PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Jackson Mead is keen to build upon his breakout 2024 season, where he played all 26 games. 

The 23-year-old had clocked just 18 games across the previous four seasons, but made his mark as a regular inclusion last year. 

Speaking to the Adelaide media at the club’s family day on Saturday, Mead spoke on his form this pre-season, how the group is tracking, and on Brandon Zerk-Thatcher’s injury. 

Mead on his own pre-season 
“I think I want to build upon last year. I think we’re going pretty well. So still floating around that midfield and wing role and rotation, so feeling really confident in myself and the guys around me to have a good year.” 

Mead on the confidence drawn from playing every game last year 
“Yeah, it's huge confidence, like I think before that I only played just shy of 20 games so to get a whole season of AFL is a big accomplishment from where I came from. So as I said, I'm wanting to build upon that and have an even better year this year.” 

Mead on the changes made this pre-season 
“We’re obviously trying to play a fast brand of footy, and even trying to defend a bit quicker as well. So we obviously know the brand we want to play, and we're making some little tinkers from last year. So yeah, just trying to implement that at this time of the year and keep going.” 

Mead on match simulation throughout pre-season 
“Yeah, I mean, it gets pretty heated out there sometimes, but that's the competitive nature of footy. I think we all demand a lot from each other, as the coaches do with the players. So I think we all want to keep each other accountable. And we obviously have our goals and aspirations."

Mead on Brandon Zerk-Thatcher’s injury 
“Yeah, he obviously plays a huge part in our team, and he's been training exceptionally. So I think the start of the season he might miss a few games, but we're just trying to get around him at the moment as well.” 

Mead on Esava Ratugolea’s transition back into defence 
“I think last year, he sort of floated in between, and that's obviously a strength of his as well. Like he's a great key defender, and there were a couple of games where he was even better up forward. So I think he’s cementing his spot down back at the moment, and he’s training really well. I think it's only natural that he might float down there (back) a bit more. He's been training there for the whole pre-season so far. He's been training exceptional as well.” 

Mead on forging his own path in football 
“I think it will keep growing as I go on. So I mean, it's only going to come with time as well that you're going to make more of a name for yourself but I’m not too fussed at the moment.” 

Mead on his role this season 
“I mean, at the end of the day, Ken and the coaches are going to put me where they think is best for the team. So I've been training on the wing, and obviously spent a lot of time last year at half forward. And then there are going to be times throughout the year where I need to go in the midfield, and that's where I can build my game a bit more and take more ownership in that area as well.” 

Mead on the coaching group 
“I think we’ve got full faith in the coaches, we’re obviously changing our game plan little bit as well. So we’ve got full faith in the coaches to best prepare us for the year as well. Ken's our coach, and he's obviously really excited and optimistic about the year ahead, as the players are as well. I think, as I touched on, our new game plan that we've got is really exciting, and we're just looking forward to the year and getting into games.” 

Mead on Josh Carr 
“Yeah, absolutely, he’s terrific for the mids. I think the last few years especially I’ve obviously gotten to work with a bit more playing a bit more AFL. But yeah, he's a great coach and great with the players as well. So whether one day he's an AFL coach or he's a midfield coach for life. But yeah, I think he's a great coach either way. His knowledge around stoppage and around the game plan, I think he's one of the best at what he does. And he sets the mids up every week to study oppo and even for personal strengths and weaknesses that people can improve on, he's really good at dissecting that.” 

Mead on injury prevention throughout pre-season  
“I think we always have a duty of care with the players. I think early on in pre-season, we never have a focus of tackling players to the ground. So a lot of time we do two handed touch drills, starting in and then obviously guys in rehab are wearing pink hats so we obviously know that they're non-contact. And yeah, we have a big emphasis on not trying to injure each other, we're all a team at the end of the day. Some of our drills always going to be structured and competitive, and injuries are part of football, and that's just unfortunate. But yeah, we obviously have a duty of care for each other as well.” 

Mead on who has been solid in pre-season 
“It’s always great to work with the mids, it’s going really strong. But some of the new guys coming in, obviously, it's a different environment just getting drafted. So I think all of them have blossomed in their own right and we’re really looking forward to seeing what they can do in the coming trial games.” 

Mead on the motivation this year 
“Like I said, we try to tinker with our game plan and give us give ourselves the best chance to succeed in 2025 and that's obviously by playing a bit faster in offence and then even faster in defence. That’s what I'm trying to do out there.”