Port Adelaide’s Rising Star nominee Darcy Byrne-Jones inspired by the best

RISING Star nominee Darcy Byrne-Jones is using the examples of his favourite backmen to fashion himself into an imposing defensive force for Port Adelaide, reports Andrew Capel.

On the charge ... Port Adelaide's Darcy Byrne-Jones breaks free. Picture: Phil Hillyard

WESTERN Bulldogs dynamo Jake Stringer has been labelled “The Package’’.

But if Port Adelaide’s first AFL Rising Star nomination in two years has his way, then Darcy Byrne-Jones might soon find himself with a new and similar nickname.

Camberwell product Byrne-Jones — a tough, no-frills defender who looks more like a choirboy than a footballer — models his game on a package of his favourite backmen.

They are his boyhood idol, Carlton’s Kade Simpson, Western Bulldogs captain Robert Murphy and former Eagles tough man Beau Waters.

“Growing up I loved Kade and the way he goes about it,’’ said Byrne-Jones, who barracked for the Blues.

“He was hard, tough and skinny like me and has always been great to watch.

“I try to take things out of other peoples games and implement them into mine and I like how Murphy is so composed with the football and Waters is the real tough guy.’’

Byrne-Jones, 20, is one of the Power’s 2016 feel-good stories and this week became Port’s first AFL Rising Star nomination since speed machine Jarman Impey in round eight, 2014.

With a name like Darcy Byrne-Jones, how did he not end up at Melbourne? #afldeespower

— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) May 28, 2016

Byrne-Jones, whose trademark is his toughness and black, bushy hair, has been a revelation in his eight games for Port since debuting against Essendon in round three.

Just as Power fans were questioning whether he had a future after failing to play an AFL game in his first two years on the list, the No. 52 pick at the 2013 national draft suddenly became a cult figure.

He has put on 8kg of muscle since arriving as a skinny kid from Victorian TAC Cup side Oakleigh Chargers to now tip the scales at 77kg and said his two seasons of SANFL games prepared him well for the big league.

“When I got drafted I was a pretty skinny and raw player so it’s given my body time to mature,’’ Byrne-Jones said.

“It’s allowed me to get used to playing against the bigger bodies and playing against men, so that was really important for me.

“Everyone wants to get tucked in early (to playing AFL) but when you come in (late) you’re probably more ready to play senior footy.

“I’m not the most skilful bloke so for me if I’m going to play AFL footy I need to be hard and tough and put my head over the footy, that’s something I pride myself on.’’

Byrne-Jones described his Rising Star gong as “a great honour’’ but in typical, no-fuss fashion he followed with “I’m not one for individual stuff, it’s all about the team for me’’.

It’s that selfless attitude that has made him a favourite of coach Ken Hinkley, who pushed for Byrne-Jones to earn a nomination and described his first eight games for the club as “eight of the best first games you’ll ever see’’.

Byrne-Jones is out of contract at the end of the season but says he wants to stay at Port.

Originally published as Port Adelaide’s Rising Star nominee Darcy Byrne-Jones inspired by the best