Jacob Surjan Biography

Jacob Surjan leaves his role as development coach of Port Adelaide.

Surjan spent 14 years in various roles with the Power, starting as a player, administration and coaching.

Former Port veteran Jacob Surjan is selling himself to new clubs as a player capable of shutting down the best small forwards in the AFL.

"There's not too many guys who can play on the dangerous small forwards in the League … like Eddie Betts, Cyril Rioli, Mark LaCras, Stephen Milne," Surjan said.

"Obviously it'll be a very nervous 24 hours, but if it doesn't happen there'll definitely be other opportunities."

David Rodan and Jacob Surjan among seven delistings announced by Port on Friday.

The seven delistees also include Simon Phillips, Mitch Banner and rookies Daniel Webb, Mitch Curnow and Jarrad Irons.

"David embraced his new opportunity from the outset and is a player who won't be forgotten by Port Adelaide supporters who admire his flair as a midfielder and willingness to take on opponents and attack the game," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

"He's popular within the club as well and is respected for his work ethic, ability to overcome serious injuries, his personality and what he does off the field to promote football in our multicultural community."

After questioning his position on the Port list last year, Jacob Surjan is ready to make amends in 2012.

"Last year I didn't start running until late December ... I came back [without] the right attitude and it cost me my season," Surjan said about his 2011 season.

"A bit of pride and stuff was hurt, but you get over it pretty quick. I had a good 10-week break away and reassessed everything and came back fighting fit and fresh and ready to go.

"I owe the club and supporters and myself a good year."

Former Port Adelaide vice-captain Jacob Surjan is reported to have asked for a move to another club after managing just four senior games this year.

Enigmatic Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop pleads guilty to the lesser charge of using abusive language towards the girlfriend of teammate Jacob Surjan last year after initially facing the more serious charge of assault.

"The incident that occurred in April 2010 was regrettable for all concerned, and now that the issue is settled we can now move on," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

Steven Salopek and Jacob Surjan have been added to Port's leadership group, which is now nine-strong with captain Dom Cassisi leading the way.

"Surj [Surjan] has trained pretty well and I think the players have seen how hard he's worked to get over his [knee] injury. They also realise he's been a leader at the club before and value what he gives to the group," Power coach Matthew Primus said.

"Sal [Salopek] got some feedback as to why he didn't [get voted into the leadership group] earlier in the year and he's worked on that over the last four or five months. It was because of the player feedback he got [that] he was able to get back into the group."

Power captain Dom Cassisi says an impending court case involving forward Daniel Motlop and teammate Jacob Surjan's girlfriend has not affected the team.

"All we can do is worry about training hard, and as far as Jacob and Daniel are concerned, the way they've handled each other and interacted at the club has been outstanding," Cassisi said.

"They understand that once they're behind these doors we expect them to train hard, interact and get along well together. There has been nothing to show any different to that."

Port Adelaide is confident injured defender Jacob Surjan will be fit for the start of the 2011 AFL season.

"Surj had some pretty serious surgery to repair damage to the back of his kneecap and also some cartilage damage, so he's embarking on a long, slow and gradual build up to training," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

"We play our first lot of NAB Cup games on February 11, so it's pretty early. I would think Surj would be in doubt to play in that not from the point of view that we don't think he'll be fit, but because he might not have done enough training.

"I would think he would be right for the start of the season proper, though."

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams says there is no ill-feeling between Jacob Surjan and Daniel Motlop after police were called in to investigate an incident allegedly involving verbal assault between Motlop and a girlfriend of Surjan's.

"I have actually [spoken to Motlop and Surjan], together and separately and there are no problems between them," Williams said.

"I have always thought that when alcohol is involved anything can happen. I really don't want to keep answering all the questions because what you do is write a big story about it when there is none."

Port Adelaide defender Jacob Surjan says his is still suffering neck soreness after the controversial incident in the round-two win over West Coast where he was stretchered off the ground despite appearing to not be in any significant pain.

"I was a little bit surprised by the [controversy] because I thought the medicos and doctors acted in the best interest of the player, which in this case was me. I think everyone blew it out of proportion, but that's what happens sometimes," Surjan said.

Port Adelaide denies allegations that it deliberately stretchered Jacob Surjan from the field to kill any momentum West Coast had during their round 2 clash.

"There has been a lot of allegations - and the AFL will sort them out," Power defender Troy Chaplin said.

"The advantage us was none. The clock stopped. I'm not sure how it can be an advantage for us.

"The talk of us taking him off and slowing the game down (is wrong) . . . (Jacob) is one of our best players, he is our vice-captain. We are already one down on the bench. Why would we want to lose another one?"

Dom Cassisi has been re-appointed Port Adelaide captain, and has two new vice-captains in Dean Brogan and Jacob Surjan.

The trio were selected based on the input of the Power's new leadership mentors consisting of former national women's basketball coach Jan Stirling and coach Mark Williams' sister, Jenny.

"It stands out that these three guys are the most dominant, most vocal, best communicators and are comfortable in their own skin as far as where they sit within the organisation and the AFL world," Williams said.

Port Adelaide defender Jacob Surjan excited about his future with the club after signing a new 3-year contract with them.

"I'm very happy to be staying at Port Adelaide," Surjan said.

"With the recent retirements of experienced players, I'm looking forward to taking the next step in my development and becoming a leader here at the club.

"With such an exciting young list I'm very confident that the club is heading in the right direction. The decision to stay here at Port Adelaide was a pretty easy one in the end."

Jacob Surjan says his team was unlucky to be on the receiving end of a crucial late 50m penalty against Nathan Krakouer in the farewell game for club stalwarts Peter Burgoyne and Brendon Lade.

"We were very stiff. We thought that 50m penalty was really soft, but the umpires are going to make the call and that was their call," Surjan said.

"Peter and Ladey have been fantastic servants of our club and as a playing group we should have sent them off on a better note."

Port Adelaude defender Jacob Surjan always gives 100 per cent and is racking up impressive statistics in the 'one percenter' column.

"I'm not worried about getting possessions and that sort of thing anymore," Surjan said.

"I'm just worried about playing my role for the team, which is stopping the opposition's dangerous small forward. If I can do that and the team's successful...I'm happy."

Port Adelaide defender Jacob Surjan admits his side has let out-of-contract coach Mark Williams down with its roller-coaster start to the season after a disappointing loss to Collingwood.

"We really feel for 'Choco' and the coaching staff because we prepare so hard throughout the week to come up with plans to win the game," Surjan said.

"We're really upset with how that third quarter went on Sunday. We respect and love our coach so much, and it's definitely draining the playing group because we're letting him and the other coaches down."

Port Adelaide defender Jacob Surjan says the team will try to curb undisciplined acts against Hawthorn this week after Power teammates found themselves facing the tribunal on a regularly only three games into 2009.

"We committed some pretty undisciplined acts and we have been undisciplined this year," he said.

"We've spoken about it, assessed it and moved on from it. We're still going to hit the ball and the man really hard; we just have to be a bit more disciplined in that respect.

"We want to be a physical team and attack the ball hard and that's what will focus on this weekend."