DEFENDERS Kane Farrell, Jase Burgoyne and Dylan Williams have agreed to terms on respective two-year contract extensions to keep them at Port Adelaide until the end of the 2025 season.
In his sixth season at Alberton, Farrell has become a key part of the club’s backline using his penetrating left foot to kick long goals and rebound from defence – averaging 425 metres gained.
Taken with pick 51 in the 2017 AFL National Draft, the Castlemaine product has come back strongly from a knee injury that ruined his 2021 season to be a consistent feature at half back.
Originally played as a half forward, the 24-year-old has booted 40 goals in his 67 AFL games.
In just his second season, Burgoyne has shown composure beyond his years and his strong football IQ in his 13 AFL games.
Drafted with the 60th pick of the 2021 NAB AFL National Draft under the competition’s father-son rule, the 20-year-old showcased his natural ability to accumulate the ball at SANFL level in 2022 and eventually forced his way into the AFL side in Round 16, retaining his spot for the remainder of the season.
A move up the ground to spend more time on the wing in the SANFL this season has seen him average 21 disposals, three tackles and three inside 50s per game, while he has also played five AFL games in 2023.
Burgoyne is the third generation of his family to represent Port Adelaide, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Peter Burgoyne senior, his father Peter Burgoyne, and his brother Trent Burgoyne.
Williams’ has been a remarkable career turnaround with the 22-year-old delisted at the end of the 2022 season and offered a rookie contract after failing to add to his debut AFL game a year earlier.
A crafty forward who led the club’s SANFL goal kicking in 2021, a shift into the backline has allowed him to display his strengths including his composure, overhead marking ability and accuracy off his left boot.
Originally the 23rd pick in the 2019 AFL National Draft, Williams has played 18 AFL games this season.
Port Adelaide List Manager Jason Cripps said Farrell, Burgoyne and Williams were part of a core group of young players that would drive the club in coming years.
“Dylan has shown remarkable resilience and a desire to improve over the past 12 months and has been rewarded for his hard work and persistence with his contract extension,” Cripps said.
“Kane, likewise, has made the shift into the backline where he is important to the way we transition out of defence. He adds a lot of class to our ball movement but has also improved his defensive craft and is becoming a reliable defender.
“Jase is a natural footballer who plays with calmness and poise. The exciting thing for our people is that he still has a lot of development and improvement to come.”
Farrell, Burgoyne and Williams are the latest to extend their time at Port Adelaide, joining Miles Bergman, Jed McEntee and Trent McKenzie in recent weeks.
