AS Port Adelaide prepares to crown its 2020 club champion at next Thursday’s Best and Fairest count, portadelaidefc.com.au looks at the contenders to take home the John Cahill Medal.
How the voting works: Following the completion of each game, the panel of Senior Coach Ken Hinkley, Senior Assistant Michael Voss, each player’s respective line coach and General Manager – Football Chris Davies cast their votes. Each player’s performance is rated between 0-5, with a maximum of 20 and minimum of zero votes awarded per player, per game.
John Cahill Medal Contender – Darcy Byrne-Jones
Not many footballers enjoy the rise from cult hero to All-Australian, but such has been the rise of Darcy Byrne-Jones during his 105-game career at Port Adelaide.
Bursting onto the scene and into the hearts of True Believers one and all with his blood-soaked goal on debut at Adelaide Oval in 2016, DBJ has been a favourite of many as much for his flowing mullet as his fearless football.
However, the modest 25-year-old has steadily become one of the first names on Ken Hinkley’s team sheet each week and one of Port Adelaide’s most important players.
The versatile Byrne-Jones has become an important cog in Port Adelaide’s vice-like defence that conceded the fewest points in the AFL in 2020 and dominated territory with its ability to lock the ball it the forward half of the ground.
The Oakleigh Chargers junior has incredible football smarts, ranking 15th in the competition for total intercept possessions, and was responsible for cutting off countless opposition rebounds out of defence. His 12.9 pressure acts per game also ranked in the elite category, as did his 2.4 clearances for a defender.
His 16.9 possessions per game ranked fifth at the Power, while he was third in kicks and fifth in metres gained as evidence of his importance moving the ball forward as well.
Tough as a cat’s head, but with the footy brain and skills to match, Port’s number 33 was a worthy recipient of his first All-Australian blazer this season. In 2019 he finished runner-up to Travis Boak in John Cahill Medal voting and was awarded the Coaches Award as Port’s most improved player. Could he go one better this season and bring Jack home?
Three of the best:
Round 1 vs Gold Coast
Byrne-Jones waste no time continuing his strong form from 2019 with an impressive showing against the Suns, gathering a season-high 25 touches in the 47-point victory. He also received (bizarrely) his only two Brownlow votes for the season.
Round 10 vs Western Bulldogs
After dropping its first game at Adelaide Oval since returning from the Gold Coast Hub, Port was searching for a response against the Bulldogs. Byrne-Jones played an important role in delivering the four points the home crowd craved, gathering 15 touches, 11 intercepts and 15 pressure acts.
Round 17 vs Essendon
Critics were searching for more from Port Adelaide after not “winning by enough” against lower opposition over the back half of the season. DBJ led the charge against Essendon, with his 19 disposals, six intercepts and 14 pressure acts contributing to a 50-point win.
