HINKLEY SENDS CAPTAIN TO THE SANFL IN SEARCH OF BETTER FORM

Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas will be relegated to the SANFL this week, Ken Hinkley has confirmed.

Jonas missed last week’s win over Richmond after he was suspended for a week, but has battled form issues throughout the season.

While the Power was originally hopeful of Jonas returning to his best form, the 32-year-old has instead been sent to the reserves to build back up.

“Tom will play for the Magpies this week,” Hinkley told reporters on Thursday.

“We’re in really good form, Tom’s missed a bit of footy over the last month and as a good leader of our football club, he understands the players that came in and played last week played really well.

“Lachie Jones was really strong and we think we’re going to get Todd (Marshall) and Charlie (Dixon) back in our team… it’ll be good for Tom to get out there and have a run with the Magpies.”

It’s a call foreshadowed by assistant Chad Cornes earlier this week, who was proud of the way his backline held up in the absence of Jonas against Richmond.

The Power skipper has played eight games in 2023 but his contested defensive loss percentage is the highest it’s been in his career. He’s also averaging the least spoils since 2015.

Aliir Aliir has returned to form in 2023 while Trent McKenzie is also enjoying a solid campaign.

Port Adelaide plays Hawthorn at senior level, while Jonas will face Woodville-West Torrens on Sunday afternoon at Alberton.

Hinkley also couldn’t confirm Jonas would return the following week. Jonas becomes the first skipper to be axed since 2020, when Leon Cameron dropped Stephen Coniglio from the Giants senior team.