PORT ADELAIDE’S playing group has taken responsibility for driving its game style, looking for more fun and more goals in 2019.
The revelation came from co-captains Tom Jonas and Ollie Wines during the club’s Hall of Fame and Season Launch gala event at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Wednesday night.
The pair was interviewed on stage in front of 800 people ahead of the announcement of the latest group of Hall of Fame inductees, revealing the confidence they had in their side’s ability to challenge for a return to the finals and a tilt at the 2019 AFL Premiership.
Jonas told the crowd a new game style would help with that.
“At the start of pre-season, Kenny put it on the playing group a little bit to have a say so we came back and said it’s good fun kicking goals, not that I get many, and taking the game on and really making the opposition sweat,” Jonas said.
“So we’ve built a game plan around that and we’re trying to go back to probably three or four years ago to where we were probably more aggressive, more unpredictable and playing with a bit of flair.
“It will be interesting to see how it goes but we’re pretty excited.”
Wines was just as adamant that the off-season recruiting and preparation had the Power primed to be among the sides challenging in September.
“I think we’ve got faith in our list at this stage with the additions to the list in the trade and draft periods,” he said.
“These guys are really exciting, we’ve been really happy with our pre-season, we feel fitter than ever.
“We had a good hit-out against the Crows last week, we’ve got some things to work on this weekend and before you know it the season will be here.
“We’re extremely excited to play footy, we’re sick of training.”
Coach Ken Hinkley was also part of the discussion.
He said he understood Port Adelaide always expected to win games and premierships, saying he was no different.
Hinkley said his side was as prepared as it could be for 2019, but didn’t feel the weight of expectation.
“You give yourself the best chance every time you go out to win, first and foremost, and then to be successful at the end of the season, that’s the end goal every time we start,” he said.
“We understand and we realise the competition we are in makes it nearly impossible for anyone to achieve such a feat or to have done it undefeated.
“We just give ourselves the best chance. We prepare the team to give themselves the greatest opportunity against whatever opposition we come up against.
“I’m probably like every Port Adelaide supporter – I always say ‘don’t ever ask me on a Friday are we going to win?’ because I’m always 100% convinced we are going to win.”
The Power finalises its pre-season preparations with a JLT Community Series hit-out against North Melbourne at Alberton Oval on Saturday.
HOF | Wines and Jonas talk game style
Co-captains talk new game style at the club's Hall of Fame and Season Launch event