TOM Clurey is in perfect sync with his football club - the key defender and Port Adelaide are both looking to build on reputations of delivering consistently strong performances.
As Clurey prepares to mark his 100th AFL game in the premiership-season opener against North Melbourne at the Docklands on Sunday, Port Adelaide will seek to prove its rise to the 2020 minor premiership was just the start of the team's ambitions to be a consistent AFL pacesetter.
"We have proven we can be that consistent team and that team we want to be," Clurey said on Thursday. "But last year we got nothing out of it (with a home preliminary final exit to eventual premier Richmond).
"We proved to ourselves that we are good enough and we can beat any team on our day. But it is about putting that forward all year again. It starts this week, continues week by week and at the end of the year when the real stuff happens, hopefully, we will be there and in with a good shot again."
Clurey, 27 next week, reaches the 100-game milestone seven years after his AFL debut against Carlton in Round 1, 2014 - his only senior game that season. The breakthrough came in his second year at Alberton after being called at No.29 in the 2012 AFL national draft.
"It is a very proud moment ... obviously it has taken a little while now, this is my ninth year," Clurey said at Alberton on Thursday. "I am proud and privileged to play 100 games for this club (and) hopefully there are many more to come and plenty of good years ahead."
Clurey paid tribute to former Port Adelaide defenders Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove and current captain and fellow backman Tom Jonas for telling advice on how to survive in the tough and uncompromising environment of AFL football.
"I've learned a lot and you never stop learning," Clurey said. "Coming in, I was pretty raw as a key position backman. Even this pre-season I have been trying to step my game up and be more consistent."
Just as Port Adelaide is determined to change its image, so is Clurey driven to be more than a lockdown defender.
"Consistency," says Clurey of his personal ambition that mirrors his team's objectives.
"I think I have shown over the past few years that I am capable of playing that key role down back. Doing that consistently and playing my role and helping my team-mates (is the aim).
"Definitely being a lockdown (defender) playing on a bigger player (is the main role) but I am always looking to try getting a few more kicks here and there. I'll keep trying to add to that side of the game as well."
Experienced Port Adelaide defender Hamish Hartlett completed a full training session at Alberton on Thursday to add to the selection options for coach Ken Hinkley, who also has to manage the 23rd man - medical substitute - for the first time.
Clurey acknowledges it is "definitely" tougher to command a spot in the Port Adelaide back six this season.
"With Aliir Aliir coming in (from Sydney) that makes it tighter and then we have a couple of young boys, Lachie Jones and Miles Bergman, stepping up as well," Clurey said. "But that is what we need - that good competition for spots. And we have minimal injuries at the moment. It is exciting leading into Round 1."
Port Adelaide's line-up - with three emergencies - will be named on Saturday evening.
The substitute resumes - after a five-season absence and with a different set of rules - with the AFL endorsing the 23rd man on the eve of today's opening to the premiership season.
"A bit more notice would have been ideal for the team and the coaches," Clurey said. "Sprung before Round 1 is not ideal, but there is nothing much you can do.
"On a concussion basis it is definitely good - (concussion) is a thing our game takes very seriously. And we need to because it is such a big thing."
