AFL 2023: Ken Hinkley weighing up Orazio Fantasia as finals wildcard, Charlie Dixon to sign new deal

Port spearhead Charlie Dixon is close to signing a new deal — but the biggest news out of Alberton is the finals wildcard Ken Hinkley is considering.

Tom Jonas competes for the ball.

Port Adelaide is set to re-sign spearhead Charlie Dixon on a one-year deal.

Dixon, 32, is understood to have pushed for a multi-season extension, but will receive a new 12-month contract.

The deal will take the Queenslander into a ninth campaign with Port, where he has played 137 games since crossing from Gold Coast at the end of 2015.

Dixon has lined up in 13 matches and kicked 22 goals during a second consecutive injury-interrupted campaign this year, last featuring in Port’s Showdown defeat in round 20.

He is sidelined with a foot injury and wearing a moon boot with an estimated return to play in a fortnight, putting him in the mix to play in the Power’s qualifying final.

Key defender Trent McKenzie (knee) is on a similar time frame, listed to be available in two to three weeks.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said he would confidently pick the duo into the qualifying final if they ticked all the right boxes over the next two weeks.

Charlie Dixon is set for a new deal. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“We’re not going to rush, we’re going to give them every chance to be ready for that first final,” Hinkley said.

The Power has made one change for its last minor round match at home against Richmond on Sunday, elevating veteran Travis Boak from substitute into the 22 at the expense of Dylan Williams (omitted).

Port needs to beat the Tigers to ensure it remains in the top three and avoids facing ladder-leading Collingwood at the MCG in the qualifying final.

Ruckman Scott Lycett will return from a knee injury in the SANFL on managed game time on Saturday, giving Hinkley another option for the start of Port’s September tilt.

Hinkley described goalsneak Orazio Fantasia, who kicked four goals in the state league last week, as a potential finals wildcard if he could keep performing.

Fantasia has played just four AFL games over the past two seasons – one in 2022 as an unused substitute and three in 2023, most recently in round 3 – due to injuries.

The former Essendon forward is without a deal beyond this year.

RETIRING PORT SKIPPER’S FAIRYTALE FINISH IN DOUBT

Simeon Thomas-Wilson and Matt Turner

Tom Jonas did not expect the 2023 campaign would be his last when he was appointed Port Adelaide captain for a fifth consecutive season in February.

Now, the veteran defender has an opportunity to finish on a fairytale note, if he can lead the Power to a premiership next month.

Jonas announced on Tuesday that he would be retiring at the end of the season.

The 32-year-old said he made the decision a fortnight out from finals to remove a potential distraction from the club’s flag push.

For the first time since 2016, Jonas has not been a regular in Port’s backline this year, playing 12 of 22 games, and battling form, getting dropped, injury and suspension as younger Power defenders have emerged.

He conceded the end had come quickly, slowing down while the modern game evolved with faster, taller spearheads around 200cm and half-forwards that pushed higher up the ground.

Tom Jonas has announced his retirement. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Jonas has played 215 games for the Power. Picture: AAP Image/Ben Macmahon

“When I was announced captain at the beginning of this year, you probably think you’ll be playing on a little bit longer, but I don’t think it’s any easier whether you’re prepared for it or it comes and knocks on the door pretty quick,” said Jonas, who at 188cm had stood hulking full-forwards right through to crafty goalsneaks like Eddie Betts across his 13-year career.

“I missed a game earlier in the year and we began to have real conversations then about where I was at.

“It became even more acute as the season went on.

“We didn’t want to put anything in stone, but the reality of the situation is I’m 32 going on 33 (in January), there’s other people playing great footy and I’ve had a great run.”

Jonas had been back in the AFL for the past three matches, describing his recent form as solid, not outstanding.

With key defender Trent McKenzie expected to return in three weeks, Jonas could well be playing his final match against Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The skipper said selection was out of his control and he was confident Hinkley would make the right call for the club.

Jonas could still captain Port Adelaide to a flag come the end of his career. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve maintained that I’d prefer to be not playing in a team that’s winning – and hopefully winning a grand final – than playing and captaining a team that’s going to go on holidays in seven days’ time,” he said.

Jonas grew up as a Crows supporter whose dream was just to play one SANFL game at Norwood.

Two months after featuring in the 2010 SANFL grand final for the Redlegs, the Power rookie-listed him.

He debuted in a club record 165-point loss to Hawthorn at the MCG in round 21, 2011, before becoming a backline mainstay once Ken Hinkley took the coaching reins for 2013.

Among Jonas’s accolades across 215 games are three All-Australian squad nominations (2017, 2018, 2020), top-three best-and-fairest finishes in those seasons and captaining the Power since 2019, initially as co-skipper with Ollie Wines.

He said captaining the club had been the biggest honour of his career.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” he said.

Hinkley said Jonas embodied Port Adelaide as a fearless, tough, aggressive, ultra competitive and selfless player who had made more of his talent than anyone he had coached, “just through desperation and honesty”.

“He’s the perfect person (example) when it comes to giving your all,” Hinkley said.

“He’ll live on at Port Adelaide as one of the great captains.”

Jonas, a father-of-two who had a law degree, a Masters of Business Administration and co-owned Hey Diddle Wines, was unsure as yet what he would do next year.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Ken Hinkley weighing up Orazio Fantasia as finals wildcard, Charlie Dixon to sign new deal