After recently announcing Travis Boak as club captain and Brad Ebert as his deputy, Port Adelaide has formally ratified the remainder of its 2013 leadership group after gathering input from player feedback, peer assessments, coaches’ experience and player actions across the pre-season.

Robbie Gray has been elevated into the six-man leadership group for the first time and will be joined by Jay Schulz, Jackson Trengove and Hamish Hartlett who remain in the group from 2012.

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Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley says he is delighted with the make-up of the young group.

“I’m very happy with the composition of our leadership group,” Hinkley said.

“We have a key forward, a key back and a spread of midfielders in the group which will ensure leadership across every line on the field.

“It is definitely a young leadership group with Schulzy at 27 the oldest player in the group. In saying that, we have experienced players like Dom (Dom Cassisi) and Kane (Kane Cornes) outside the group who will continue to provide great support and advice to the boys within that group.”

Since joining Port Adelaide in October, Hinkley says he’s admired the character of the players within the group.

“Every player in our leadership group has demonstrated in their own way that they have leadership qualities,” Hinkley said.

“They have all provided exceptional input into the group across pre-season and through their actions have shown that they are hell bent on driving and upholding the culture and values of our football club moving forward.”

Gray, who is recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in Round 4 last year, has impressed Hinkley not only with his attitude to his personal rehabilitation, but through his ability to still have a significant influence within the entire playing group.

“You’ve only got to look at what Robbie has done in my time at the club to recover from that knee injury he suffered early last season,” Hinkley said.

“He has almost transformed himself in terms of body shape and the way he has approached his rehab has been quite outstanding.

“And despite being in rehab Robbie has still managed to have a really strong influence over the whole playing group which is a great credit to him. He has led a lot of our playing group presentations across pre-season and the respect he has from the entire group has clearly demonstrated to me that he has rightfully earned his spot amongst our leadership group.”

Leadership group profiles:

Travis Boak (captain) – 24 yrs; 108 games

Brad Ebert (vice-captain) – 22 yrs; 98 games (22 at Port Adelaide/76 at West Coast)

Robbie Gray – 24 yrs; 70 games

Hamish Hartlett – 22 yrs; 46 games

Jay Schulz – 27 yrs; 118 games (47 at Port Adelaide/71 at Richmond)

Jackson Trengove – 22 yrs; 61 games