- Dec 7, 2000
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courtesy of www.portadelaidefc.com.au
Kingsley officially staying for 2004
Adam Kingsley has signed a new contract with the Power, two months after being told he wouldn’t be offered one.
The 1998 best and fairest winner earned a one-year deal for the fitness work he put in over the last eight weeks and believes he has had the wake-up call he needed to become a better player.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Kingsley said when he was told that he was no longer required less than a week after the end of the Power’s season he was devastated but the bad news was “absolutely warranted”.
“It served a purpose,” he said, “I’ve come back in better shape than I ever have and I’m running okay and feeling great so I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing some games.”
Kingsley said it was a couple of weeks after he had the initial bad news that the club came to him and said he could earn himself a new contract if he got himself fitter.
“They told me if I pulled my finger out and came back in reasonable shape then they would offer me a contract and as soon as I heard that I was more than willing to do everything I could to stay here,” he said.
“I was really watching what I was eating. I was running and riding every day with a couple of other guys. I had a lot of teammates here who did a lot of the work with me and helped me get to the levels that impressed the coaching staff so I certainly have to thank those guys. I went over to a KI (Kangaroo Island) health retreat for a week and that really helped me out as well.”
Kingsley, 28, played just 12 games in 2003 due to being hampered by persistent injuries that he admits were in part caused by carrying extra weight.
Now, the inaugural squad member who has played 125 games for the club, says he is as fit as he has ever been.
“My skinfolds are the lowest they’ve ever been at this time of year and my weight is down below playing weight which is a really good sign so I’d have to say I am the fittest I’ve been,” he said.
With the well-publicised loss of 598 games of AFL experience from the club (mostly through Stephen Paxman, Nick Stevens and Che Cockatoo-Collins) Kingsley’s retention on the list gives the Power some extra experience and Kingsley expects to use all of it in 2004 and hopefully beyond.
“I think I’m going to have to (give more on the field). Mark (Williams) has certainly given me that warning that I wasn’t secure at the club and hopefully I can really develop on the experience I’ve had and really help the other guys develop into a premiership winning team,” he said.
“I still reckon I have a good three or four years left in me. I’m 28 at the moment, to play through to 32 I’d be extremely happy with that and I guess if I perform as well as I’m hoping next year then hopefully another contract will come round.”
Kingsley believes the wake-up call that has ended with a one-year deal, reduced salary and fitter body was exactly what he needed.
“It was a huge turning point and one that I think has pushed me in the right direction,” he said.
“There’s nothing like being told you’re not wanted any more to really make you recognise that it can end so quickly and that certainly happened to me but now I’m back raring to go.”
Kingsley officially staying for 2004
Adam Kingsley has signed a new contract with the Power, two months after being told he wouldn’t be offered one.
The 1998 best and fairest winner earned a one-year deal for the fitness work he put in over the last eight weeks and believes he has had the wake-up call he needed to become a better player.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Kingsley said when he was told that he was no longer required less than a week after the end of the Power’s season he was devastated but the bad news was “absolutely warranted”.
“It served a purpose,” he said, “I’ve come back in better shape than I ever have and I’m running okay and feeling great so I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing some games.”
Kingsley said it was a couple of weeks after he had the initial bad news that the club came to him and said he could earn himself a new contract if he got himself fitter.
“They told me if I pulled my finger out and came back in reasonable shape then they would offer me a contract and as soon as I heard that I was more than willing to do everything I could to stay here,” he said.
“I was really watching what I was eating. I was running and riding every day with a couple of other guys. I had a lot of teammates here who did a lot of the work with me and helped me get to the levels that impressed the coaching staff so I certainly have to thank those guys. I went over to a KI (Kangaroo Island) health retreat for a week and that really helped me out as well.”
Kingsley, 28, played just 12 games in 2003 due to being hampered by persistent injuries that he admits were in part caused by carrying extra weight.
Now, the inaugural squad member who has played 125 games for the club, says he is as fit as he has ever been.
“My skinfolds are the lowest they’ve ever been at this time of year and my weight is down below playing weight which is a really good sign so I’d have to say I am the fittest I’ve been,” he said.
With the well-publicised loss of 598 games of AFL experience from the club (mostly through Stephen Paxman, Nick Stevens and Che Cockatoo-Collins) Kingsley’s retention on the list gives the Power some extra experience and Kingsley expects to use all of it in 2004 and hopefully beyond.
“I think I’m going to have to (give more on the field). Mark (Williams) has certainly given me that warning that I wasn’t secure at the club and hopefully I can really develop on the experience I’ve had and really help the other guys develop into a premiership winning team,” he said.
“I still reckon I have a good three or four years left in me. I’m 28 at the moment, to play through to 32 I’d be extremely happy with that and I guess if I perform as well as I’m hoping next year then hopefully another contract will come round.”
Kingsley believes the wake-up call that has ended with a one-year deal, reduced salary and fitter body was exactly what he needed.
“It was a huge turning point and one that I think has pushed me in the right direction,” he said.
“There’s nothing like being told you’re not wanted any more to really make you recognise that it can end so quickly and that certainly happened to me but now I’m back raring to go.”