second half of the year?
I think ‘Big X’ (Tristan Xerri) is one for me that’s stood out. He’s done a few sessions with me and he’s had a little bit of a frustrating injury. He’s someone who’s been through the rehab program, so he’s someone who knows how to not necessarily just get through it, but be able to thrive. I’m trying to look at this not as a roadblock, but more as an opportunity to learn in different areas and an opportunity to build strength faster than other players might be able to in my upper and lower body. ‘X’ has been someone who’s been really good to spend time with over the rehab. He always pushes himself really hard and he started the year with a really big pre-season. I’m sure he wants to back that up next year, and he’s played some pretty consistent footy this year which has been good to see. He’s someone who’s been good for me going through this rehab program.

Your first professional AFL pre-season would’ve been a totally different beast than anything you’d have taken on earlier in your footballing career. What learnings do you think you can take out of your time in the AFL system so far into the upcoming pre-season and beyond?
There’s definitely a few. We had a pretty modified plan last year as we were first year players, but I’ve been told by a few of the boys that you need to follow the program you’re given really closely because it’s there for a reason. It’s set by the people who know what they’re doing and you don’t want to come back in poor shape. A week you miss in your own time is a week you can never get back, and it will leave you a step behind the boys who’ve done the right thing. Although we’re a team there’s a lot of us playing for a limited number of positions. It’s a competitive environment and I don’t want to use pre-season as time to slack off. Obviously, you need to enjoy yourself, but it’s important that I stay on top of my program going into next year.

How motivated are you to launch yourself into the next pre-season when you’re fit and ready to go?
That’s been the biggest drive for me. I feel like I’ve got a point to prove and I’m pretty edgy to get back out there. I’m working so hard at the moment to try and make sure I’ve got something extra that the other boys don’t have. The drive of the boys winning without me and training without me each day is something that’s making me even more determined to get back out there playing again.