Forwards coach Chad Cornes has been impressed by Port Adelaide's "gritty" wins, improving its win-loss ledger to 3-2. Image: AFL Photos.

PORT ADELAIDE forwards coach Chad Cornes has lauded the side’s connection and resilience after two “gritty” wins in consecutive weeks.

The Power’s wins over grand finalist Sydney in Sydney and fellow finalist the Western Bulldogs have come in trying windy and wet conditions, and after Cornes’ side had trailed late in the last quarter of both games.

Speaking with the media at Alberton Oval, Cornes discussed the potential for captain Tom Jonas to return after a week off with a knee injury, shared his perspective on the attention generated by second-year player Jason Horne-Francis and praised a couple of stand-out performances by players in positions that are relatively new to them.

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Chad Cornes on backing up the win over the Swans with Saturday’s rain-soaked victory against the Bulldogs

“Another really important win and a gritty win is a great way to describe it. Two weeks in a row we’ve been able to come from behind. Both obviously really important games in trying conditions. It shows a lot about the boys’ character and their want to win so we’re rapt with the result.

“I think previous to last year we’d prided ourselves on winning those close games but last year – a lot happens when you’re 0-5, it’s hard to come back from there. Generally, in my time here we’ve been pretty resilient in those situations and it’s something we focussed on a lot over the pre-season so it was great to see the boys fight it out in tough situations.”

Port Adelaide were able to overcome challenging conditions to overrun the determined Bulldogs. Image: AFL Photos.

Chad Cornes on the attention Jason Horne-Francis has received from the terraces and the media

“It’s something I’ve never see before. It’s not just the fans, it’s the media, it’s everyone involved in the media. For a kid at that age to be getting that amount of attention, it’s something I’ve never seen and I don’t quite understand it.

“All I’ve seen is a kid that wants to get better. He’s really resilient, he’s loved by his teammates, he’s loved by his coaches and we couldn’t be more pleased with what we’ve got here as a person and his attitude.”

Horne-Francis led the way for Port Adelaide in the fourth, recording 11 disposals, five inside 50s, four clearances in the final term alone. Image: AFL Photos.

Chad Cornes on how Horne-Francis copes with the attention

“From what I see, Jason is going really well. A 19-year-old kid who can impact games as much as he has this year is outstanding. The kind of player he’s going to end up being when it all clicks, normally in your mid-20s is just phenomenal but what we see now is a player who has had a big impact on our footy club and our playing group.”

Chad Cornes on senior coach Ken Hinkley’s post-match discussion of the treatment of Horne-Francis

“When Ken speaks with real passion, I love it because he really means what he’s saying. He speaks so well and I love it when he gets that fired up. He, like myself and like a lot of people don’t understand why there is so much attention on a 19-year-old kid who hasn’t done anything wrong.

“Ken is such a great father figure for some of our players. I’ve sat in on some of his one-on-one meetings with our players and I think that’s his real strength – the way he mentors, teaches. He’s just outstanding and despite all the commentary, he’s probably coaching as well as I’ve seen him since I’ve been here.”

Chad Cornes on what Darcy Byrne-Jones has brought to the forward line in the last fortnight

“The positive for me is that they haven’t been pretty games, we haven’t had forwards taking large amounts of contested marks and kicking lots of goals but there’s been a real intent to get at the opposition when the ball hits the ground, there’s a real intent to not get out marked by the oppo, and that side of footy has really shone to the forefront in the forward line.

“Darcy (Byrne-Jones), Jed (McEntee and Sam) Powell-Pepper lead that charge, along with the talls as well. It’s a real credit to Darce, being the sub in that game (last week) and coming on and doing what he’s done in the last couple of weeks I couldn’t be more impressed.

Darcy is such a good player we just had to get him in the team somewhere. It wasn’t in the backline for that week but there was an opening in the forward line. He couldn’t have done more in that role.

- Chad Cornes on Darcy Byrne-Jones

Chad Cornes on the potential for captain Tom Jonas to feature in the Anzac Appeal Round clash with West Coast on Saturday after being absent to manage a knee issue at the weekend.

“He’s obviously been battling that knee for a while. He sat up in the coaching box with us and his attitude was brilliant. He’s freshened up a bit so I would expect him to come back in (if he proves his fitness).”

Injury report: Jonas in frame for return

Chad Cornes on Dylan Williams’ transition from SANFL forward to AFL defender

“I don’t know if enough has been spoken about Dyl. I think he’s another one that deserves a lot of credit. He’s come from pretty much as far down as you could think and nobody expected him to play AFL this year. He did the right thing in the off-season and has been brilliant with the way he’s approached everything here at the footy club so I was so rapt to see him get his opportunities. And not only get them, but really impact the two games he’s played over the last couple of weeks.

Dylan Williams and Zak Butters celebrate post-game. Image: AFL Photos.

“Mid last year things weren’t working for him as a forward so we had a discussion around the best thing for his development, to just not let him rot as a forward and try him somewhere else. So (Nathan Bassett) and Hamish Hartlett did some really good work with him over the pre-season in terms of his backline craft and it’s really showing now in his game.”