AFL 2021: Port Adelaide news ahead of Round 5 clash with Carlton
Lachie Jones was discovered by a former Port Adelaide defender on unfamiliar territory. Find out how the Power’s newest celebrity joined the club.
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Port Adelaide’s latest cult hero was discovered at the home of its fiercest rival.
Lachie Jones only became a Power celebrity – complete with retro mullet and moustache – because of a game at the Crows’ West Lakes base in 2017.
It was there the teenager from Bute on the Yorke Peninsula caught the eye of recently retired Port Adelaide defender Alipate Carlile.
“I was doing some Next Generation Academy stuff with Shaun Hart and we went to the tryouts for the All Nations program at AAMI Stadium (Football Park),” Carlile told The Advertiser.
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“Harty made me go to the far wing, I had just retired and I wasn’t really into fitness back then either so yeah it was a bit of a stretch (walking over to the far wing).”
But the walk was worth it because a under-15 kid caught his eye.
“He (Jones) stood out pretty quickly,” Carlile said.
“He was pretty thick set back then and he didn’t really flinch at anything, he was pretty measured and calm which was pretty cool for a kid that age.
“So we just had to follow it up and make sure he was in our zone through the Next Generation Academy.
“I said we really need to get this kid, then we found out he was in Woodville’s (SANFL) zone and the rest has kind of walked its own line.”
Jones made his debut against Richmond last Friday and every time he was seen near the ball he was met with a rousing round of applause from the Port faithful.
Indigenous heritage on his dad’s Ben’s side meant the boy from Bute, 30km inland from Wallaroo in the state’s mid north, was able to be a part of the Power’s NGA program ever since he was spotted at West Lakes.
“He came down for a few weeks on end and he stayed with Cam Sutcliffe and that so he had a really good taste of what AFL life was like through the Academy” Carlile said.
“I’ve been asking for a pay rise from the recruiting department (for spotting him) but they keep knocking it back.
“Parks (Geoff Parker national recruiting manager) is spewing because he was hoping he would go under the radar but they had to pay up for him.
“But I reckon he would have gotten discovered either way.”
BOY FROM BUTE
Footy wasn’t the only sport Jones thrived at up at Bute.
He was also a member of a state junior team for basketball.
His dad actually played hockey, so there wasn’t a history of footy in the family.
So how did Jones end up getting into footy?
“That’s country life for you,” family friend Craig Taylor said.
“He grew up with my boy Jordan and them and about 10 kids went together from under 10s to senior colts.
“So if you weren’t playing footy in the country you weren’t doing much at all, it’s just the way of life.”
Because of numbering issues the Bute and Paskeville merged their junior colts, creating the Bute-Paskeville Saints.
“He did that from Under 10s, Under 12s, junior colts and senior colts through the ranks,” Taylor, who is involved with the program, said.
“In size he was probably a couple of years older than the other boys even though he wasn’t.
“I would say if he was in Under 12s he should have been in junior colts, he did play in higher grades because of his height and build but when he played at his own age level he dominated.”
So dominant that people began to talk about what level he could play.
“My wife about four or five years ago said he would play AFL and he (Jones) said no way and now he is,” Taylor said.
“So she keeps reminding him of that.
“When I got interviewed after the Draft at Wallaroo with the Port Adelaide guys I said there will be something wrong if he doesn’t play 200 games, he’s a talent that can go a long way.”
WHAT HINKLEY THINKS OF THE MULLET
In his limited time at the Power, and in his starring role for Woodville-West Torrens as they won the SANFL premiership in 2020, Jones has shown just how talented he is.
But it’s the long mullet and moustache that has the footy public talking about him so far.
“He’s got a following because he has long hair I’m going to try and grow mine but I’m struggling,” Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley said on Friday.
“He’s got long hair and the stash and he looks like he’s 26 when he is really 19.
“People love him because he plays tough and hard footy that’s why and you are instantly going to be liked by the Port Adelaide faithful if you go about it that way.”
After the Richmond win, Jones told the ABC the mullet began at the end of 2019/at the start of 2020 after evolving from a Dustin Martin haircut.
“It just started from that, one of my other mates started to grow one as well and we just kept it,” he said.
Earlier this week Jones said he believed Hinkley wasn’t a fan of the hairstyle.
“He is probably the biggest critic of haircuts at the club, you could be short back and sides and he will still critique you for it,” he said.
Hinkley said that was fair.
“Nah I love his hair, I’ve got a new strategy,” he said.
“The more I say it’s great the less likely he is going to keep it
“I remember talking to his dad the night he got drafted and he said you have to get him to cut his hair.
“I said to him I’ve learnt really quickly you don’t mess with their hair because they then do the opposite.”
BUT for all the attention Jones gets for his hairstyle, he can seriously play.
He finished with 17 disposals and six marks against the Tigers in a promising debut, while on the back of a fine 2020 campaign at SANFL level Eagles coach Jade Sheedy rated Jones as a better draft prospect than Jack Trengove (No. 2 in 2009) and Chad Wingard (No. 6 in 2011).
Jones was touted for much of the 2020 campaign as a top 10 prospect, even top 5 at times, but was eventually picked up by Port Adelaide at Pick 16 as part of the access the Power had to him as a NGA prospect.
The NGA program has come under scrutiny, especially after the Western Bulldogs were able to get the best player in the country – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – in the 2020 Draft.
But Carlile said Jones’ story showed the merit of the NGA program and pathways it offered.
“I truly believe that there is huge merit in these pathways for both multicultural and Aboriginal boys and girls because it creates a real sense of belonging for these kids straight away,” he said.
“And for those coming from remote areas that is what they are seeking, it can be quite daunting coming down to the big smoke if you are just going to go into a state team straight away.
“This gives them an opportunity to find a pathway and follow it through, like the other stuff the Boomerangs provides is that they really get to sink their teeth into their culture and everything that comes with that.
“I think the pathways are set up, once they figure out how it will actually work – the whole nuts and bolts of the area and the people that are involved and stuff.
“Once that is worked out I think it will be a real game changer. for the AFL clubs if they are going to put their time and effort into these younger kids from the time they are 14/15 years old.”
POWER TO MAKE SEVERAL CHANGES FOR BLUES CLASH
Ken Hinkley has revealed the changes Port Adelaide will make for its clash against Carlton at the MCG.
The Power copped multiple injuries in their thrilling win over Richmond last Friday, with Zak Butters suffering a syndesmosis injury, Xavier Duursma hurting the medial ligament in his knee, Orazio Fantasia spraining his ankle and Connor Rozee and Tom Clurey playing on with corkies.
Butters and Duursma have undergone surgery on their injuries this week, and alongside out-of-form tall Peter Ladhams, they are the Power’s three omissions for the Blues clash.
“The two boys go out of the side, Ladhams also goes out of the side and Todd Marshall comes in,” Hinkley said.
“Boyd Woodcock and Miles Bergman also come in and we will decide the medical sub.
“We will take one traveller to the airport, we will also probably take Marty Fredericks with us as well and give him some experience as a young player.”
Hinkley praised Woodcock’s outstanding performances for the Magpies in the state league.
“He’s been in great form, we’ve just had some really good form from our high half-forwards in the AFL side,” he said.
“He’s probably been the best player in the SANFL in the first five weeks.”
Sam Mayes is expected to be the medical sub for a second week running.
Power cult hero reveals biggest mullet critic
Lachie Jones says it was “pretty overwhelming” to basically be an AFL cult hero before he had gotten a kick in his debut against Richmond.
But the Port Adelaide youngster is ready to embrace the love that is coming his way.
On his 19th birthday, the boy from Bute on the Yorke Peninsula was given a huge cheer from the Power fans when he entered the game against the reigning premiers on Friday night from the bench.
This followed Jones being labelled as the “most Port Adelaide looking player ever” by commentator James Brayshaw on TV because of his mullet and moustache.
“The hair … the hair and the mo,” Jones said when asked why he had become a cult hero a game into his career.
Jones finished the match with 17 possessions and six marks, but the main talking point from his debut was his new found status.
“(It was) Pretty overwhelming,” he said.
“Probably didn’t expect I wouldn’t call it fame yet because there are a lot of boys ahead of me.”
To cap a whirlwind debut, Jones found himself on Richmond superstar Dustin Martin.
“(It was) daunting, had a little bit of a welcome to the league moment when he fended me off and kicked a goal,” he said.
“I was probably a bit naive and excited to be in that position.
“At least I can say it happened and hope it doesn’t happen again.”
A happier moment was getting the better of Tigers spearhead Tom Lynch – which will be one of Jones’ lasting memories.
“Probably beating Tom Lynch, that was pretty cool and probably just running out onto the field and having my first touch it is something that I will never forget.”
Jones, a first-round draft pick who came through the Power’s Next Generation Academy, is a lifelong Port fan.
He said he was living the dream, even though senior coach Ken Hinkley continues to have doubts about his mullet.
“He is probably the biggest critic of haircuts at the club, you could be short back and sides and he will still critique you for it,” he said.
“But you take it and accept it and you don’t really let it bother you.
“I think so (if he can win Hinkley over to the mullet), I think it will take a bit of time but early stages at the minute so we will see how we go in the future.”
BUTTERS EYES QUICK RETURN AFTER SURGERY
– Matt Turner
Injured Port Adelaide young gun Zak Butters is hopeful of returning within a month after having ankle surgery on Monday night.
Butters sustained a syndesmosis injury in the Power’s two-point home win against Richmond on Friday night.
He was injured in a tackle in the third quarter, substituted off during the last term and spent the weekend in a moon boot.
Given the choice of having the injury heal itself or undergo surgery, the 20-year-old chose the latter so “that way I know when I come back, I’ll be ready to go”.
“I rang a few people who have previously had the operation and played at the elite level,” Butters told SEN SA.
“Some of them came back within four to five weeks, so I’ll do everything I can post-operation to get the rehab right.
“Who knows? I could be back within the next month.
“It’s just a matter of how it pulls up after the surgery.
“People have come back within five weeks of it, that’s going to be my goal and I’ll do everything I can to comeback within that time frame.
“I’m setting my sights on a big second half of the year.”
Butters, a 2020 All-Australian nominee who finished fourth in the Power’s best and fairest last season, had been in strong form.
He received 10 coaches votes in Round 2 then gathered 19 disposals and kicked a goal before his injury on Friday night.
Fellow 2018 draftee Xavier Duursma was also hurt in the game, suffering a hyperextension of his right knee.
Duursma was expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.
“Unfortunately (injuries) happen in footy and all sports really,” Butters said.
“Every time you take the field you put yourself out there to get injured possibly.
“It’s part of the game.”
Butters said he had received plenty of support from family, friends and Power supporters.
“I just really appreciate it and I’ll be back out there soon,” he said.
Port Adelaide faces Carlton at the MCG on Saturday night.
POWER FACING TOUGH CALLS TO REPLACE INJURED DUO
Port Adelaide coaches will have a tough decision whether to go with youth to replace young stars Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma or some more experienced players who “we know we can rely on”, Power assistant Brett Montgomery says.
The Power causality ward also contains Connor Rozee and Tom Clurey, with corkies sustained against the Tigers, Orazio Fantasia hurt his ankle on Friday night, while Todd Marshall was a late withdrawal from the match with an ankle injury.
Montgomery said he expected them to be OK for the clash against Carlton on Saturday night, with Rozee needing every day to recover.
“I think we have two to four guys who will need the whole week (to recover), but I think they will be OK,” he said.
“He (Rozee) will take every day of the week.
“Incredible resilience even to get through we could have pulled him out a handful of times but it wouldn’t have served us.”
Port Adelaide have frequently mentioned they will take a “squad mentality” into the 2021 season as Ken Hinkley’s side look to go further than the preliminary final stage.
Montgomery said this would be tested following the injuries to Butters and Duursma.
“Our forecast had come true very quickly,” he said.
“And we have some guys who have been crying out for an opportunity. Let’s wait and see what they have got.”
Montgomery said whoever gets the nod to replace Butters and Duursma should get an opportunity for a sustained period in the side.
“The people who will get those opportunities will get a fair look at it as well rather than just a week in week out it will give them an opportunity to find their feet,” he said.
“At the risk of missing a couple we’ve had Kane Farrell have a reasonable crack at AFL football before and I would guess he will be in the conversation again, Sam Mayes has been unlucky for a long period of time and as you’ve seen we’ve were keen to get Miles Bergman up and going in the senior team and he hasn’t really disappointed.
“But we have some guys outside of that, maybe it is someone who has put a really good four or five weeks together like a Marty Frederick might get a go.”
Boyd Woodcock and Jackson Mead are expected to also come under consideration after good games in the SANFL, finishing with 23 disposals and a goal and 22 disposals respectively, while ruckman Sam Hayes has had a strong start to the state league season but there are doubts over whether he can play with Scott Lycett in the AFL side.
On top of that, Tom Rockliff is set to return from a concussion suffered in the SANFL season opener against Norwood.
Montgomery praised the new concussion protocols introduced by the AFL, saying Rockliff himself would have pushed to play last week.
He said he would now be considered as the Power weigh up replacing two of their young stars with more youth, or going a different direction.
“It will be a really interesting discussion about how many is too many,” he said.
“We are exciting and youthful already and we have guys like Sam Mayes, Jarrod Lienert as well as Joel Garner, guys who have spent years in the system and we know we can rely on them.
“These times are really exciting, it is disappointing for those who have to go out, but for us coaching group it is quite exciting.”
Montgomery said Sam Powell-Pepper would be considered for SANFL selection this weekend after returning to the club last week after a month away to focus on his well being.
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Originally published as AFL 2021: Port Adelaide news ahead of Round 5 clash with Carlton
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