From little things, defender Tom Jonas grows

BRAD EBERT - APRIL 18, 2014

Port Adelaide defender Tom Jonas is tackled by Crows veteran Scott Thompson during the first Showdown at . Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

TOM Jonas is Port Adelaide’s unlikely hero. Five years ago he was standing in the back pocket for SAAFL club Rostrevor Old Collegians’ B grade side. Now he is one of the best shutdown defenders in the game and a key member of the Power’s leadership group.

Tommy’s rise to the top has been remarkable and is one of football’s feel-good stories.

He did not follow the traditional pathways to the AFL.

Tommy did not make elite juniors squads, he did not attend a draft camp, he wasn’t drafted as a teenager and until a few years ago he treated football as more of a pastime than a career path.

In his own words, Tommy was just an average schoolboy footballer at Rostrevor College who, while he played juniors at Norwood, was more focused on his studies than sport.

Football was just a distant dream as he concentrated on doing well at school, gaining a university degree and spending time with friends.

When he left school, Tommy studied law and international studies with a view of setting himself up in life. He had a good balance.

Then Nathan Bassett came into his life. Bassett took over as Redlegs senior coach in 2009 and saw something in Tommy that others hadn’t.

He handed Tommy a reserves game late in ‘09 and the following year he promoted him to the league side where his first-up opponent was the Power’s current midfield coach Josh Carr, who was playing for Glenelg. Tommy performed well, stayed in the side and was rookie-listed by Port at the of the 2010 season. Coming from a disciplined family upbringing and given confidence by his parents to always try to do his best, Tommy found that Bassett’s coaching style and core values suited him. Bassett asked him to play a selfless defensive role as a blanketing defender and it suited him to a tee.

Tommy made his Power debut in the club’s record 165-point defeat against Hawthorn in round 21, 2011 - not the best start he could have hoped for - but performed strongly in a tagging role on Hawks’ star .

Suddenly a football career he never really envisioned was up and running.

Tommy was promoted to the senior list the following year and, at age 23 and after just 34 games with the Power, he was elevated to the leadership group at the start of this season.

Taught strong leadership skills by his dad, John - who always has challenged him to improve himself in and outside of football - Tommy won the players and coaches stamp of approval for his selflessness, team-first attitude, work ethic and all-round professionalism.

The players vote on core values and Tommy rated very highly.

He is a player and person his teammates trust to always do the right thing - on and off the field.

As a player, he is rarely beaten.

An in-between size at 188cm and 89kg, Tommy is equally adept at blanketing talls and smalls. If a big job in the back half has to be done, Port coach Ken Hinkley has no hesitation in handing the gig to the player who wears the No. 42 jumper.

Tommy is one of the best in the competition at curbing a forward’s influence.

Off the field he is an ultra-professional who is honest with the playing group and is not afraid to act if he thinks something can be done better.

Tommy’s career is a tribute to his character, hard work, persistence and ability to seize an opportunity.

While he has come from a long way back, he is not satisfied. Tommy has grown as a person - even this year since he has been handed leadership responsibilities - he knows what he wants to achieve and how he is going to get there. He this week told me he wants to become more than someone who is considered a solid, hardworking defender and an even more accomplished leader.

He already has become an AFL Players Association delegate and is a key member of our Medium Rares (dinner) player group.

Tommy constantly tries new pursuits to make himself a better and more-rounded person. “Off-field, I’d like to exert myself on the group more,’’ he said when I asked him about his next aims. “On-field, it’s to become more of an attacking threat. I want to lock my player down but also pick more times to come off and air assist.’’

Tommy has grown in confidence and, from humble beginnings, has the makings of a 10-year player at Port Adelaide. Halfway through his third year of studying for a Bachelor of Law degree, Tommy told me he lives by the following mantra: “Stay humble and understand you don’t get anywhere without hard work, sacrifice and discipline. And it doesn’t matter if you’re the first or last player picked because everyone has the same opportunity, so you must seize it and run with it.’’

His success has not been by accident and the Power is reaping the rewards.