Darcy Byrne-Jones signs new deal after career best season at Port Adelaide as six put pen to paper
Dashing Port defender and club champion runner-up Darcy Byrne-Jones has put pen to paper on a new deal after enjoying a breakout year, joining the evergreen Justin Westhoff as one of six players to re-sign.
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Dashing defender Darcy Byrne-Jones has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal as Port Adelaide announced a swag of re-signings.
Club champion runner-up Byrne-Jones had a year to go on his contract at Port, but the 24-year-old has inked a contract extension that will keep him at Alberton until the end of the 2023 season.
Other players to have re-signed this week include key veteran swingman Justin Westhoff, 33, who will enter his 14th pre-season in November after he triggered a contract extension, defenders Trent McKenzie and Martin Frederick, midfielder Cam Sutcliffe and forward Tobin Cox.
Sutcliffe and Cox have been retained as rookies while Frederick fits under the Category B rookie status.
Previously re-contracted ruckman Peter Ladhams and defender Jarrod Lienert have been upgraded off the rookie list onto Port’s primary list.
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Byrne-Jones had a year to go on his contract at Port, but the Power have announced that the 24-year-old has inked a contract extension that will keep him at Alberton until the end of the 2023 season.
Byrne-Jones, who was taken at pick 52 in the 2013 draft, said he was excited about the future at Port.
“We have a young and exciting list that is capable of challenging for a premiership and I’m looking forward to playing my part in that,” he said.
Byrne-Jones had a career-best year in 2019, averaging 22.4 disposals, five marks and three tackles from his 22 games this season.
This gained glowing praise from Port’s coaching staff, with senior coach Ken Hinkley towards the end of the year declaring Byrne-Jones should be in the All-Australian team.
This accolade was not forthcoming when the season finished but Byrne-Jones’ rapid rise in 2019 did result in him finishing second in Port’s best and fairest behind former skipper Travis Boak.
Port Adelaide general manager of football Chris Davies said Byrne-Jones had made massive strides this season.
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“Darcy has developed into one of the most reliable defenders in the side and someone who is a key component of our backline,” he said.
“At 24 we have seen him mature into a consistent AFL player and we are rapt that he’s chosen to extend his time at the club.”
Port Adelaide again reiterated it will drive a hard bargain for key defender Dougal Howard after he informed the Power he would like to go to St Kilda if a trade could be facilitated.
St Kilda have traded pick No. 6 to GWS for the 12th and 18th selections in the draft and have indicated they could be used to secure a move for Howard.