NEWLY appointed Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas says criticism in the media is part of playing AFL football and he understands that is heightened when you are in a leadership role.
Jonas was appointed club captain in his own right last Friday after spending 2019 as co-captain with Ollie Wines.
The 28-year-old says there will always be some criticism, but he and the club know the strong defender is the right man to take on the captaincy.
“I’ve received that criticism throughout my whole career,” Jonas told Kane Cornes and Andrew Hayes on SEN SA’s Breakfast program on Monday morning.
“I haven’t been perfect the whole time. I don’t always play a good game. The criticism is part of the role - I accept that.
“In terms of leadership, I think I’m the right man for the job. Obviously, being down back is a little bit different, but there have been some quality AFL captains play that position in the past.
“Look at Tom Harley and Darren Glass. Your good friend Dom Cassisi was in the midfield - he wasn’t exactly a flashy player.
“I’m very comfortable with the position. As you’ve heard, nothing much will change - it will still Ollie, Hamish (Hartlett) and myself making all of the calls and leading the boys.”
The former Redleg said last year’s leadership group was consulted in the captaincy process, and they - along with other stakeholders of the club - understood the overwhelming desire of the members and supporters for Port Adelaide to return to the tradition of having one captain.
“We were addressed as pretty important stakeholders, so they talked to Ollie, Hamish and myself because we were the ones who would be affected,” Jonas said
“Ultimately, the club is bigger than an individual, and sometimes a team at the particular time. The feedback was, we love our traditions. The number 1 was really important.
“Our leadership system will be pretty similar, but the only change being I’ll be running out in the number 1.
“I am extremely proud and privileged to be able to do that.”
Jonas isn’t concerned about being the leader from the backline, in fact, the key defender said there were a number of tactical benefits.
“As a defender, you get the opportunity to really see the game and set it up,” he said.
“You’ve played with me (Kane), I’m pretty loud and reasonably constructive - I hope you can acknowledge that.
“Being able to talk to those boys in front of me is really important. I am resigned to the cage a bit, but I’d like to think my role isn’t totally relied to that and I can get up the ground.
“Having Ollie in the midfield, I can pass the message on and I hope he would be able to hear it.”
The Power will continue to train at Alberton this week before heading off for a pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast on Thursday morning.
