Connor Rozee has become Port Adelaide’s eighth captain since the club entered the AFL.
The 23-year-old was appointed in the role on Monday, the same day as he signed a monster eight-year contract extension with the Power.
Rozee replaces the retired Tom Jonas and will have fellow midfield maestro Zak Butters as his vice-captain with Dan Houston, Willem Drew and Sam Powell-Pepper supporting in the leadership group.
The 2022 John Cahill Medallist and two-time All-Australian, who says he has done “bits and pieces” of captaining as a junior, is intent on continuing to perform in an elite manner while growing and improving his leadership skills.
“I’ve done a little bit of thinking about what I want to bring to the group,” Rozee said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“I guess first and foremost is just playing well. I spoke to Kenny (Hinkley) a fair bit about that as well. It’s hard to be a good captain if you’re in and out of the side or not in good form. That’s probably the main thing I want to focus on to begin with.
“Then after that I guess I’ve got good relationships with everyone at the club, so I’m more of an arm-around-you person rather than give you a spray.
“I’m sure it will evolve into whatever it evolves into.”
The mammoth contract he signed will keep him at Alberton until at least 2032.
How much thinking was there involved in signing a deal that runs that long?
“Not much at all to be honest,” he added.
“When we first sat down and started to talk about contract, I guess I just wanted to commit to the club for as long as I could possibly commit. I have not planned on going anywhere since I got to the club. I’ve got my family and friends in South Australia and it made it a pretty easy decision.
“We’re in a great spot as a football club but everything outside the football club also for me is in a great place. I want to be at the club for as long as possible and they were on board with that, so it all worked out.”
Rozee will follow in the footsteps of past captains Gavin Wanganeen, Matthew Primus, Warren Tredrea, Domenic Cassisi, Travis Boak and Jonas in taking the No.1 jumper after being named as Port’s skipper.
It was floated by coach Ken Hinkley and there were no qualms at all as Rozee, who switches from No.20, admits he loves the tradition of the captain’s 1.
“Kenny asked me during the week if I have any issue with it, but I actually love the tradition of the club,” he said further.
“I think it’s really cool that I get to change numbers and wear the same number as a lot of the great captains in the past.
“There was definitely no issues at my end and I’m really excited to wear it.”
Rozee enters his sixth season in the AFL in 2024 as the competition’s youngest captain.
Listen to the full chat below:
