TOM JONAS has described it as a “privilege” to again captain Port Adelaide in 2022 after the club named its three-man leadership group for the upcoming season.

Jonas is entering his fourth season as skipper, and will be supported by Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines and 2020 John Cahill Medallist Darcy Byrne-Jones in the leadership group.

The group is the same as last season, other than the absence of Hamish Hartlett, who departed the club, and Jonas says he is honoured to be trusted to wear Port Adelaide’s number 1 guernsey again.

“I’m really privileged to wear the number one again and lead the boys alongside Ollie and Darcy,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“If (the coaches and players) have got faith in me to lead the club forward, I’m more than happy to do it.

“It’s an absolute privilege, I’m comfortable in the position I am and obviously want to lead this group to a premiership – that’s our goal - and until they kick me out or I feel like I’m not able to execute the job at a high enough standard or someone else can do it better than me, then it’s an honour to fill the number 1 guernsey.”

Jonas said he had learnt during his time as skipper to deliver messages differently to different players and to soften his approach – something he credited fatherhood with helping.

While he admitted drawing on the experience of former captain Travis Boak among other senior players at times, Jonas said ensuring there was a strong core of developing leaders to carry the club forward was a key focus.

“We’ve also got a strong contingent of emerging leaders underneath that are doing some great work with Nathan Bassett to develop their leadership skills so they’re going to be able to fill our shoes in the future,” he explained.

“I think the ones you naturally gravitate to are the Duursmas, the Rozees, the Butters, who are playing really strong footy now and can start to think about others aside from their game because they’re well established and then Dan Houston, Orazio Fantasia - who is really sociable and a really team-first thinker – and Karl Amon is softly spoken but really strong willed and can stand up for what he believes in, and has been an outstanding performer for us as well.

“We reach out to them on particular issues and have started to give them some responsibility but at the same time draw some help from Robbie (Gray) and Boaky and the boys above us and all of the experience they’ve had in their 13 or 14 years here as well.”

While it may be a bit too soon for a changing of the guard in the leadership space, Jonas said he expected plenty of selection pressure in Port Adelaide’s backline in 2022 with the arrival of free-agent Sam Skinner and continuing development of some younger players.

“I might be in a bit of strife,” he joked. “I think you should always be looking over your shoulder. That’s why I think we’ve maintained that strong standard because there’s been pressure from below.

“There’s been really strong performances from the Magpies and rapid growth and development from your young guys so they keep you on your toes, knowing if you don’t perform consistently, often enough, then someone’s going to replace you.

“I think it’ll be a really strong competition for spots. Sam Skinner’s looking really good.

“There might be a look to move a Dan Houston or a Riley Bonner around the ball or on the wing at some stage and then you’ve got more development to the likes of Lachie Jones, Miles Bergman’s going to come back from injury so there’s going to be some versatility and some challenges for spots.

“Obviously, Tommy Clurey was left out of the team for the majority of last season and he’s had a terrific pre-season as well.”

Port Adelaide supporters will get their first look for the year at the side on Friday when the club carries out its intra-club match.

The game will be live streamed on the club website with commentary from seven-time premiership player Tim Ginever, experienced broadcaster Chris Dittmar and former Port Adelaide midfielder Tom Rockliff.

Jonas said while some players would use the hit-out to blow out the cobwebs, others would be playing for spots in the side, hinting that there may be some minor tweaks to game style in 2022.

“I think you’ll see a very similar Port Adelaide Footy Club,” he said. “We will tinker with our mix around the ball.

“You’ll see some new blood through there and I think you might see some really exciting ball movement as well.

“We’ve probably lifted that a touch but we’ve also focussed on those big games, those big moments, being able to solidify our structures around the stoppage, around the contest so we don’t get beaten there.”

“I think the focus from our group (on Friday) is to be a great teammate and play a selfless brand of footy and that will find you with an opportunity going into the 2022 season.”