COOKING for two AFL footballers isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it was one of the reasons that Darcy Byrne-Jones decided to stay in South Australia and re-sign with Port Adelaide.
Byrne-Jones has recommitted to the club for another two years, keeping the 22-year-old at Alberton until the end of 2020.
Having played 44 games since making his AFL debut in Round 3, 2016, the versatile backman has become one of the first picked each week because of his running capacity, discipline
Byrne-Jones shares a home with vice-captain Ollie Wines and fellow young defender Tom Clurey and said the fun and friendship they experienced together was part of the reason he chose to stay at Alberton rather than seek a return home to Victoria.
“I do most of the cooking and those boys handle most of the cleaning
“It was a pretty easy decision (to stay).
“The word culture gets thrown around a lot but the people at Port Adelaide are why people come to Port Adelaide and why people stay at Port Adelaide.
“To a man, everyone gets along with everyone, the coaching staff
Byrne-Jones started the season in impressive form, tallying 28 disposals and ten clearances in a game which saw him pick up eight of a maximum ten votes in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year award.
“I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable at AFL level in my third year in the AFL game and I’m really happy with how the season has started, even though it’s early days and there is a lot of footy to be played but so far so good,” he said.
Teenage forward Todd Marshall, who booted a career-high four goals against Fremantle in round 1, has also committed to the club until the end of 2020, while newly drafted ruckman Sam Hayes has extended his contract until the end of 2021.
The 18-year-old was selected from the Eastern Ranges with pick 47 in the 2017 draft and despite not having made his debut yet, has already been mentioned as a potential replacement for the injured Paddy Ryder.
More on portadelaidefc.com.au...
