Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas appointed co-captains of Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says his club has made a brave decision to appoint co-captains for the first time in its 149-year history.
Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas will captain the Power in the looming AFL season, with Hamish Hartlett their vice-captain.
Port have never had joint captains in their esteemed SANFL and AFL history.
"It's 149-years-old, you don't dismiss that," Hinkley told reporters on Thursday.
Hinkley asked fans of the club to back the 'brave' decision to appoint co-captains AAP
"It's a really, really brave decision to say we think this is the right model ... and I'm asking our fans and our members to be equally as brave to support these two boys."
Jonas, 28, is renowned for being a straight-shooter while Victorian-born Wines, 24, is a fresh-faced leader in his sixth season at Port.
"At times it will probably be a bit of good cop, bad cop I suspect," Jonas told reporters.
"We're lucky that we have got strengths that complement each other and in this day and age, two can be better than one."
Wines is arguably Port Adelaide's most important player following the trade of Chad Wingard AAP
Hinkley said moving to dual skippers became obvious after Travis Boak stood down from the captaincy.
"This role has got bigger than it has ever been," Hinkley said.
"It gives us the absolute best chance to win ... we will never jeopardise anything other than winning at this football club, it's the most important part.
"There's a a great expectation on any captain in the AFL to lead the right way. On-field, they both still need to play their best, that is really important to us.
Jonas has become a vital part of the Power's team since making his debut back in 2011 AAP
"Off-field it's a significant role ... we don't underestimate how much is involved in that."
Wines was appointed after dislocating his right shoulder in a water skiing accident on January 26 - he expects to return to action in the first month of the premiership season.
"I came to this football club from interstate six years ago, I virtually knew nothing about it," Wines told reporters.
"To be in this position, I'm incredibly proud ... I'm over the moon."
Gun midfielder Hamish Hartlett was also promoted to the club's leadership group AAP
Hartlett's vice-captaincy comes after he rejected rich offers from rival Victorian clubs at the end of the 2015 season.
"His want to be a strong Port Adelaide leader is unquestionable," Hinkley said.
"It wasn't that far back in time that he was asking was this going to be the right club for him."
Hartlett missed most of last season after requiring a right knee reconstruction in April but was expected to return in the pre-season competition, Hinkley said.
