PORT ADELAIDE players have returned to Alberton Oval for pre-season training, later than usual but with expectations of going further in 2021 than last season.
The first to fourth year players returned to training for two weeks prior to Christmas but the rest of the squad joined in on Wednesday.
COVID restrictions continue to apply, meaning players are training in groups of ten.
Port surprised many by winning the minor premiership and falling just short of a Grand Final berth in 2020, and captain Tom Jonas warns his side expects to improve again.
“This is the first pre-season we’ve come back after Christmas so it’s a bit of a luxury and we’ve made the most of it, but there’s an expectation that we come back basically ready to go because it’s only five or six weeks until the games,” he said during a press conference after training.
“Personally, not a lot has changed for me. I always try and keep fit and healthy and the body is feeling pretty good.
“This time last year I had only just started running anyway so it’s not a lot different.
“Judging by what I’ve seen out here today and what I heard from the young boys before Christmas we’re going to give ourselves a great opportunity to start the year well.”
Jonas is adamant the club is not satisfied with its 2020 season, admitting he re-watched the disappointing preliminary final loss to Richmond and even took in the Grand Final.
He says the side is well aware it cannot fly under the radar again this season, but would not want to.
“We’re obviously happy with how we went last year but not satisfied and if anything, we’re going to use that to drive us a step further,” Jonas said.
“It’s not just going to happen this year because we were around the mark last year. We’ve got to come with an extra hunger to go those extra two steps further and try and emulate what Richmond has done.
“Teams probably see you coming but at the same time we’ve got very high internal expectations and we’d be disappointed if people didn’t come and expect what we delivered last year.
“It means we’ve got to take another step and hopefully catch some of them napping.”
The captain’s training group included 2019 draftees Miles Bergman and Jake Pasini and he was impressed with the condition they had returned in.
With the addition of Aliir Aliir and Orazio Fantasia in the trade period and the drafting of Lachie Jones, Taj Schofield and Ollie Lord, Jonas is expecting significant pressure for spots come Round 1.
“On paper it looks pretty good,” he explained.
“We did some great work over the trade period and free agency period so hats off to (Jason Cripps) and (Chris Davies) for getting that done.
“It’s nice to have Aliir here putting pressure on the other defenders or whether that’s a ruckman or up forward, and to get Orazio in is going to be exciting, not to mention the draft picks we got.
“It’s going to be tough for spots but it always works itself out in the end.”
Aliir will join his new teammates at training next week after a check-in with a surgeon in Sydney meant he was forced into quarantine upon his arrival in Adelaide.
And apart from getting back to playing footy, Jonas is excited to have Port Adelaide back in the SANFL after missing 2020 due to the AFL’s COVID-19 restrictions.
“There’s many reasons why it’d be great to have the Maggies back, not to mention the supporters of the Magpies that have been black and white their whole lives,” the captain said.
“They’ll hopefully be able to come back to Alberton to watch a game of footy (soon).
“Also, for the development of our young players and just for people to find form and press for spots for the senior players who might not be getting a game.
“It’s going to be beneficial for a lot of reasons and it’s great to have the Maggies back in the SANFL.”
