Port Adelaide defender Tom Jonas notes the merit of Power’s significant win against Sydney at SCG

PORT Adelaide has started to cast away the image of being a flat-track bully by beating Sydney at the SCG — and its players have gained new belief from the stirring victory.

Captain Travis Boak and Tom Jonas lead the Power off the Sydney Cricket Ground after the club’s impressive win against Sydney. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

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TOM Jonas is one of only 14 Port Adelaide players to win consecutive AFL games against Sydney at the SCG.

And the hard-edged Power defender notes the latest victory — by 23 points on Easter Sunday — delivers belief Jonas and his team-mates know has far more meaning than the 2017 win against the Swans.

“Both wins are pretty good,” Jonas said, “but to win this game in Hamish Hartlett’s 150th, without (All-Australian ruckman Patrick) Ryder and after copping all that flak for not beating a top-eight side last year, hopefully we get a bit of credit.”

Tom Jonas tries to escape the clutches of Swans superstar Lance Franklin at the SCG on Sunday. Picture: Brett Hemmings/AFL Media/Getty Images

Port Adelaide’s refusal to surrender at half-time ends the external noise that last season defined the Power as “flat-track bullies” while not collecting a top-eight scalp. Internally, it reaffirms to Ken Hinkley’s playing group they are making progress.

“It is reinforcement of what we have been training for in the past four-five months,” Jonas said. “It builds on what we started last year — and it gives us a huge amount of confidence when you beat a team like Sydney on their home ground.”

The Power’s trademark of “never giving up” was given new credence by the team’s reboot at half-time when other AFL teams could have been crushed by self-doubt.

“I’d like to think we have built a bit of resilience,” Jonas said. “Last year, we struggled to beat teams above us. But we had a strong second half against (2017 grand finalists) Adelaide in the JLT pre-season game ... and, hopefully, that becomes a character trait shown throughout the year.

“(At half-time), there was just a big focus on winning the ball,” added Jonas with reference to the Power having a 74-94 loss in contested football at half-time and a plus-10 correction in the second half.

“We had been smashed in that area. And everyone knows, when you pay Sydney, you have to win contested ball to be a chance.”

Port Adelaide's Dougal Howard spoils Sydney's Gary Rohan at the SCG on Sunday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Jonas was one of the standout defenders as Port Adelaide was seemingly overwhelmed by the Swans’ 35-14 run of inside-50 sorties in the first half.

“We hung tough,” said Jonas. “We scrapped it out. We stuck to our structure that gave us support when the ball was coming in a lot. It is a credit to the boys (in defence), especially (key defender) Dougal Howard with his big job (on Lance “Buddy’ Franklin).

“Dougal should be proud of himself. He had a lot of support around him; a lot of encouragement — and you have to be realistic: “Buddy” is one of the best players in the competition. He is going to kick goals. And some of them are going to be incredible, as we saw in the last quarter.

“Dougal kept believing. And we helped whenever we could.”

Port Adelaide beat Sydney in the opening round of Season 2017 at the SCG where Patrick Ryder made his return from a year in the wilderness to become the All-Australian ruckman. The victory on Easter Sunday without Ryder (left Achilles tendinitis) carries greater significance in telling how the Power learned from being without Ryder in 2016.

“It shows the whole team mentality of being tough — and playing a role,” Jonas said. “It does not matter if one player is out. We have others who can step up to fill the void.”

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