Port Adelaide has officially parted ways with veteran defender Hamish Hartlett.
The 31-year-old played 10 games in 2021 and admits injuries derailed him across the year.
Hartlett said that after 193 games for the club, he found out the news during the week.
“I had a chat with Kenny (Hinkley) and Chris Davies yesterday and Kenny pretty much just said that there won’t be a contract there for me next season for a couple of reasons,” Hartlett told SEN SA Breakfast.
“One that physically he doesn’t think I can keep up with the demands of the game, particularly in the position I play across half-back against players that are quite lively.
“He just doesn’t feel like I can keep up with those kinds of players anymore.
“And also the development of some of our younger guys coming through which has been quite exceptional the last two or three years. He just doesn’t feel there’s a position on the list for me anymore.”
Hartlett however still feels he has something to give at AFL level and will be pursuing options at other clubs.
“I didn’t necessarily agree with them, but I can understand the angle that they’re coming from,” he added.
“In terms of my body, particularly in the back-half of the year, I had some issues, a little quad issue which popped up out of nowhere at a training session, not that it was significant, but it certainly hampered the way that I could train and play.
“The advice of the footy club and my own desperation to keep playing, but that sort of never got better and then I hurt my knee over in Melbourne doing some extras with the young fellas trying to help them out.
“Back half of the year was no good and it probably all stemmed off a knee surgery I had at the end of last year that was quite significant and it delayed my start to pre-season and I’ve been playing chase-up from there.
“Not ideal this year, but I still firmly believe that I’m capable of playing some good AFL footy.
“I’ve still got conversation to have with my manager and we’ll test the waters elsewhere and hopefully an opportunity can arise.
“I’ll catch up with him today and hopefully we’ll discuss some serious options about what’s out there and I’ll still take some time to relax from what’s been a pretty draining season both mentally and physically.
“Still plan to go away with a few of the boys and play a bit of golf for a few days and go to the best and fairest and those types of things.
“Hopefully (my manager and I) can sort something out in the coming weeks if not months.”
Port Adelaide’s season ended on Saturday night, knocked out in a home Preliminary Final for the second straight season.
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