Tom Jonas expects to co-captain Port Adelaide with Ollie Wines again in 2020
Tom Jonas says there is a leadership review underway at Port Adelaide as he weighs into the captaincy debate, Ollie Wines’ trade rumours and saying goodbye to Dougal Howard in a massive edition of The Lowdown Podcast.
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Port Adelaide is in the midst of a leadership review but co-captain Tom Jonas fully expects to be leading the team as co-captain with Ollie Wines next year.
There is mounting speculation that going into the club’s 150th anniversary year in 2020, the Power will revert to one captain as per club tradition and abandon its dual captaincy model after just one season.
But speaking on The Lowdown Podcast this week, Jonas said he does not expect there to be any change.
“I think there’s a leadership review going on but as far as I’m concerned that won’t lead to any change,” he said.
“The dual captaincy worked well this year despite Ollie and I having tougher years.
“Ollie missed a lot of footy and it’s tough to do what you need to do to lead the group when you’re not out there but despite that he was very impressive and I was more than happy to share the duties with him.
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“I think it worked well and as far as I’m concerned it’s going to be co-captains next year until I hear otherwise.”
Jonas said he was a big fan of the club’s new logo commemorating 150 years but doesn’t believe that is cause to change the captaincy as well.
“I think there’s a fair bit of sentiment that is pointing towards one captain, our 150th year and supporter base, but I think given we copped so much stick last year for going to co-captains it would be pretty cruel for one bloke to miss out (next season),” he said.
“Whether it’s myself or Ollie it would be tough on that individual, even the bloke that does get annointed solo captain if it were to happen, there would be a lot of pressure on his shoulders but the club will make the choice that’s right for us.”
Asked about speculation Wines’ stable had sought a trade in the off-season, Jonas said:
“I spent a bit of time with Ollie this break and it’s all farcical from my perspective.
“We obviously give each other a bit of stick about it, we have a group chat and there are a few messages that get thrown around, but I don’t think there’s anything to any of that.”
But one big name that did make the move was Dougal Howard who was traded to St Kilda for a late first-round draft pick.
“I think we were all caught a little off guard by it, it was a rumour that gathered steam and all of a sudden he was gone,” Jonas said.
“So I understand the fans’ frustration when you see a young, 200cm bloke who can run and jump and catch and kick leave, you’re obviously going to be disappointed because they don’t grow on trees.
“But our list management and football department has reasons for making the moves they did and we got a good pick in return, and Dougal got an offer he couldn’t really refuse at St Kilda so all parties won out of it.
“And yes while it’s frustrating for the supporters, I think it’s going to lend itself to the development we’re after. We have three really solid boys in last year and lots of other talent and we’re going to have more picks this year.”
Howard sought Jonas’ counsel during the trade period before making his mind up.
“We were really open throughout that process and he talked to me about how tough that was … he rang me when it was all going down and I respect the way he went about it,” Jonas said.
“I’m very good mates with him and I’m disappointed a great mate has left the footy club, but he (initially) didn’t want to leave, he’s very loyal and had another three years on his deal (at Port) and that’s what made it so tough.
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“He had a good offer sitting in front of him and all of his mates at Port and he had to choose between it, and it took him a little while, and I think he’d openly say it was the toughest decision he’s made so hopefully it works out for him and for us.”
Jonas confirmed the club’s view was that Howard would have played forward if he remained at Alberton and not in defence where he had emerged in the past two years.
“I think the club saw him as a forward, especially with the absence of Paddy Ryder and Billy Frampton and Charlie Dixon’s (injury history), so I think they saw him as a long-term forward but every chance that if something had of happened they would have thrown him down back,” he said.
“I think that uncertainty and lack of clarity probably lended itself to him looking for an opportunity elsewhere.”