Port Adelaide defender Logan Evans was pleased with how the backline worked together during Saturday’s pre-season match, despite missing some taller personnel. 

Bringing forward Jeremy Finlayson into defence proved fruitful against St Kilda, with the 197-centimetre utility able to make an impact. 

Evans spoke to the Adelaide media on Monday about his pre-season form, filling gaps on-field and how he’s developed over the past 12 months. 

Evans on Saturday’s pre-season game 
“Yeah, we were pretty happy with how we went. Just we know it's a pre-season game. It was a good turnaround from the Crows hitout, just being able to change up some minor details to get them right. But we were really pretty excited with how we were able to put the speed on the ball and just execute that really well and the way we were able to anticipate our defence in transition. That was some of the big things that we were really happy with.” 

Evans on the backline group 
“I think as a team, as a backline group, we've been really, really strong in understanding that Dan was a loss for us, but yeah, he's moved on, and we've moved on with that, and we're going to miss him, but we know as a back six, back seven, that all of us are going to have to pull us along a bit more.” 

Evans on his focus for 2025 
“I think being able to be a bit more vocal and be that leader, but also my consistency, I know, the last year, (it was my) first year, I guess. But I want to be able to be really consistent and impact each game the way I can, in a really good way. So being able to just pride myself on being a good leader, a good decision maker, and just help the other boys out as much as I can.” 

Evans on the past 12 months 
“Yeah, I guess it's always good to look back on it now and, I guess, the challenges that I've overcome, and where I am now. So, yeah, really pleased with it, but I guess it's not going to stop me from wanting to take my game to another level and continue to get better and be the best player I can.” 

Evans on the improvements from the week before 
”I think like you said, like being a bit sharper with that decision making and ball in hand, and just, I guess, being a bit calm with it as well, and understanding that we're going to make mistakes. It's new game plan from last year. So still getting used to it with new oppo, where we were actually kind of okay with, if we were going to go for it, making a few mistakes was all right.” 

Evans on Jeremy Finlayson playing in defence 
“Yeah, he's been great. For him being an older guy in the team, a bit of a vet, he's just been asking all of us questions and telling us, like, where to put him and for an older guy like that, it's been really, really pleasing to see him just wanting to get better and wanting to learn about his new position. He’s been amazing. 

Evans on his first pre-season as an AFL player 
“Yeah, I've loved it. I think I've really prided myself in my fitness and my my strength and being able to, I guess, hit the ground running, and not really have a slow start, wanting to be able to play straight away again. And I know that I'm not a lock for Round 1 or whatever it is. But just making sure every game, I play as my last.” 

Evans on where his drive comes from 
“I guess how I was raised. My mum’s done a really good job of making me need to earn my rewards. And I guess, being able to, really just mentor me from such a young age and push me to be the person I'm today. See, I guess all of it's really towards my mum and how thankful I have for her to be in my life.” 

Evans on his contract status 
“Um, yeah, hopefully I'm not really looking at it. I'm just playing, as I said, playing every game like it's my last and just enjoying my time out there with the boys and on the field. But, yeah, I guess (a contract extension) would be a reward for effort, but it's not really what I'm looking for at the moment. I’m just focusing on football and getting through. And I’ll let my manager sort that stuff out, and I’ll just keep playing my own footy.” 

Evans on playing taller as a backline in the absence of injured players 
“Yeah, 10 per cent. We kind of have to. So as you said, losing those two boys (Ratugolea and Zerk-Thatcher), getting Jez (Finlayson) back is a really big in for us, and it's been really helpful. But we have to step up and play a bit taller than we are. But I think we're all okay with it and we’ve come to terms with it straight away. And I guess on the weekend, they weren't as tall, but it showed that we were pretty happy to play whatever we needed to play.” 

Evans on playing an intraclub match after pre-season games 
“I think it's good to actually be able to fine tune the things that we've learned from our past two pre-season games. So being able to actually, I guess, adapt to that against each other, and just fine tune those little things we got to work on that probably didn't work as well in the Crows game, and the things that we can keep trying to do that we worked in the St Kilda game. So it's both being able to mix and match from those two games and put it together to really complete how we're going to play this year.”