PORT ADELAIDE players did not jet off on a pre-season camp this year so the leadership group took the opportunity at the weekend to bring some of the new boys along on a camp of their own.

Captain Tom Jonas had new players Orazio Fantasia and Aliir Aliir and draftees Lachie Jones, Ollie Lord and Taj Schofield up to his shack near Younghusband on the River Murray for a weekend of food, fun and getting to know each other.

The skipper told portadelaidefc.com.au that the idea behind the weekend away was simple.

“The leadership team in Hamish (Hartlett), Ollie (Wines) and myself thought it would be a good idea to introduce the new boys to the club and have a little get away to do it that way,” Jonas explained.

“My shack became the destination and it was great because that’s a very special place for me – a place where I go to relax and enjoy myself with family and friends.

“Without the pre-season camp, we decided this was an opportunity to integrate the new boys and spend time together as a group in order to bring them up to speed with what it means to play for Port Adelaide and what we stand for as a leadership group and a playing group.

“Obviously, we want to make them feel at home and break down those barriers and build the connection so they feel comfortable around the group and the senior players.”

The group used the weekend together to learn a bit more about each other including putting the draftees’ cooking skills to the test.

There was also a healthy bit of competition with a cricket game pitting the older players against the newbies.

“We had plenty of activities going on,” Jonas said.

“We didn’t wet the line but we took the boat out and showed them around the Murray River and then had a nice bonfire.

“The young fellas were on cooking duties for dinner time and they did a good job of that on the barbecue and salads.”

“We had a big test match in the afternoon and Taj Schofield impressed for the young boys but for the old firm Hartsy really steered the ship.”