The journey of Tom Jonas, the unassuming skipper of Port Adelaide
Tom Jonas could walk through your front door and you probably wouldn’t recognise him. And you might not remember the day he knocked out Andrew Gaff. He opens up to Mark Robinson about the impact of that moment and leading Port Adelaide.
Mark Robinson
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Tom Jonas is so unassuming as an AFL captain, footy fans don’t really know him nor probably remember the lowest point of his career.
In fact, not many people would know Jonas if he walked into their house and opened the fridge door.
“I’m never going to be the superstar in the team and I’m more than happy to be playing my role in an unassuming fashion,” he says.
Two people are always linked to him.
He’s often asked if he’s related to Peter Jonas, a South Australian star who laboured through 82 games at North Melbourne from 1981-88 after suffering two broken legs.
The answer is no.
The other is Andrew Gaff. He was knocked out in 2016 with an errant elbow to the jaw and the perpetrator was given a six-week suspension.
Really, Tom Jonas did that?
“The Gaff one has left me alone for the past couple of years,” Jonas says.
“I don’t think many people even know who the bloke who hit Andrew Gaff is.”
That wasn’t being dismissive of Gaff or the frightening incident, it’s more about the low profile Jonas carries.
In the week he plays his 150th game for ladder-topping Port Adelaide, Jonas didn’t dodge discussion about that fateful game — when Gaff was carried from the field — and its aftermath.
“It’s not an unfair question,” he said.
“I reflect on it as something I wouldn’t have liked to have happened, but I certainly don’t think it dominates who I am as a person.
“I feel I have enough runs on the board … and people know me well enough to know that it doesn’t define me as a footballer.”
The incident happened in Round 9, 2016.
Injury followed the suspension, so Jonas didn’t play another game for the season.
The cliche is it’s about the journey since, from the pariah to highly respected captain.
But for Jonas, it was about growth.
“I questioned myself and my footballing ability at the back end of that year and, you know, ‘Was I a good person?’,” he said.
Media and social commentary about the incident, plus self-doubt, was overwhelming for several months.
“It feels unfair and it weighs on you, like something is holding on to you the whole time,” he said.
“You feel like some of the commentary isn’t a reflection of the human you are.
“They comment on you as a person, rather than you as a footballer. And they don’t realise what they’re saying goes deep. It’s not superficial, people take it to heart.
“I consider myself pretty stoic and I’m certainly not going to play the depression card, but my mental health wasn’t in as good a place as it currently is.
“A couple of times I broke down to Kenny or to friends. It was pretty tough, but it’s made me the person I am today and made me better equipped to deal with life in the spotlight now.”
It is a tale of achievement, from despair to club captain in the space of two seasons.
He was co-captain with Ollie Wines for the 2019 season before flying solo this season — and he said, at first, it was uneasy.
“It was a slow process,” he said.
“It’s like us this year as a team, the more I did something well, it acted as positive reinforcement and gave me belief I could still play footy at this level.
“The more games I got under my belt, it made me believe what I was doing was right.”
At 29, Jonas’s opinion of leadership is textbook perfect.
“It’s inspiring our playing group towards winning a premiership,” he said.
“My role in that is to be authentic, to be true to myself and to lead by example on and off the field.”
And the position of being Port Adelaide captain, which comes with enormous spotlight and accountability in South Australia, has grown within him.
“I probably took it for granted a bit,” he said.
“I still see myself as an 18-year-old going to school with 40 of his mates every day.
“But I have to check myself from day to day because you are setting an example and being a role model in society.
“The things you do are seen and probably followed and judged by thousands of people. I’ve begun to appreciate it is a significant role.”
The kids at the club, mind you, treat him like an old man.
“I’m 29 and I get treated like I’m 50 at the club, but as I said, I still feel 18. When you’re captain and you’re pulling blokes into line from time to time, and you don’t have a PlayStation 4, you’re on the outer a bit. But, nah, they’re good.”
He is Nick Maxwell-like as skipper. Not as demonstrative, but he carries the same team-first attitude. Jonas likes the comparison.
“If I could finish my career with as much team success as Maxwell had, I would be a very content man,” he said.
Jonas, whose wife Millie is pregnant with their first child, has attended the past two captains’ days — all the club captains are summoned to Melbourne for a sit-down with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, followed by media interviews.
“It’s always an interesting day. I’m usually standing there with one reporter in front of me and all the rest have galleries in front of them,” he said.
At his first show, he gravitated to Shannon Hurn and he said Joel Selwood was always welcoming.
“It’s not a day I feel comfortable at, surrounded by all the high-profile players, but I enjoy it regardless,” he said.
Some of those same captains would be envious of Jonas.
He heads a backline which is one of the best in the competition, and leads a team which sits atop the AFL ladder, and which hasn’t quite got the kudos it deserves for its performances over the first 10 rounds.
The defensive group is a no-name success story: Jonas, a resurrected Trent McKenzie, All-Australian contender Darcy Byrne-Jones, a revitalised Hamish Hartlett, underrated Tom Clurey, and Dan Houston has returned after a stint with the mids. The seventh is either Riley Bonner, Jarrod Lienert or Ryan Burton if he’s fit.
On Saturday they compete against the might of the Tigers forward line.
Jonas is the everyman defender.
In recent weeks he has stood Sam Weideman (zero goals), Tim Membrey (one goal), Eddie Betts (one goal) and Jeremy Cameron (zero goals).
In Round 11, he will have minutes on Tom Lynch, Jack Riewoldt and a resting Dustin Martin, although his role is one of many in what will be a defining game.
“It’s a real statement game for us. We are playing the best side of the past four years and it would be a big statement if we could beat them,” he said.
“They’ve taught us a lesson the last couple of times and hopefully we have learnt from them.”
Last year, the wounded Tigers, led by defender Dylan Grimes, kickstarted their season with a seven–point win.
“Yeah, we kicked to him all night,” Jonas said.
A Port win would kick along their finals aspirations.
This season they are 8-2 after 10 rounds.
In 2018, they were 11-4 after the bye break and lost six of the next seven and missed the finals. A repeat surrender would be unacceptable.
“I’ve thought about this a bit,” Jonas said.
“We’ve started well in a few seasons and faded late and even last year we missed the finals and we should’ve been there.
“I think we are a more consistent playing group and we’ve got more belief in each other and the game plan. It’s 22 blokes who have bought in and we’re not carrying a few.
“In those years, we had a few cracks. This year we’ve beaten top-eight sides and had resilient wins: the Bulldogs, the GWs game, the way we responded and beat Melbourne after losing to St Kilda. They are little milestones for us.
“We have a firm blueprint of how we’re going to play for 17 rounds plus finals. There might be small alterations to that, but nothing to the actual skeleton of that plan.”
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GET TO KNOW TOM JONAS
Name?
Thomas William Jonas. My brothers are Sam and Ben. Nice and simple.
Nickname?
Peej or Jonah
Born?
January 9, 1991.
Occupation?
Footballer and part-time winemaker. Myself and Brad Ebert have a little wine business out of the Barossa Valley. Our label is Hey Diddle Wines, like straight through the hey diddle diddle.
What clubs have you played for?
Rostrevor College, Norwood Redlegs, Port Adelaide.
Favourite playing position?
Full-forward, but I’ve never been down there. I’m stuck down at full-back my whole life.
Who’s the last player you’d want to share room with on a footy trip?
Darcy Byrne-Jones. He’d probably be in for one night and out for three, so not much value. And he doesn’t cope with a hangover too well.
Loudest person in football media?
Dermie carries on a fair bit, probably you or Eddie, and Kane has a bit to say in South Australia. Eddie seems to have rustled some feathers in the prison-bar stoush.
Which club did you support growing up?
Massive Crows supporter.
Favourite player growing up?
I had a couple, James Hird and Andrew McLeod. Hird was tough as nails, he seemed like a great leader and he stood up to be counted when he needed to.
Who’s the best player you played against?
Eddie Betts in his prime. I’ve had a few nightmares over the course, but he’s the one who gave them to me regularly.
Who’s the best player you have played with?
Robbie Gray.
You’re on death row, so what’s your last meal?
SA lobster, some fresh king George, a lamb rack, homemade cheesecake and one lime milkshake. I’d go pretty hard.
Favourite TV show?
Californication.
Favourite movie?
Step Brothers … you can watch it over and again.
Which band would you like to see live?
Probably go back and see the Beatles.
Outside of the AFL, what would be your ultimate weekend of sport?
Would’ve loved to watch Liverpool win the Premier League or the Champion’s League.
What puts a smile on your face?
A lot of things, but my dog doesn’t judge me. If you have a shit game, you come home and he always gives you a bit of love. He’s an Aussie shepherd called Howard … and he’s not named after Dougal.
If you could attend one event in world history, what would it be?
The moon landing. What’s yours? (I said the crucifixion — The Last Supper would’ve been all right, too).
Three guests at your dinner party?
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and let me think of the third one. Trump’s just an absolute banana. I wouldn’t do a lot of talking, I’d just let him go. Him and Putin in the same room would see a few fireworks. My third one would be Paul Kelly the musician.
If you were Gillon McLachlan, what would you change?
I’d let us wear the prison bars every week. And I’d give Tassie a team.
If you won $10 million, what would you buy first?
A big fishing boat.
If you could travel overseas next year, where would you go?
Skiing in Aspen.
Biggest influence on your football?
This is generic, but my dad. Because he’s always reinforced the team-first behaviours and just attacking the footy. He’s a bit of a character, my old man. He only played amateur league in SA, and he won a D grade league best and fairest and he calls that his Magarey or Brownlow.
What sort of player was he, or what has he told you?
What wasn’t he! He was tough as nails, quick, could jump, beautiful skills both sides of his body … if I had to guess, he would’ve been tough and been a good teammate.
Tell us something about Kenny Hinkley he wouldn’t like us to know?
He’s either complex or very basic, Kenny. He is the fussiest eater. He likes a home-cooked roast and a full strength coke and anything else he is not interested in. No fine dining, he doesn’t get out … he’s very happy at home with his family.
What do you hate in the world?
I hate online trolls and racism, which sort of goes hand-in-hand.
What do you love in this world?
People who are happy with what they’ve got.
Originally published as The journey of Tom Jonas, the unassuming skipper of Port Adelaide