TOM Jonas never expected to be Port Adelaide's captain. And yet the uncompromising defender - who made his way to the AFL without any entitlement - is exactly the image of the man deserving to wear the No. 1 jumper reserved exclusively for the captaincy at Alberton.
"I never would have thought I would be the captain of the Port Adelaide Football Club," Jonas said on Friday, the eve of his 200-game AFL milestone at the MCG where it all began in 2012. "Look at the names that have gone before me. They are all incredible players. They were given the captaincy and flourished in that role and were incredibly successful.
"I wasn't quite sure that my gamestyle was one that added up. But I suppose when you boil it down to what Port Adelaide represents - it is a working class, community-based club. So I feel I am a good fit.
"It always was about leading by example ... and helping the team become the best it could be. Four years into my career, I was part of the leadership group and that evolved into being the captain of the football club."
Jonas, 31, notes his privilege "to run out in front of the boys every week with the No. 1 on my back knowing I have the opportunity to set the tone - and represent what this group wants to stand for."
But there is more to leading an AFL team than setting an example on match day.
"I always have had an enormous focus on making my team-mates better," said Jonas, "but it has been the way I did that. One of my skills is being vocal and directional and helping people learn. For me the growth was in understanding not everyone learns the same way. I needed to find other methods to get the message across.
"I always felt that has been a string to my bow. I am coachable myself, but I am always willing to help the people around me and make them better. It has held me in good stead across my journey."
As a footballer, Jonas arrived to the AFL with no grand resume from junior football at Rostrevor College, no rave draft scouting notes in the lead-up to AFL national drafts and as a wildcard "mature-age" recruit (at 20) from SANFL club Norwood.
"It is a bit of a non-traditional path," says Jonas of his rise from the rookie list at Alberton to the man who leads the football club that drafted him in 2011.
"I have been very fortunate across my journey that people showed faith in me and gave me an opportunity. Every day I try to repay that. It goes all the way back to (Norwood SANFL premiership coach and current Port Adelaide forwards coach) Nathan Bassett, (recruiting chief) Geoff Parker, (former senior coach) Matthew Primus - and, obviously, Kenny Hinkley when he came to the club (at the end of 2012) and (football chief) Chris Davies.
"For me it has been a pretty simple recipe: Hard work, leading by example through my actions, selfless and trying to be the best team-mate I can be.
"Most of my learning has come in the past few years when I stepped into the leadership role (in 2019) and become more focused on my relationships and empathy in my connections with others - and the importance of that. For a long time I went about my business doing my role - and being a bit of a hard ass, quite honest and potentially ruthless at times in my feedback. I have been able to adapt that so that I have changed the way I approach certain situations. Hopefully, that has seen me become a better player, person and leader."
The AFL rookie collection has many players who have reached the highest pedestals in Australian football from the lowest starting point on the tough mountain to success. Jonas is self-deprecating of his ability as an AFL footballer, but the game does not allow the incapable to hang around for 200 national league games.
"There are certain skill sets in the game - mine is not of the flowery, skilful, super athletic, exciting footballer," Jonas said. "Mine is a hard-nose, reliable, coachable, tough brand of footy. I do the simple things relatively well. I like to think my coaches and my team-mates can rely on me to do what I say I am going to do."
It was an extraordinary beginning ...
"The debut is one (game) I will never forget," said Jonas. "Go to the MCG, tag Luke Hodge, lose by 26 goals ... that is a baptism of fire. And fined my entire match fee for bumping into an umpire. That is a memorable welcome to the AFL.
"There have been positive moments and tougher moments. But also ones that have let me learn a lot.
"Our whole approach to 2019 and the COVID-affected year (of 2020) - and the way we embraced the challenges. How close we came to playing in a grand final (with a preliminary final finish at Adelaide Oval against eventual premier Richmond in 2020). The boys' attitude and willingness to to adapt and become closer as a group that year was the key to our success. That was a really proud year for me."
Port Adelaide's path to a third consecutive AFL finals series demands the team wins the remaining four home-and-away games starting with Saturday's clash against the finals-bound Collingwood at the MCG.
"While we are still a mathematical chance," said Jonas of the equation that has 11th-placed Port Adelaide (8-10) within reach of the 12-win threshold to reach eighth spot, "we are going to go out there wanting to beat Collingwood this week. What happens outside of that (with fellow contenders Richmond, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs) is out of our control. We just control what we can. If that door to the eight stays ajar - I know the odds are against us - while we are living and breathing we will keep going for the win.
"Regardless of where we end up in a week, a fortnight or three weeks, every week we go out there wanting to win."
The challenge against Collingwood - a team on a nine-game winning streak - certainly offers the chance to make a statement on Port Adelaide's merit as a finals contender.
"Collingwood has been the opposite of us - they have been able to get over the line (in tight finishes)," Jonas said. "That comes from the way they attack the game. When the game is on the line, they become bolder and braver. They really take it on. You make your own luck. The way they play the game has certainly allowed that to manifest (with four consecutive wins by seven points or less in the past month).
"We need to keep playing out brand of footy - and do it for four quarter. We talk about the contests. We talk about executing our ball movement and skills goin forward - and maximising those opportunities. It will be an incredibly high-pressure game."
At selection, Port Adelaide maintained the makeshift ruck partnership with key forwards Charlie Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson - a pairing that continues to inspire faith from the Port Adelaide players.
"Charlie has been phenomenal - and paired with Jeremy they are a dynamic duo," Jonas said. "We might not win the hit-outs, but the damage they do when the ball hits the floor has proven to be a great combination for us. It is not traditional, but it is certainly the way the ruck game is working for us and we are very happy with that."
Jonas not only leads a team, but a defence that is increasingly under the microscope with questions on the next-generation of tall defenders to work alongside him, All-Australian Aliir Aliir, Tom Clurey and Trent McKenzie. The surprise contender is recent draftee Ollie Lord who came to Alberton as a forward prospect.
"The list-management crew have done a magnificent job in the past seven or eight years building a well-rounded list," Jonas said. "Jake Pasini unfortunately fell victim to an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament, knee injury) earlier in the year but he is showing great progress as a footballer. He was very likely to make his AFL debut before he was injured. He will be back early next year.
"Ollie Lord is spending some time in defence. He has some great assets as a footballer through his athleticism and also by how coachable he is.
"Sam Skinner has been dominant in the SANFL.
"I hope Aliir, Tom Clurey, Trent McKenzie and I can fill a couple of roles for a few more years."
No man - except perhaps Jonas' predecessor as captain, Travis Boak - can play forever. The question of when Jonas hands the No. 1 jumper over ultimately will be answered at some point.
"It is an absolute privilege to wear the No. 1 jumper (as captain) and I will wear it for as long as the club - and the playing group - see me as the right person to do that," Jonas said. "Obviously, there will come a time when we want to move on and someone else will have that honour."
Action against Collingwood gets underway from 1:45pm AEST / 1:15pm ACST.
Supporters are advised that a post-match function with players in attendance will be held in the Keith Miller Room, Level 2 in the Shane Warne Stand. The room is subject to capacity restrictions.
