HE has been touted by some as a potential big-bodied midfielder, but Lachie Jones is content to play in the backline and continue to find his feet at AFL level.

Jones burst onto the scene in his debut season last year, playing his first game in the Round 4 win over Richmond and becoming an immediate fan favourite.

That was in part due to his ferocious attack on the football and in part due to his delightful mullet hair style.

A syndesmosis injury followed by a hamstring injury limited the explosive half back to six games in 2021 but he is injury free and says he has enjoyed a ‘solid’ pre-season as he looks to cement himself in the club’s AFL side.

“The first game it felt nice to run out there and finally pull on the guernsey but I was still working my way in,” Jones told Adelaide radio station SEN SA.

“I wouldn’t say after six games I feel at home just yet.

“There’s a bit of a jump in intensity to AFL level but a couple of (my injuries) were just little bits of freak accidents which could have happened anywhere in any game.

“I won’t blame it on the step up.”

After being held back slightly in his first pre-season after being drafted, Jones is enjoying getting stuck in ahead of the 2022 season.

His running numbers have improved and he continues to impress during match play.

“You come in and you understand the expectations in your first pre-season but then the second pre-season you just get on with it with time trials, training standards, all that sort of stuff,” Jones explained.

“It’s definitely been easier coming into this pre-season and knowing what I’ve got to do and how to do it so you’ll learn bits and pieces over the next few years but in my second pre-season it’s easier to adapt to than my first one.”

While the backline is where he feels most comfortable, midfield coach Brett Montgomery has already signalled he is keeping a close eye on the 19-year-old, and not putting any limits on what he could achieve if moved up the ground.

For Jones, there is no rush as he continues to develop.

“I don’t mind playing in the backline so I think I’ll start there this year and that’ll be my home position for a while but speaking with some of the coaches I could potentially wander into some other positions in time to come,” he said.

“For now, I think the backline and half back is where I’ll stay for now and just develop my game a bit more and try to find my feet at AFL level.”

A Port supporter growing up, Jones is relishing the opportunity to learn from some of his heroes, including 2004 premiership players Chad Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne.

He said he had been leaning on Burgoyne in particular since his return to the club in the off-season.

“I’ve been working with him the last six weeks or so on some little key areas of the game and just asking him questions,” Jones said of getting to work with the recently retired 407-game star.

“All the coaches do their bit but with Chad Cornes in the backline coaches’ role, with his history at Port Adelaide, I’m asking him questions a lot.

“I look forward to working with them as the year goes on.”

As for his now trademark mullet and moustache, it seems they are here to stay.

“I gave the mullet a trim the other day – more than I’ve cut off my hair for years so looking fresher but hopefully once the season comes back it’ll look back to normal, or at least how it did last year,” Jones joked.

“At the moment, it’s a bit shorter but I like it so it might be a contender to stay for a bit.”