Justin Westhoff Biography

The AFL has announced 12 new life members will be inducted at its annual general meeting in March.

Among them are Jack Riewoldt, Shannon Hurn, Ken Hinkley, Travis Boak, Tom Hawkins, Marc Murphy, Harry Taylor, Justin Westhoff, and Matthew Clarke.

Justin Westhoff announces his retirement, effective at the end of the 2020 season.

"To still be around and to have experienced the things I have over the 14 years, it's obviously going to be pretty tough to go, but it's something I'll look back on in years to come and I'll be pretty proud of, and to share that with my family and friends is really important to me," Westhoff said.

"It goes quickly but there's no way I would have believed you if back when I was drafted you would have told me I would still be around now and had the friendships I have made, so I feel pretty privileged."

Justin Westhoff signs a new one-year deal with Port Adelaide to remain at the club in 2020.

"Justin is a unique player because of his versatility and experience," Power general manager of football Chris Davies said.

"That he remains physically able to compete at the age of 33 is a credit to the way he has prepared and dedicated himself to his football.

"Justin is a highly-rated teammate and a fantastic person to have around the club and we’re thrilled to have him remain at Alberton for season 2020."

Justin Westhoff claims the longest current streak of consecutive games after playing in his 124th-straight game against Melbourne at the MCG.

Justin Westhoff wins his John Cahill medal as Port Adelaide's best and fairest for the 2018 season.

Westhoff polled 179 ahead of Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas who tied in second place at 162 votes.

"After 12 years, to still be around and still be relevant in the game and standing up here, it's a big honour to accept this award," Westhoff said.

"To be honest, it's a bit of a shock to be up here."

Justin Westhoff signs a one-year deal with Port Adelaide to remain at the club in 2019.

"To still be playing with guys I was drafted with like Travis Boak and Robbie Gray, and to still be playing in my home state into a 13th year is really exciting," Westhoff said.

"I've built some good relationships with people within the club, the club is in pretty good shape list-wise and I think I'm in pretty good shape personally so I'm thrilled to be able to be around a bit longer."

Justin Westhoff activates a trigger in his contract to remain at the Power in 2018.

"I love the club and had no interest in exploring free agency, this is my home and I'm very happy here," Westhoff said.

"The chance to keep playing my role as part of what we're trying to build here at Port Adelaide is exciting.

"To have the trigger activated now leaves me free to focus on doing my job as part of the team for the rest of the season."

Port Adelaide retains Hamish Hartlett in the club's leadership group despite the midfielder being put up for trade at the end of 2016.

But Hartlett has lost the vice-captaincy, with young gun Ollie Wines taking over as the deputy to Travis Boak, who has been appointed captain for a fifth straight season.

Brad Ebert, Tom Jonas and Jackson Trengove complete the slimmed-down leadership group, while Jack Hombsch, Matthew Lobbe and Justin Westhoff have been omitted.

Trengove returns to the leadership group after not being a part of it this year.

Ahead of his 200th game, Port Adelaide veteran Justin Westhoff has vowed to lead a Power revival before he hangs up his boots for good.

The 30-year-old will become just the seventh player in the Power's history to reach the 200-game milestone against the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday.

Westhoff isn't considering retirement any time soon as he looks to help turn the Power around next season.

"Hopefully I'm around for some finals footy and a premiership in the near future, I definitely want to be around for a few more years,'' Westhoff said.

"We've got a great group coming up.

"We've played some great footy in the last few years, but we haven't got to where we want to, so I want to be around for that.''

Jeremy Cameron says he had no problem with a Justin Westhoff tackle that left him stunned in Saturday's 21-point loss at Adelaide Oval.

The Power swingman was charged with rough conduct after the incident in the final term in which he drove Cameron into the turf, and was subsequently handed a $1000 fine by the Match Review Panel.

Cameron revealed that Westhoff had sought him out on the field after the match to check that he was ok, but the Giants' star says he had no lingering effects from the tackle.

The 2013 All Australian says he didn't think the tackle warranted a suspension, and that the AFL's rules surrounding dangerous tackles were sometimes confusing for the players.

"It's one of those things that's very hard to get a gauge on and sometimes things happen in games that look a bit ugly and a bit bad, but you certainly don't mean to hurt anyone," Cameron said.

"Going into games you don't think about the way you're going to tackle, you just want to be hard at the ball and physical, and I think everyone in the AFL wants to be like that.

"In the heat of the moment you don't really think about that sort of thing, you just want to win the ball. It's a tough one in general, I think."

Justin Westhoff says the Power's recruitment of Paddy Ryder will allow him to play further up the ground in 2015.

"It opens a few options to playing on the wing or a little bit through the midfield – that's something that I've looked at over the last six months," Westhoff said.

"That (on the ball) is an area I can see myself playing but we've got top-quality guys, elite guys who play that area. I suppose if I get a chance, I'll have a look.

"That's where I've [focused] most of my footy over the last few weeks."

Ollie Wines and Justin Westhoff sign new deals with the Power that will keep them at the club until the end of 2016 and 2017 respectively.

The duo were joined by young defenders Jasper Pittard who signed until the end of 2017 and Cam O'Shea who committed until the end of 2016.

"It's very positive, it shows that they believe in what we're doing, how we're going about it and that they want to be a part of it," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"The best compliment you can get for a football program when you have people wanting to stay in it."

Justin Westhoff believes having a good start to the season will set him up for a consistent year.

"I've always had a little trouble with it early on in the season and hopefully I put a few demons to bed last year," Westhoff said.

"It's obviously a big key to me playing well and hopefully the team playing well.

"It's just about focusing on knowing you've done the hard work over the last few months and putting those things into place."

Justin Westhoff expresses regret over his latest suspension and being the subject of criticism from Power coach Ken Hinkley.

"Kenny wants every player to stick up for themselves but [my suspension] was a bit of a reckless move and he's told me that," Westhoff said.

"He had a bit of fun with me later in the week but I knew where he was coming from – it was a stupid thing to do."

Power coach Ken Hinkley blasts Justin Westhoff after the key forward was suspended for striking Essendon's Cale Hooker.

"We're disappointed he's gone and got himself suspended. It's not something we want to accept," Hinkley said.

"It's not something that I want to happen in our team - that the players can live in their own moment for too long and hurt the side.

"'Westy' got told that straight after the game and I told him again this morning… we miss him and that hurts our team."

Justin Westhoff will miss the Power's clash against Hawthorn after failing in his appeal against a one-match ban for striking Essendon's Cale Hooker.

Justin Westhoff says coach Ken Hinkley's 'no favourites' policy is working for the Power.

"Ken has come in and Alan Richardson as well, with no excuses, everyone's playing on their own merit and [there's no] difference between a first-game guy and a 200-game guy," Westhoff said.

"There's no difference to how they're treated and that's probably something we've struggled with in the past … everyone's jumped on board.

"They've just brought in a no-holds-barred attitude, which I think we needed."

Port Adelaide has added to its list of re-signings, with Justin Westhoff and promising utility Andrew Moore both committing to the club.

"I spoke to my parents to see what they had to say and they backed me in. I've loved the club from day dot and am looking forward to the future," Moore said.

"To have that taste [a grand final] in my first year … it drives you to get the club back to where it should be and that's at the top of the table," Westhoff said.

Port Adelaide's Justin Westhoff admits he has to work harder to become a better and more consistent player particularly with the retirement of Warren Tredrea.

"I think it [the effort] been there all along, but putting it together for a whole a game is probably something that's let me down during the year," Westhoff said.

"It's about doing extra things at training, talking to other people, talking to other coaches and leaving no stone unturned. I've probably cut corners a few times this year and didn't do everything I probably should have.

"With Tredders going it leaves a huge hole in our forward line. We need one or two guys to stand up and fill that void and I'm definitely keen for that role."

Justin Westhoff's off-season work reaped rewards in the Power's narrow win over West Coast after notching 27 disposals, nine marks and a goal.

"I'm still getting used to playing through the midfield and I'm just glad to do my part for the team to help get the four points," Westhoff said.

"It's the best I've ever been fitness and weight-wise. I'm just looking forward to continuing on this form over the next month to really get off to a good start to the season."

Port Adelaide assistant Matthew Primus says Justin Westhoff is looming as an attractive option for the Power in the ruck.

"Westy's caught in between [positions] at the moment. Teams have had some great success over the last couple of years playing those kinds of [versatile] players in the ruck," Primus said.

"We thought Westy was just going to pinch-hit in a couple of games, but he really impressed in our internal trial and he had a good quarter or so against the Crows.

"We haven't played him in the ruck too much, so he's learning all about it at the moment but he certainly gives us something that the big hulking ruckmen don't."

Justin Westhoff impresses in Port Adelaide's internal trial and may emerge as a backup ruckman to Dean Brogan.

"Justin is a very smart player. He's got great running power and agility, so [playing him in the ruck] is certainly a good thought," Power coach Mark Williams said.

Power forward Justin Westhoff will miss at least two months after being placed on the long-term injury list.

Scans are expected to reveal a break in Justin Westhoff's left foot, sidelining the Power forward for at least four weeks.