Port Adelaide have made the “significant call” to play captain Tom Jonas in the reserves after serving his one-game suspension.
Jonas missed last week’s win over Richmond at the MCG after being hit with a ban for a dangerous tackle against Melbourne.
But the Power have made the bold decision to ease Jonas back through the SANFL with the Port Adelaide Magpies instead of in Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn.
Port coach Ken Hinkley acknowledged how rare it is to leave a captain out of the team when fit and available.
“It is a big call, a significant call, but it’s a call for a team in really good form,” Hinkley told reporters on Thursday.
“Really consistent with our behaviours and we don’t separate, whether it be the captain or a first-year player.”
Hinkley said the key defender accepted the news with humility and was prepared to play his role with Port’s reserves team.
“We’re in really good form, Tom’s missed a bit of footy now over the last month,” the coach said.
“As a good leader of our football club, he understands the players who came in played really well.
“He understands the team’s going really well and he would never put himself in front of the team regardless of his position. He’s very accepting of what’s going on.”
Hinkley failed to guarantee Jonas would return for Port’s round-13 match, a Friday night blockbuster against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on June 9.
Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines and defender Darcy Byrne-Jones are Port’s vice-captains.
Australian Associated Press