WILLEM Drew is using a familiar ground to prepare for his fifth AFL season.
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The Port Adelaide midfielder, coming off a breakout campaign, visits Koroit's Victoria Park to tick off his off-season running program.
Drew, 23, said he enjoyed immersing himself at the Hampden league club which launched his career.
"I've been out to Koroit under 23 training a couple of nights and been watching a little bit and been doing my running program out there," the three-time Saints premiership player told The Standard.
"It's been good, just to get out there and see how they're going. It's been something I've really enjoyed doing."
Drew has been home in the south-west for two weeks, making the most of eased COVID-19 border rules between Victoria and South Australia.
He will return to Port Adelaide for pre-season on December 6 before venturing to Warrnambool again for Christmas and New Year.
The inside midfielder, who averaged 17 disposals across his 24 games in 2021, said the comfort of home was needed after a long year.
"I spent a couple of weeks in Adelaide, waiting to see what the border was going to do, and eventually they announced it was going to open up so I got straight on a plane and got home as soon as I could," Drew said.
Golf battles with dad Terry are keeping his competitive juices flowing. "He's a member at Port Fairy so we get out there a fair bit and also have a hit in Warrnambool as well," Drew said.
Drew, who plays off 11, reckons he's got the edge on his dad on the golf course.
"I've got him covered but they're very, very competitive matches and it's on from the start," he said.
"Normally the loser has to buy a few potato cakes from the fish and chip shop so it's pretty important to win."
Stacking shelves at girlfriend Sophie Daly's family business in Koroit has also kept him occupied.
"I've been helping dad a little bit with work too," Drew said.
"He's got a landscaping business so he's pretty busy at this time of the year and my girlfriend was able to get home for the opening of the new (Daly's IGA) supermarket in Koroit.
"I didn't do much but I spent a couple of hours out there stacking a few shelves.
"It is great for the town and a great achievement for Mick and Peter and the whole family."
Drew knows his main business is on the football field.
Port Adelaide is coming off a humbling preliminary final defeat to Western Bulldogs.
"It was disappointing the way the year ended and it was one of those games where nothing went right for us," Drew said.
"We'll use that as motivation to get back to that level and go one more and hopefully make a grand final."
As for how he can help the Power's cause? The tackling machine knows how he can add more value to the Ken Hinkley-coached side.
"There's still a lot of improvement to my game and one thing I've been a little bit more focussed on is my kicking and decision-making," Drew said.
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