Tom Jonas says he never thought of leaving Port Adelaide after agreeing to a three-year contract extension

PORT Adelaide defender Tom Jonas says he never thought of leaving Alberton after becoming the latest star to commit to the club long-term with a new deal until 2022.

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PORT Adelaide defender Tom Jonas says he never thought of leaving Alberton after becoming the latest star to commit to the club long-term with a new deal until 2022.

The 27-year-old who came from the rookie list at Norwood in 2010 and is now one of the best defenders in the league and a captaincy contender at the Power has agreed to terms of a new deal that will be signed this week.

Jonas’ current deal was until 2019 and he has moved to re-sign a year early, despite reportedly being pursued by Sydney at the end of last season.

“We’ve been in discussions for a little while and it was more about getting back from holidays and wrapping up what was a disappointing 2018,” Jonas told The Advertiser in Noosa.

“I think both parties are happy to where we got to and I’m excited to be at Port Adelaide for the next four years.

“It’s a good look for the player and the club, it shows a commitment to sign on and I was always going to be a Port Adelaide player for the duration of my career if possible and on the back of a couple of solid years of footy it worked out well for us.”

He didn’t comment on the Swans’ interest but simply said his loyalty to the Power was never in question.

Jonas and Robbie Gray boxing on the beach in Noosa. Picture: Sarah Reed.

“I’ve always been an Adelaide boy at heart, obviously in this day and age there is going to be some business talk but when push came to shove it was always Port Adelaide and we’re very excited about what we’ve got going on so you’d be silly not to be part of it.”

Jonas has been part of Port Adelaide’s leadership group since 2014 and along with Ollie Wines is considered a front-runner to replace Travis Boak who has stepped aside as captain after six seasons.

He said he would be “honoured” to lead the club but whoever got the job would have his full support.

“It would obviously be a huge honour to be the captain of the Port Adelaide Footy Club, I would be following in the footsteps of some absolute greats, but the club will make a decision that is right for the club and the playing group, that’s the best way to do it,” he said.

“Nothing changes for me, I’ve considered myself a strong leader on and off the field so I go about my business as is, and as I occupy a bit more of a senior role I spend a bit more time passing on feedback and coaching to the younger blokes wherever I can.

“I absolutely have confidence in whoever is our next captain, we have a really strong group of leaders and potential leaders, so I would be more than comfortable with whoever gets that gig and whoever that is will have the support (of everyone else).”

Jonas has had a restricted build up to Christmas after knee surgery late last season, but said he was “back to where I need to be”.

“I had a longer rest period than what I was expecting over the off-season so we’ve been building up the load and post-Christmas I’ll be 100 per cent training.”

Jonas had late season knee surgery so has had a slower start to pre-season than normal. Picture: David Mariuz (AAP).

The Noosa training camp has helped to bring him up to speed while also getting to know some of the team’s 11 new players including roommate Boyd Woodcock.

“I suppose the real test will be once the footy season actually starts,” he said of the team bonding.

“But on the camp we’re rooming with a couple of boys you might not spend a lot of time with, your dinner groups and training groups are all mixed up to normal and that’s not through the doing of the club that’s just by circumstance and boys going out of their way to make those connections.

“As a senior player I can build a relationship with a fella who’s only 18 where I might not have normally, this just fast tracks the process and helps them acclimatise a touch quicker.

“I’ve always tried to lead from the front but as I’ve become a more senior player I feel like I have a duty to help every player improve to help us get to where we want to be.

“I feel like we’ve underachieved the last couple of years and we’re not going to accept that so myself and the whole playing group want to do whatever it takes to get better.”

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