Port Adelaide Assistant coach Tyson Goldsack has praised the work of backman Lachie Jones in improving his consistency in 2025.

Jones has become a vital cog in the Power’s defence with his intercept marking and distribution key highlights in recent weeks.

Goldsack works closely with the 23-year-old as his line coach and says he is a smart footballer who works hard on his deficiencies.

Speaking to the media after the club’s captain’s run at Adelaide Oval, Goldsack also spoke about the side selected to tackle North Melbourne on Saturday, how the team will replicate its winning form of the last fortnight and where the versatile Connor Rozee and Jeremy Finlayson will line up against the Roos.

Tyson Goldsack on where Jeremy Finlayson could line up on the field in his return to the AFL line-up:

“It's a good not problem, but it's good place to be, where you can, you can make it work for however you want to make it work. And that's half the reason to have him is that he can. He can definitely play forward. He can play ruck, and he's shown that he can play back. And we've gone to work since the last time he played back so he knows a little bit better. Now he's got a bit more exposure. He's played for the last couple of weeks for the Magpies. Like I said he can play anywhere, but it's probably more than likely going to be forward.”

Tyson Goldsack on how long Travis Boak will be sidelined with a back issue:

“It's serious enough to get a spell or require a spell. So, he'll miss this week, and then he's getting old, so you don't want to rush, you don't want to push it this early in the year. You don't want to push it to breaking point. So, we thought it's probably a good time for him to rest it up.”

Tyson Goldsack on what Connor Rozee has been bringing to defensive line meetings since playing in the backline in recent weeks:

“(He’s not bringing) much to the meetings but he’s bringing a lot on game day. No, he's been great. To have him and Kane Farrell up around the stoppages, they see the game really well. They communicate well with the mids and being a mid himself  he has that connection already. So, when he's up there, it's no problem to play away from stoppages. He's elite because he's got speed, he can read the game well, and his use is exceptional. So, he's been really good for our backline in general. Have Aliir as probably the elder statesman down there being able to run the show deeper, it's been a good balance for us. So fingers crossed it keeps going.”

Tyson Goldsack on Lachie Jones’ form in 2025:

“I've been happy with his year. To be fair, a lot of people remember the Collingwood game where he's dropped the mark right in front and cost us a goal, but a lot of his work defensively has been really, really good. He's played on talls and smalls, and each week, he's been doing a pretty good job for us and cleaned up his ball use as well at the same time. So I think he's been a really good player for us this year.

“I think he can be. He can cop the scapegoat a little bit, because the times that he has made mistakes they were costly as a defender. And if you're playing on a dangerous forward and you make a mistake, they make your pay. It was Jamie Elliott against Collingwood and it's been really, really good players in the past that have burnt him. You want the big jobs and you want to get them done, but when you don't, people remember those moments.

“He works really hard in general, you know, whether it's high balls or ground balls or kicking, knowing the opposition he's coming up against, he works on his craft a lot. What specifically it is will depend on what he feels like he needs. He's a smart guy. He's academically smart, but street smart, and knows his body really well. He's had to, because he's had injuries and had to work through that. You want to make the most of the opportunity you give yourself, and if he's doing a lot of work on the ground or on his player and gets aerial opportunities, you want to cash in. They're the kind of moments to change a game. So, he's gone to town on that.”

Tyson Goldsack on the decision to bring Joe Berry back into the side after a week in the SANFL:

“I think it's more about being able to cover the ground. We dropped away in the last quarter of the Sydney game. Joe's got great running capacity. He covers the ground. He can use the ball well. He showed some really good signs again last week in the twos so it was more on form and him realising he can actually play this game at this level, and we think he can. I don't know if he truly believes that he can play AFL level yet. I can't wait to see it and for everyone else to see it as well. So, him and Joe (Richards) being able to cover the ground as a high forward is really important for us.”

Tyson Goldsack on forward Tom Cochrane spending a period on the sideline with signs of mid-foot stress:

“It's flattening, yeah, and he's had it in the past, so it's not new for him, but it's certainly not something you want to go through in your first year at the club, especially after playing some good footy at the top level. So, we feel for him. We'll be there to support him, and he'll miss a portion of football.”

Tyson Goldsack on how to ensure the side replicates its strong form of the past two weeks against the Kangaroos:

“(It’s about) making sure that we’re doing what we do well, well, and it's not so much about the opposition being off the last two weeks, I think we've played a really high level brand of football, and we've celebrated along the way. I don't shy away from the fact that against Hawks, we celebrated that win, not because of who we beat, but the way that we did it, in the way we did. We built confidence on ourselves playing that brand of football, and then we were able to back it up against the Swans. So, it's more about how did that make you feel? And being together and doing it as a team is really important for us, and trying to harness that feeling and try and replicate that tomorrow will be important for us.”

Tyson Goldsack on the return of Brandon Zerk-Thatcher from a back injury through the SANFL on Friday afternoon:

“He's got a big task today, so he's playing out at Elizabeth against Centrals. It's probably the biggest ground in the southern hemisphere, if not the world. He's not gifted with aerobic capacity, and he's had a long spell, so I'm not expecting him to do a lot today, but his strengthis his contest. At the moment, Esava is playing really well, and so is Aliir. So we're pretty good in that space, but it’s not to say that we can't play three talls if we need to, but just to have him back moving after what he's been through with his back is a big moment for him and for us. And I look forward to getting out there… to watch him play football again, and let's just hope he gets through unscathed and progresses forward and shows some good contests and covers the ground. Okay, I'm not expecting him to set any new world records, but it's good to have him back.”