FRESH START: Port Adelaide Magpies recruit Henry Slattery says the club expects to make finals this season. Picture: Keryn Stevens. HENRY Slattery was always envious of Port Adelaide's SANFL success while growing up. "When I was young through the 1990's they were just so dominant and you'd respect them because they were a club no one could beat," said Slattery, who played juniors for West Adelaide. But much has changed since then. The Magpies have gone a record four consecutive seasons without making the finals, 13 years without a premiership and been marred by inconsistency in recent winters. Slattery is back in the SANFL after forging a 96-game career at Essendon over eight years before being delisted in October. Now the 27-year-old defender is desperate to bring success back to Alberton. He says the Magpies' history was one of the reasons he signed in December with the club - rather than the Bloods - as well as the chance to challenge himself in a different environment. "For myself to really enjoy my footy I needed a bit of a challenge and a fresh start," said Slattery, also a player development manager at the Power. Nothing against West Adelaide, they're a great club as well, but it was just what I needed for my situation at the time. Finals is not only an aim, it's an expectation - I can really see this group going somewhere. Slattery's pre-season has been hampered by a hip injury which will keep him sidelined until at least round three. He has also watched on from afar as his former club, Essendon, has been caught up in an Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation into whether its players had used performance-enhancing drugs. Slattery would not comment on the matter but said he had really enjoyed his time at the club and got the best out of himself there. Some delisted players look to the SANFL as a stepping stone back to the elite level but Slattery said he "had not even thought about" trying to get re-drafted. Instead he is focusing on recovering from his injury and enjoying life after AFL footy.