In big news for Port Adelaide, former skipper Travis Boak has signed on for 2023, while staple defender Darcy Byrne-Jones and emerging midfielder Jackson Mead have also penned multi-year deals.
Boak, who at 34 years old looked no certainty to continue beyond 2022, will play on next season in what will be his 17th season of AFL football.
Taken at Pick 5 in the 2006 National Draft, the Victorian native has plied his trade in the city of churches since then racking up 327 appearances to make him the all-time leader for games played at Port Adelaide.
His efforts over the course of his career have earned him three All-Australian blazers as well as two club best and fairest awards in 2011 and 2019.
The midfielder hasn't shown any signs of slowing down after another solid season despite the team's results, with league-wide rankings of 10th, 11th and 12th for stoppage clearances, clearances and inside 50s respectively displaying his integral role in Ken Hinkley's side.
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Speaking to the club's website, Port Adelaide List Manager Jason Cripps explained the club's decision to keep Boak on as an experienced body.
“Travis shows no signs of slowing down and that is a credit to the work he puts in physically and mentally to prepare for and recover after matches,” Cripps said on Thursday.
“He is also a fantastic person to have around the group as a mentor and role model for our younger players.
“Trav has had another strong season and we look forward to him attacking 2023 with the same enthusiasm and dedication that we’ve seen from him since 2006.”
Meanwhile, trustworthy defender Darcy Byrne-Jones has also signed on to a deal that will see him stay at Port until the end of season 2026 with the 26-year-old getting a reward for his solidity.
Byrne-Jones truly came into his own in the COVID-interrupted season of 2020, earning an All-Australian blazer and winning a maiden John Cahill Medal off the back of a breakout year.
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The Oakleigh Chargers product was a late bloomer, not getting his debut until 2016 - three years after he was drafted in 2013.
Nevertheless, he has nailed down an important role in the Power side and his defensive ability is exemplified through his ranking of 15th for total intercepts across the entire competition.
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The 26-year-old explained his confidence in what the club is building and their goals over the next few years.
“I was just happy to come in and play one AFL game and reflecting on where I am now, it’s been a bit of a journey and hopefully we can enjoy sustained team success in the coming years,” Byrne-Jones said.
“I’m really confident about the people we have at the club and where we’re heading and hopefully in the next few years, we can find some success and I can help some of the younger players along the way.”
Finally, emerging midfielder Jackson Mead will be at Alberton until the end of 2024 after signing a two-year deal.
Mead debuted in season 2022 in Round 1 against Brisbane, before dipping out of the side throughout the middle of the season and reappearing toward the backend of the year.
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His ability to play both midfield and forward is a handy asset for coach Hinkley to wield as the Woodville-West Torrens product aims to hopefully nail down a spot in Port's best-22.
Port Adelaide will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing season 2022, which saw them miss finals and finish 11th to cap off what was supposed to be a year where they took the next step following back-to-back preliminary final defeats.
With trade period this year set to be a big one, the Power have already been linked with the likes of Junior Rioli and up until Wednesday out-of-favour Pies ruckman Brodie Grundy.
Throw in the fact that gut-running wingman Karl Amon has requested a trade to Hawthorn, and suddenly there seems like there could be a great deal of activity around Alberton over the summer.
