IT’S TAKEN a few years, but Sunday 's Showdown will see Port Adelaide's Jacob Surjan play his 50th game.

Selected in the 2004 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft, Surjan crossed to Alberton from South Fremantle and made his debut that year.

Eight games in his first two seasons were bettered by 15 in 2006, but it was last year that the half-back really found his rhythm; reason for the 22-year-old to feel pretty positive ahead of game number 50.

"It’s a nice little milestone," Surjan told portadelaidefc.com.au

"It really means a lot when you get your name on the locker under the greats who have played at the Port Adelaide Maggies and also under former players Brayden Lyle and Josh Carr.

"I’d like to think I could be a 10-year player. I’d like to play in a premiership with Port Adelaide and to play 100 games.

"I think it’s really special to play 100 games with the same club and get that next to your name on the locker."

Surjan played all but one game in 2007, including the qualifying, preliminary and grand finals, and was an effective option in defence – often shutting down an opposition small forward.

He also worked to win a lot of the ball himself, averaging close to 17 possessions per game.

"I’ve been in the system a little while now and having played a fair few games over the past couple of years, you feel a bit more comfortable when you know, hopefully, you’re going to play week-in and week-out," Surjan said.

"Like every young guy who comes into the AFL system, you have your ups and downs for the first year or two, but then you get settled.

"It’s definitely hard moving away from home and getting used to a new city, but I guess that’s just part of life and I’m really happy I got to come to Port Adelaide."

Unfortunately, Showdowns haven’t been a favourite fixture for Surjan. Three encounters with Adelaide, three losses.

"I think I’ve played in a few now and, no, I haven’t won a Showdown yet,” he said with a smile.

"I missed our good win over them at the end of 2006 because I hurt my shoulder and didn’t get to play, so it would be really good to win one.

"Playing 50 games is great, but for me it’s more important that we get a win on the board this week and get our season going."

An important member of a developing Power defence, Surjan acknowledges the challenges posed by Adelaide's reconstructed attack this week.

"The Crows are playing with a real small forward line at the moment and I think Ken McGregor and Kurt Tippett are the only two real big guys up there," he said.

"When you’ve got the likes of Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, who are all superstars, down there it will be tough to match-up on.

"But as a backline we’re really looking forward to stepping up and playing on those sort of guys.

"We could really start a good tradition with the guys playing in defence if we can beat those guys, being the champions that they are."

Surjan, of Croatian descent, is also focused on offering leadership among the Power's young defenders.

"I’m a vocal person," he said. "Some guys don’t speak up on the footy field, but I’m the type of person who does.

"I like to try and gee-up my teammates and I’m definitely trying to take more of a leadership role this year. I’m getting on, having played 50 games, so I think it’s time players like myself, Toby Thurstans and Troy Chaplin stood up."

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.