PORT ADELAIDE defender Darcy Byrne-Jones is excited to have a number of senior players who missed last year’s pre-season available this time around.

The Power missed senior players Ollie Wines, Hamish Hartlett, Charlie Dixon and Brad Ebert for large periods of the 2019 season but all are on the track and impressing in pre-season.

Byrne-Jones also says the integration of more high-end talent from the 2019 NAB AFL Draft has also added another level of energy to Alberton. 

“There definitely is an exciting feeling amongst the group,” Byrne-Jones said at a press conference at the Colac Hotel redevelopment on Tuesday afternoon.

“Having Charlie (Dixon), Ebo (Brad Ebert) and Hartsy (Hamish Hartlett) training a lot more in the pre-season is exciting.

“The new faces who have come in - to get three first-round draft picks and a couple of father-sons - is an exciting time for the club.

“Those young guys definitely bring a lot of excitement to the group. We are really keen to work hard over the pre-season and take that momentum into next year.”

The 24-year-old was runner-up in the club’s best & fairest last season, but knows there is still plenty of development left in him.

“There are always areas in your game you can work on,” he said.

“I’ve been working with Brett Montgomery - our backs coach.

“We’ve got Tyson Goldsack coming in working with the defenders as well, which is exciting to have a fresh face and coming from Collingwood who have had some success recently.

“Personally, I’ve just been working on all areas of my game. Reviewing it weekly. And just working hard at this time of the year.

“There are three or four sessions a week, so there are always opportunities to improve.”

Byrne-Jones and the rest of his teammates will head to the Sunshine Coast on Thursday morning for a gruelling pre-season camp, but the talented defender said the camp was as much about connection within the group as it was about the tough training load.

“It will tough training wise,” he said.

“We do a lot of running. A lot of training. A lot of footy skills work as well.

“But at the same time, we have a lot of fun. A lot of activities together at night and during the day.

“One thing we have been focussing on is that connection. Getting to know the young guys is really important, and making them feel welcome at the club has been a big focus for us.

“Going to the camp this week, it will be a really big focus of ours.”