Port Adelaide defender Kane Farrell says he’s focused on developing his leadership as a senior player in the backline in 2025. 

Farrell is looking forward to the way his on-field role might change, while also working to become more vocal, helping to lead a young defensive unit. 

Speaking with the Adelaide media on Wednesday, the 25-year-old talked about the season ahead, Zak Butters’ knee injury, and his own future. 

Farrell on his role this year 
“Obviously losing Dan (Houston), he was a bit of a sidekick for me, like me and him worked together pretty well, but now it's just gives me bit more time up higher and I can play sort of his role now. So I'm really looking forward to the challenge that will set me. And then we've got also Ryan Burton will play up there now, Logan Evans will come up a bit higher. So we've got blokes who can fill that role. So it just means more of a team effort now to fill that sort of role.” 

Farrell on developing more responsibility and leadership 
“Yeah, definitely, it's where I want to get to as a footballer. Obviously, Dan's a great player, so it's something I looked up to and wanted to try get to. So this year would definitely be a great test for myself to try push it even better. (Leadership is) something I focused on this pre-season. Wasn't out there on the track for all the pre-season, but I made sure when I was out there I was trying to lead. Being a bit older now as well in the group, as young as we are down back, so that's something I'm definitely focused on throughout the year is being more vocal and more of a leader out there. 

“It's always been a focus over the last probably year and a half of being in the side a lot more now, and knowing what my role is, is really focusing on bringing others around me to create a better vibe as a backline group. And so for me, it's just being more vocal out there so then it feels like I'm involved in the game without the ball in hand.” 

Farrell on Zak Butters’ injury 
“Yeah, obviously it's not what we want to start the season. But we've also got players that can fill that role. Jackson Mead can come in and play some more midfield minutes now, Boaky might even get to go inside. And Willem Drew will get more minutes, so it's not what we really hope for, but we might miss him for the start of the season, but I'm sure he'll come back stronger and better. It's part of footy (though). Injuries happen. We sometimes get a few this time of year, but look, they'll come back better. They only miss maybe one or two games, so they're looking really strong anyway. We've seen Sav (Esava Ratugolea) running around today, so that's a good sign for him to come back, hopefully getting back earlier.” 

Farrell on speaking with Butters since his injury 
“He’s just frustrated himself, because he just wants to be out there and play with us and give everything he's got. So he'll spend a couple of days away, go check his knee out and see what's going on. So yeah, he's just wanting to get back into it and start training again and put his best foot forward so he can start playing as soon as he can.” 

Farrell on his future 
“I’m pretty happy here. Set up, got a couple of dogs and a partner, so pretty happy. And just really at the moment, I’ve only just got back into training and playing games, so looking to get a good, strong start this season, and then let my management group sort out what's going to happen.  

“Obviously, the chats with Ken and Carry (Josh Carr) about what my role will look like and what they want from me, it's definitely encouraging of what I want (to be) as a footballer, and that's to be more of a leader down back and provide a lot of offence and be stronger down there for our group. So no, it's definitely been something we've chatted about anyway.” 

Farrell on if players speak to each other about contract status 
“Nah, we barely talk about contracts. Everyone just wants to be out there and play footy. That's why we're here. We just want to get out there, kick the footy around and be the best person we can so whatever happens, happens, but everyone's very happy at the moment with where we are as a team.” 

Farrell on the season ahead 
“I try not to read too much into (the outside noise). I don't really look into media so much. It's all about blowing things up that aren't too big in the first case. So we're just out here trying to play our best footy. Our best footy can match it with anyone. So it's just about being consistent with it all and trying to put our best foot forward each game and each week. So give our best chance of playing great footy and playing deep into September. 

“We've got plenty of firepower. I feel like we've got some great offensive weapons. We've still got some strong defenders, some that might not play the start of the season, but when they come back in, we've definitely got a lot of great defence down there. So once we get our size back, we'll be pretty well settled. We are pretty well-motivated ourselves. We know what we want from each other. We know what we should get from each other. So it's about driving the high standards that we want as a group internally, and then that'll put us in the right stead going forward.” 

Farrell on the changes in the list since his debut 
“Yeah, it's funny. It didn't really click to sort of how many people left and how old I was getting – not old, but like football old! So going through the list and checking who was still here when I was playing at the start, it is a bit scary. But there's also some older boys at the club that have got less blokes around them that they used to know. So no, it's exciting though, because I'm coming into a good time of my career, I reckon.” 

Farrell on the prospect of playing his 100th game this year 
“I don't really know. I just expected to play one game (which) I was happy with. So it was just a dream to come true to get drafted, and then now to look at coming up to 100 games, it's pretty special, and something I'll definitely look back on post footy.”