PORT Adelaide midfield coach Josh Carr says first-round draft pick Ben Jacobs is a required player at the club despite reports the 20-year-old wants out at Alberton.

Jacobs was taken by the Power with pick no. 16 at the 2010 NAB AFL Draft and has played 26 games for the club, including 14 this season.

It was reported that Jacobs was considering a move back to Melbourne to follow girlfriend Olivia Edwards, but Carr said there was "no doubt" the young defender would play an important part in the club's future should he decide to remain at the Power.

"Benny obviously had a lot of opportunities and played a lot of games in his first two years at this football club, and we think he's a big part of where we want to go," Carr told portadelaidefc.com.au.

"Hopefully he sorts that out over the next few weeks and we're hoping he'll be here with us.

"There's no doubt he's important to where we want to go."

[ Related: Salopek to explore free agency ]

Jacobs battled ankle injuries in 2012, but Carr insisted the club had seen enough of him to suggest he could step his game up to become a consistent performer at AFL level.

"Earlier in the year he played some good games where he was playing half back and shutting out some important players, and over time he just lost a bit of confidence," Carr said.

"He had two ankle injuries through the year that he battled with and had them operated on over the last few weeks.

"He'd be looking to have a big pre-season and start pushing to become a midfielder and spend more time around there."

Jacobs is one of several Port players reportedly looking for a new home, with Steven Salopek declaring he would try his luck as a free agent and Troy Chaplin also set to explore free agency.

[ Related: Full free agent list ]

Chaplin is a restricted free agent, which means the Power would have a chance to match any offer made for the defender.

He could then either accept the Power's offer, ask for a trade, or risk entering the draft.

Carr said the 26-year-old had "every right" to explore free agency, but that his actions around the club suggested he still wanted to play a role at the Power.

"This is the world that we live in now in AFL football that there is free agency, and players are able to move wherever they want when they've been in the system for a long time," he said.

"Chappy's got every right to explore all his options and also see where we're heading and if he wants to be a part of it.

"He's always around the club. He's here today, he's training and doing everything he can do to still be a part of it."

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.