PORT Adelaide has an unwritten rule of taking local talent to fill the spots on its rookie list, but recruiting manager Geoff Parker says he was happy to make an exception on Tuesday.

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The Power selected South Australian-born players Tom Jonas and Callum Hay with their first two picks in the 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, before springing a surprise by taking little-known West Australian Jarrad Irons with their third pick.

Parker first spotted Irons playing alongside Richmond's first-round national draft recruit Reece Conca at WAFL club Perth early this year.

He liked what he saw, but was wary of tipping off other recruiters by showing too much interest in the small defender/midfielder.

Port Adelaide waited until a few weeks out from the end of the season to interview Irons and then secretly flew him to Adelaide to train with the team.

Parker said the spy games had paid off when Irons was still available at pick No.50 on Tuesday morning.

"There wasn't much talk of Jarrad's name during the year, but I saw him play half a dozen times and liked what I saw. He's got some good speed and agility. He's a good kick coming out of defence and makes good decisions," Parker said.

"We have a history of taking local boys in the draft, which we did again this year, but getting someone from Perth was probably a little bit different."

Irons, the son of the Federal MP for Swan Steve Irons, said he had no qualms about being the only interstate rookie on the Power's list.

"I'd move anywhere to follow my dream," Irons said.

"I'd had a few chats with Port and stayed in contact and was hoping for the best, so when my name got called out I was very happy."

Jonas played in Norwood's loss to Central District in the SANFL grand final last season.

The mid-sized defender trained with the Power in the lead up to the draft, but said he was given no guarantees by the club.

"At the start of this year I was playing out with the Norwood reserves, but as the year went on I had a bit of a suspicion I might be a chance if I kept playing well," Jonas said.

"In the weeks before the draft I heard a few things, so I thought there was a possibility I might get drafted but I wasn't really sure. I came from a long way back, so to hear my name called out…I was very happy."

The Power used their fourth pick (No.65 overall) to nab young Sturt ruckman Mitch Curnow.

At just 17 years of age, Curnow only qualified for this year's draft by a week and said he was willing to be patient with his development.

"I aspire to be a similar player to what he [coach Matthew Primus] was and a similar build," Curnow said.

"I'm prepared for lots of weight sessions over the next couple of years and hopefully it will be the next couple of years."
 
Port Adelaide's four new rookies celebrated their first day at Alberton, with an announcement V.I.P Home Services had come onboard as sponsor of the club.