RYAN Burton's darkest hour is now the moment that changed his football for the better - and this storyline will continue until at least the end of 2025 at Alberton.
Burton on Friday eagerly accepted to take his tenure at Port Adelaide to at least the end of 2025, making a mockery of his initial dismay at being traded to Alberton from Hawthorn.
"It has become a blessing in disguise that trade," says Burton who was in the USA on holiday during the 2018 exchange period in which he became the key element to Chad Wingard's move to Hawthorn.
"I was only in my third year at Hawthorn - I was a young guy looking to be a one-club player. The trade is the best thing that happened to me. It took me to the club I barracked for growing up and I came home ...
"It worked out really well. I am part of a great team that in the past two years has gone deep into finals. We have a great core group of players to keep contending each year. I look forward to that."
Burton, 25, is among the seven players who have had new contracts lodged at AFL House during the past 24 hours while Port Adelaide strengthens the foundation of its list-management theme to build a competitive squad that has the sustained on-field success to match league pacesetter Geelong.
Midfielder-defender Dan Houston has signed a five-year extension to 2027.
Midfielder Willem Drew is signed to the end of 2024.
Key defender Tom Clurey, who had arthroscopic surgery to clean up a knee complaint on Thursday, advanced the end date of his contract from 2023 to 2025.
These four signings follow Thursday's extensions with untried recent draftees Josh Sinn, Dante Visentini and Ollie Lord.
Half-back Burton is now well established in Port Adelaide's defensive group. His on-field durability - after being tested by a knee injury from his junior football and recent soft-tissue setbacks - has been built on doing more rather than less on the training track.
"We have learned during the past 12 months that more is better," said Burton, who is five games shy of his 100-match milestone.
"The increased work load means I have not missed a training session this year. In previous years I have been managed, missing one session a week.
"I don't have any recurring soft-tissue issues. I still deal with my knee every session. And that has been tracking really well going into this season."
Houston, 24, will start work on his new assignment as a wingman - after establishing a fine reputation at half-back - with the security of a long-term contract.
"I don't push for it - the club got on the front foot early," said the 100-game Houston. "And I was stoked when it came through. I was happy to stick around for five years.
"I am happy with the group and how we are tracking. I am very happy to stick around ..."
A decade after Jackson Trengove and new captain Travis Boak put down key platforms for an enduring culture in the clubhouse at Alberton, the fruits of this agenda are evident by how players such as Houston decide to commit to long-term deals at Port Adelaide.
"I am happy with the culture we have created," said Houston, a rookie draftee in 2016. "We are all passionate about training hard, playing well ... and winning. That is something I want to be a part of.
"(Five years) was a little bit surprising. But I am more than happy when I am really committed to the club. I have always wanted to stay here since I was drafted. It was good to be offered five years."
Houston notes the player-driven culture at Alberton is a living theme driven by each age group.
"The older players lead by example and are committed to winning and pushing this group one step further," Houston said. "The new boys coming through are really talented and want to improve their game every single week - and they are driving us in the middle-age group to build that culture by lifting standards. That is something I do look forward to."
Houston appreciates the security of a five-year deal. "But," he adds, "I don't want to get comfortable. I want to still improve my game. I want to take this group forward.
"I am part of a group that is reaching its prime and can take our footy to the next level. But it is more about the team collective. We know where we have gone wrong - and we know where we need to improve. That is what we want to show as individuals - and as a team this year."
Drew, 23, has had a long wait for his AFL moments with injury testing his spirit after arriving at Port Adelaide in November 2016.
Port Adelaide's belief and patience in Drew - pick No. 33 in the 2016 national draft - has delivered a disciplined midfielder who regularly is assigned to the opposition's major threats in the engine room.
"I am extremely grateful to the club and all the support they have shown," said Drew who has played 34 AFL games in the past two seasons.
"Early on it definitely did not pan out as I would have liked because of the injuries. So I am extremely grateful to the club and look forward to my future.
"There are a lot of things that come into (advancing to a regular AFL role). I have worked really hard on my body to get up to standard. Some of the injuries I could do nothing about - but I have worked really hard on my body and now feel really confident.
"And I have a lot of confidence (from coach Ken Hinkley handing big roles in the midfield). It is a great challenge and last year I learned so much playing against the best mids in the game. That definitely helps my game and to become a more consistent player.
"I am always looking at the best midfielders in the game. We also have a lot of players going through our midfield now. It is a really good mix."
Now in his sixth season at Alberton, Drew says: "There is no place I would rather be. The club is happy to sign me on ... That spurs me on. The signings yesterday and today are massive. It says a lot about the club and the culture we have here.
"To have three Victorian boys (Sinn, Visentini and Lord) extend their contracts before they have played a game says this is a great place to be. Everyone wants to improve and make the team better."
