PORT ADELAIDE players Kane Farrell, Jase Burgoyne and Dylan Williams all signed contract extensions this week to remain at Alberton for two more years.
The defensive trio spoke to the media on Friday to discuss staying on at the club, senior coach Ken Hinkley’s influence and the exciting future of the young core playing group.
KANE FARRELL
Farrell on the decision to stay at Port Adelaide
“It was pretty easy, the young core group we've got made it pretty simple. You always want to part of a team like what we've got at the moment and the way we've been playing this year made it a pretty simple decision.
“It wasn't really on the cards (to go back to Victoria). I'm pretty set here, I've got a house and a couple of dogs and a partner over here so it made things a lot easier. We're pretty set so two more years of that will be pretty nice.”
Farrell on Ken Hinkley’s influence
“He just said just do what's best for you, it's always up to the player but he's always there in your back pocket wanting you to stay so yeah, I think he had full confidence that I wanted to stay here. He really let me make the decision. It’s really the playing group we've got here…(but) to have Ken there in the background, helping us, driving us forward, like he's done for the last five or six years since I've been here, it's always nice when you've got the same coach throughout the years.”
Farrell on facing Fremantle this Sunday
“They’ve been playing some good footy lately so for them, they're probably going to want to slow down our game style a little bit. For us it’s to still be brave and take the game on and use our speed we’ve got through the midfield, so I’m hoping it will be a cracking game.”
Farrell on finals
“We've always set out the goal to play finals and we’ve held onto that top four spot so we've got a second chance but you're always fighting to get as high as you can on the ladder so if we can get into the top two that's what we’ll set out to do but top four is also a good achievement.”
DYLAN WILLIAMS
Williams on his contract extension
“Probably where I was at 18 months ago, (a contract extension) definitely wasn’t (on the cards). The start of pre-season, (I got) a bit more confidence and then playing a couple of games, the belief did grow but there was a pretty small chance at the start of the year.”
Williams on being delisted and re-rookie contracted after last season
“It was a little bit frustrating, but I understood where I was at. Me and Kenny have an open relationship with conversation and I knew where I was at and the footy I was playing wasn't good enough. That switch to the backline was a bit of a blessing in disguise and it’s worked out well so far.”
Williams on the move to the backlines
“I've always had a lot of self-confidence and backed my skills and it probably works out well with my skill balance in the backline (and) a little bit less running. I can read the game and use my creativity so it’s worked out well.
“I sat down with Ken and Nathan Bassett when he was the forwards coach last year and he said it was going to be hard to play as that high forward with who we’ve got in the side and (with) my running capabilities so they said we'll just try you down back and see what happens.
“The first few weeks I guess were the hardest and the boys obviously really good for me with helping me down there, but it probably is a little bit more natural (for me) in terms of reading the play and you can cut angles a bit more whereas that high forward you just have to run up and own all day.”
JASE BURGOYNE
Burgoyne on his contract extension
“It's pretty exciting. Like (Kane Farrell) said with the group we have now going forward, obviously we’re building something pretty special here. It was a pretty easy decision for me being from Adelaide and all my friends and family are here, so I'm really excited and I was pretty stoked to sign on.”
Burgoyne on continuing his family legacy at Alberton
“Obviously it’s good to try and add to the Burgoyne legacy here at Port, obviously with dad and my uncle here and my Pop played for the Magpies back in the day. I'm just happy to be here and I can't wait to add to that legacy.
“When I first got drafted, I didn’t really think (being a Burgoyne) was a burden or anything, I just felt like a normal player. It didn’t really affect me, I never thought of it as extra pressure or anything and even at the club I just feel like a normal player and no one treats me differently.”
Burgoyne on his preferred position
“I grew up playing wing as a junior and obviously my first year and the start of this year I was playing backline. We started winning a lot and everyone was playing well and they said do you want to try on the wing, there was a spot open there, and I was pretty happy to move there considering I played all my juniors there…I've enjoyed my time there in the SANFL and got to play a game there against Carlton a couple of weeks back. I'm open to a full move to the wing but I'm pretty versatile so I can still switch back if they need.”
Burgoyne on his friendship with Jason Horne-Francis
“It's good to have him here, we know each other from a couple of years' back from state teams and stuff but he's one of my good mates at the club, always joking around and fighting with him. It's good to see how well he's going right now and hopefully I'll be up there with him soon.”
