North Adelaide welcomes Port Fairy footballer Kaine Mercovich for 2021 SANFL season

The recruit has joined the Roosters after five seasons with Hampden league outfit Port Fairy.

Mercovich, 22, said he was eager to cement a spot in the Roosters' senior side after packing his bags and moving to South Australia for an opportunity at state league level.

North Adelaide, which made last year's grand final, starts its campaign against Central District on Good Friday on April 2.

"I have definitely come over here to play round one through to the end of the season in the seniors," he told The Standard.

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"I thought it was something I wanted to do, move around a little bit and play a little bit of footy elsewhere.

"It was through (former Port Fairy coach) Dan Nicholson. He played with Mitch Clisby at Melbourne and Mitch is over here at North Adelaide.

"I definitely think it will be a season-by-season type scenario.

"I will see how I go this year and see how I enjoy the living (here) longer term."'

Mercovich, who represented the Bottle Greens at interleague level in 2019 and earned best-on-ground honours, said he was adjusting to an intense pre-season program after coronavirus wiped out last year's Hampden league season.

"It is a lot more volume. It's probably three training sessions on the actual track and two in the gym," he said.

The carpenter will opt for work which will tie in with his football commitments.

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"I am going to do a little bit of study. I am going to do cert three and four in personal training and hopefully move into the fitness industry over here for a little bit," he said.

"It will be a bit easier to get around in the fitness industry and a little bit less taxing on the body throughout the day."

Mercovich, who enjoyed success and built friendships at the Seagulls, is living in the Adelaide suburbs.

He is enjoying his new surrounds.

"It is a bit warmer over here but in the sense it's a very small city is probably better for me," he said.

"I definitely enjoy it being a bit smaller and it's 20 minutes to the beach so it's not too bad and you don't have to go into the city for too much so that's pretty good and pretty handy."

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