PORT ADELAIDE captain Tom Jonas discusses leadership with Kane Cores and Andrew Hayes on SEN SA.

Tom Jonas responding to Kane Cornes’ comments over the weekend:

“I’ve received that criticism throughout my whole career.

“I haven’t been perfect the whole time. I don’t always play a good game. The criticism is part of the role - I accept that.

“In terms of leadership, I think I’m the right man for the job. Obviously, being down back is a little bit different, but there have been some quality AFL captains play that position in the past.

“Look at Tom Harley and Darren Glass. Your good friend Dom Cassisi was in the midfield - he wasn’t exactly a flashy player.

“I’m very comfortable with the position. As you’ve heard, nothing much will change - it will still Ollie, Hamish and myself making all of the calls and leading the boys.

Jonas on the club’s decision to return to one captain:

“We were addressed as pretty important stakeholders, so they talked to Ollie, Hamish and myself because we were the ones who would be affected.

“Ultimately, the club is bigger than an individual, and sometimes a team at the particular time. The feedback was, we love our traditions. The number 1 was really important.

“Our leadership system will be pretty similar, but the only change being I’ll be running out in the number 1.

“I am extremely proud and privileged to be able to do that.

Jonas on co-captaincy last season:

“Last year, we made a decision based on the group and the youth of the group and Ollie’s connection with them.

“Over the last 12 months, I have worked really hard on that. I think we have acknowledged that isn’t an issue going forward.

“I still have Ollie by my side. He obviously endured a really tough year last year, so he’s happy to focus on his footy and lead on-field.

“It was a good result for the club, and I’m really privileged to be wearing the number 1 and follow in the footsteps of some great leaders.

Jonas on the effectiveness of the co-captaincy last season:

“We felt that it worked, but that was more off-field and around the club perspective.

“There weren’t too many times where Ollie and I ran out together, albeit when we did, we had some strong results.

“This decision was bigger than the footy team, it was about our whole membership base, all of our supporters down here at Port Adelaide.

“It was so important to them, so we made a change that was necessary.

Jonas on Hamish Hartlett:

“I think Hamish is a great leader.

“I think the challenge for him is his body. He’s obviously played limited footy in the last two seasons, albeit when he has, he’s been really good.

“I acknowledge he is a great leader and he will still do exactly the same thing around the club.

Jonas on how he will lead from the backline:

“As a defender, you get the opportunity to really see the game and set it up.

“You’ve played with me, I’m pretty loud and reasonably constructive - I hope you can acknowledge that.

“Being able to talk to those boys in front of me is really important. I am resigned to the cage a bit, but I’d like to think my role isn’t totally relied to that and I can get up the ground.

“Having Ollie in the midfield, I can pass the message on and I hope he would be able to hear it.

Jonas on how captaincy hasn’t changed the way he plays:

“I don’t think it affected me.

“I went out and played the way I play. I had a couple of games that probably weren’t up to scratch, whether that would’ve happened if I was or wasn’t captain, who knows.

“I’m doing what I can off the field and around the group, and then when it comes to playing games then not much will change.

“I play a team game and do whatever I can to help us get the win on the weekend.

Jonas on where he has got to after being picked up as a mature-aged rookie:

“You do take a moment to sit back and acknowledge it.

“It’s not a traditional path, but I think being a mature-aged rookie does set you up well for your time in the system, and your time after footy as well.

“I am incredibly proud and I am incredibly grateful to the club for giving me an opportunity in the first place.

Jonas on leadership:

“I was reasonably shy when I first came in, but I’ve always felt leadership was one of my main strengths and characteristics.

“I have always prided myself on being loud and being able to help my teammates. That has been a trademark of mine.

“The older you get and the more senior you get, it’s your responsibility to set the standard for the young blokes coming through and help them develop their game and become the best players they can for the footy club.

“Not a lot has changed, I’m just older and grumpier, and I don’t know what the young blokes are talking about.

Jonas on the Ollie Wines rumours during the trade period:

“Ollie had nothing to do with that personally.

“He is 100 per cent committed to the club, and he obviously has years to play on his contract.

“You just need to rock up to the club and see the way he goes about it, and the way he talks about the club, and leads - he is fully committed to Port Adelaide.

“It’s not a worry for us.

Jonas on the club’s potential:

“I don’t think we do. We just want to leave it uncapped at this stage.

“We have seen what has happened in the last five or so years, teams that weren’t particularly rated sneak into the eight and then do a lot of damage.

“We don’t want to limit our potential. We have so many exciting prospects coming through that they will have games where they really show what they are capable of, but like young players do, they will probably have a few games that are a little inconsistent.

“Ultimately, we want to put our name to a brand of footy that our members and supporters are going to be proud of every single week.

“If we do that, the results will take care of themselves.

Jonas on the pre-season camp to the Sunshine Coast:

“It’s not like the old days where you get absolutely flogged.

“It’s obviously a lot of hard work, but there are also a fair few connection pieces there as a group.

“We will get up there - it will probably be hot and sticky, which isn’t a big deal because it’s usually hot in Adelaide this time of the year.

“We will enjoy being around each other. We will work bloody hard. Then on the last night hopefully we will have a couple of beers and enjoy each other’s company heading into Christmas.