AFL Draft 2020: Port Adelaide secures top target Lachie Jones and developing forward Ollie Lord

Lachie Jones watched the AFL draft at the Wallaroo Tavern and the lifelong Port Adelaide fan enjoyed a special celebration when the Power called out his name.

Who from Port Adelaide actually discovered Lachie Jones remains up for debate inside the club, but Power recruiting manager Geoff Parker says they are rapt to get the highly rated defender.

Touted as ready to go as soon as Round 1 next year after starring for Woodville-West Torrens in their SANFL premiership, Jones joined the Power as a Next Generation Academy player at Pick 16 in the draft after Port matched Collingwood’s bid.

Former defender and now the club’s multicultural programs manager Alipate Carlile has not wasted time in reminding Parker that he “found” Jones at a footy carnival, which the recruiting manager says he can claim.

“He (Carlile) keeps telling me all the time that he found him, so that’s all good,” Parker said.

“If he wants to work with Lachie then that’s fine because Bobby (Carlile) was a really good defender himself.”

A lifelong Port fan, Jones was still basking in his childhood dream coming true on Thursday.

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Port Adelaide draft pick Lachie Jones outside Adelaide Oval. Picture: Mark Brake

He said he started to believe he would end up at the Power two months ago when Ken Hinkley and footy manager Chris Davies told him their plans for him.

“I wear my Port gear normally and now it has a lot more of a meaning for me,” he said.

From Bute on the Yorke Peninsula, Jones watched himself being selected by Port Adelaide at the Wallaroo Tavern with fellow draftees Caleb Poulter and Zac Phillips.

“We had a few quiet ones,” Jones said.

“It was a long night, it would be rude not to and after the draft was done we definitely had a few more beers and dad and I were able to share one which was very special.”

With their second selection of the draft the Power took Sandringham key forward Ollie Lord at pick 49 and Parker said the settled nature of Port’s list would help his development.

“We’ve obviously known about Lachie for a long time and I think everyone knew we were going to match a bid,” he said.

“So that allowed us to sort of plan some other things because we knew what we were going to get with Lachie.

“So to be able to bring in another tall key forward and the good thing for us is that the team is really settled at the moment so we don’t have to rush that through.

“He can learn from Charlie (Dixon), Toddy Marshall and Chad Cornes. So we are happy with that.”

Port Adelaide matched a bid from Collingwood for Lachie Jones. Picture: Dean Martin

Jones joins Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma (2018) and Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades, Dylan Williams and Jackson Mead (2019) as top-25 choices.

Parker said apart from Jones’s unique ability he addressed a long-term need down back.

“Over the past few years, we really tried to attack a few areas, we really tried to shore up the forward line and the midfield,’’ he said.

“Our defenders in football terms are getting a bit older and Jones playing down back for most of his career fits that need, so I think we’re pretty well balanced now.”

Jones, eligible as a Port NGA player because he has indigenous heritage on his dad Ben’s side of the family, has been compared to West Coast premiership captain Shannon Hurn.

EVERY PICK: RECAP EVERY DRAFT SELECTION HERE

All smiles in his new jumper 😄 #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/1tRhoB79DU

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) December 9, 2020

Port also selected the grandson of Geelong’s 1962 Brownlow Medallist Alistair Lord, key forward Ollie Lord, from Sandringham Dragons, with pick 49.

The two draftees added to the key trades for tall defender Aliir Aliir from Sydney and speedy forward Orazio Fantasia from Essendon.

Parker described the explosive, 186cm Jones, who is a long-time Power supporter, as “having that ability to play a little bit taller and a bit smaller than what he is physically’’.

“He has some real speed, burst and power and can take a nice grab,’’ he said.

“His body of work is really good and while he’s pretty laid back and casual there’s a quiet intensity about him. He takes no prisoners.’’

Port Adelaide picked Ollie Lord at No. 49

Eagles coach Jade Sheedy rates Jones as a better draft prospect than two of his former Sturt teammates who were selected in the top six – Jack Trengove (No. 2 to Melbourne in 2009) and Chad Wingard (No. 6 to Port in 2011).

He believes he is physically ready to play in round one next season and will evolve into a powerful midfielder.

The Power is expected to take father-son prospect Taj Schofield – the son of 2004 premiership midfielder and assistant coach Jarrad Schofield – in Thursday’s rookie draft.

The moment Lachie Jones 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 became a Port Adelaide player 🤗 #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/PglJwPhimE

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) December 9, 2020

Will Fantasia’s arrival release Rozee into the midfield?

- Reece Homfray

Orazio Fantasia stepped out in a Port Adelaide guernsey for the first time on Monday in a move that may release Connor Rozee into the Power’s engine room.

The Essendon recruit started training early as Port Adelaide’s 1-4 year players began their pre-season campaigns at Alberton alongside All-Australian big man Charlie Dixon.

Rozee, 20, said he and Zak Butters were both excited about the potential of playing more midfield minutes with Fantasia in the forwardline.

“I’ve had small discussions (with the coaches) here and there about what it’s going to do to my role, it might let me go into the midfield a little bit more which will be enjoyable and it might free up a few of the other boys who play a lot forward as well,” he said.

“It’s probably not a question for me, you’d have to ask one of the coaching group but we’ll both be fighting for those midfield minutes.

“It changes every year depending on personnel and the way I’m playing, but I do enjoy playing forward and in the midfield as well.

“Robbie (Gray) has a really cool role, he gets to go in the midfield and (pinch) hit down forward so something like that, a 50/50 or something that combines the two roles would be really good.”

Rozee revealed he played through a torn plantar fascia this season but did not require surgery and was injury free at the start of summer.

“I had a partially torn plantar fascia and unfortunately there’s not much treatment for it other than to rest it,” he said.

“It got to a point where it was really sore, I won’t lie, there were a few weeks after where I was pushing through a bit of pain and had to take a couple of weeks off.

Fantasia on the track at Alberton. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“So it did affect me for a few months but after that little break I came back and was feeling better and that last game in the finals probably showed I was getting back to where I wanted.

“I had a few weeks off (after the season) but it was a bit shorter than usual, but I got to rest the legs and I’m feeling pretty much 100 per cent now so should be good to go for next season.”

Port Adelaide fell six points short of Richmond in the preliminary final at Adelaide Oval in October which Rozee said would drive them next season.

“We didn’t get what we wanted going into finals and we’re really proud of where we got to, but that’s not (the destination) we want,” he said.

“There is still that burning passion to go deeper into finals and take that next step into a grand final.

“It’s definitely been in the back of my mind, I’ve always wanted to win an (AFL) premiership since I was a little kid so that passion is still there and all the young boys can attest that we will be coming out just as fiery as we did at the start of last season and ready to go.”

Joining the Power on the track at Alberton on Monday was development coach and Collingwood premiership player Tyson Goldsack who is a chance to be rookie listed by the club on Thursday.

Goldsack didn’t train with the players but was running about with his footy boots on indicating he will be ready to go if his name is called this week.

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