PORT Adelaide rookie Tom Jonas is hopeful his debut AFL game against Hawthorn on Saturday will be enough to convince his Crow-supporting family to become devout Power followers.

Jonas and former top-10 draft pick John Butcher will become the sixth and seventh debutants for the Power this season when the club takes on the Hawks at the MCG.

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Jonas, 20, was rookie-listed by Port Adelaide in December after an impressive debut season at senior level with Norwood.

The former Rostrevor College student grew up barracking for the Redlegs and as a 12-year-old spent his Saturday afternoons running drinks for the club's under-19 team.

He also followed Adelaide in the AFL prior to being drafted by the Power with their first selection in the 2011 NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

"I supported our cross-town rivals until about 10 months ago, but it changed very quickly," Jonas told portadelaidefc.com.au.

"I'm still winning the family over. Mum came around when we won the Showdown early in the year, but dad's still teetering.

"Hopefully, he comes across when I start playing."

Jonas would've made his debut earlier in the season if not for a thumb injury, which cost him eight weeks on the sidelines.

The strongly built 188cm utility ruptured tendons in his left thumb playing for Norwood in June and required surgery to repair the damage.

"I'm not really sure how the injury happened," he said.

"I was tagging Paul Thomas of Central District and during the day I had a sore thumb.

"I had it strapped up, but saw the doctor after the game and he realised it was a bit worse than we first thought. The joint was a bit sloppy and loose.

"I had a choice of trying to play on, or getting it fixed. The club thought I should err on the side of caution, get it fixed and come back later in the year."

It was a setback for Jonas, who had been in impressive form for the Redlegs since switching from his regular post in defence to the midfield.

The positional change was suggested by Port Adelaide in consultation with respected former Adelaide defender and Norwood coach Nathan Bassett, who was credited with reviving the AFL dreams of ex-Redlegs players Nick Duigan, Paul Puopolo and Nick Lower last season.

"'Bass' and the coaches here at Port thought it would be beneficial to my development to play in the midfield," Jonas said.

"Bass was happy to give me a run in there and I went OK and stayed there.

"Bass was also really important to my development last year, and in helping me get a chance on the rookie list."

Jonas spent two years studying law at Adelaide University prior to being picked up by Port Adelaide, but said he'd never given up hope of playing in the AFL.

"It's cliché, but I was always one of those kids who wanted to play AFL," he said.

"It's been a big learning curve because I didn't know what to expect in terms of the physical duress and time commitment.

"I think I've adjusted well and it's been really enjoyable."

Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill