AFL Now: Kane Farrell opens up on re-signing with Port Adelaide for five years
Power defender Kane Farrell has revealed his decision to re-sign with the club was aided by the succession plan that will see Josh Carr take over as senior coach from next season.
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Port Adelaide defender Kane Farrell says knowing who the Power’s senior coach is beyond this year made it an “easier decision” to pen a five-year contract extension at Alberton.
And the long-kicking left-footer says he hopes some of his other teammates set to come out of contract at the end of the year will follow in his footsteps, as well as star midfielder Zak Butters who has a year remaining on his deal.
The 26-year-old has turned his back on free agency and signed a new contract that will tie him to the Power until the end of 2030.
“Definitely pleased to get that done, especially early in the season,” he said.
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“For that to be done and just get out there and play footy and not worry about the outside sort of stuff now.
“It is nice to get that out of the way and push ahead on the main goal now.”
There has been plenty of external debate about Port Adelaide’s publicised succession plan in which Josh Carr replaces Ken Hinkley at the end of this season.
While criticism has centred on whether players will be distracted or confused by it on the field, Farrell said it was good for him knowing who was in charge of the Power going forward in deciding his future.
“It obviously helped knowing who the coach is going to be,” he said.
“Me and Josh have a great relationship, we speak pretty often and sometimes I just go and sit in his office and not talk footy.
“It is always good to have that relationship so it definitely made it an easier decision as well.”
Farrell is the first of a number of contract calls the Power will have to make ahead of Carr taking charge in 2026.
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Fellow defenders Miles Bergman, Logan Evans, Josh Sinn, Ryan Burton, Dylan Williams and Will Lorenz are also without deals for next year.
Other Power players coming out of contract include improving father-son product Jase Burgoyne, veteran Travis Boak, Gold Coast recruit Rory Atkins, swingman Jeremy Finlayson and small forward Jed McEntee.
While vice-captain Butters, a year out from qualifying as a free agent when his deal expires at the end of next year, is tipped to command huge offers from rivals.
Farrell said he had not yet got in the ear of his teammates.
“There has been none of that yet but I’m sure I will start to get into Buttsy and that,” he said.
“It is definitely something we are very keen on and everyone is pretty happy here at the moment to.
“So we will let them do what they want to do and see what happens.”
The Power will be looking to again respond following a disappointing showing against Essendon, that leaves Hinkley’s side 1-2.
Port takes on St Kilda on Sunday at Adelaide Oval, before a tough run of games beginning with Hawthorn at Gather Round.
After its efforts were criticised in the Round 1 horror show against Collingwood, the Power’s workrate was under the microscope in the review of the loss to the Bombers.
“It was more about our workrate and in the last quarter we just got outworked around the footy,” he said.
“So that is what we want to focus on now and play a full four quarters of footy.
“Because when we do play our brand of footy for that time we can be a very damaging team.”
Farrell said the Power would get around young star Jason Horne-Francis, amid a quiet start to the season for the No. 1 pick.
“He is just one of those players, he can get into his own head a little bit,” Farrell said.
“When we get around him and support him it really brings out his best footy.
“So it is for us to put our arms around him.
“We are in it all together with him.”
Originally published as AFL Now: Kane Farrell opens up on re-signing with Port Adelaide for five years
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