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AAP
AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Mullet makes Port's Jones an AFL cult hero

Lachie Jones made quite an impression in his AFL debut with Port Adelaide. (AAP)

Port Adelaide's Lachie Jones knows why he's a cult figure after just one AFL game.

"The hair ... the hair and the mo," he told reporters on Tuesday.

Jones, on his 19th birthday, made an accomplished AFL debut against Richmond in Port's two-point triumph on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.

But his mullet hairstyle and bristling moustache attracted as much attention as his 17 disposals.

"Pretty overwhelming," Jones said of the reaction.

"I didn't really expect the fame. I wouldn't call it fame yet, there's a lot of boys that are in front of me.

"But yeah, pretty overwhelming."

The backman, born in the farming town of Bute on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, was given a raucous cheer from Port fans when he came off the interchange bench.

"I couldn't help but notice when I ran on, a bit of a roar," he said.

"It probably just shows the supporter base at Port Adelaide and how invested they are in the club, how much of an interest they take."

Among the first-gamer's first tasks was to stand Richmond's Brownlow medallist and triple Norm Smith medal winner Dustin Martin.

"Daunting," Jones said.

"I had a little bit of a 'welcome to the league' moment when he fended me off and kicked a goal.

"But I was probably a little bit naive. I was sort of excited to be in that position.

"At least now I can say I have done it and hopefully it doesn't happen again."

Jones, a lifelong Port fan, was linked to the Power through the Next Generation Academy scheme because of his Indigenous heritage on his father's side.

Port selected Jones with pick 16 at last year's national draft with the solidly-built half-back's mullet copping some stick from coach Ken Hinkley.

"He is probably the biggest critic at the club of everyone's hair cuts, could be a short back and sides and he'd still critique you for it," Jones said.

"But you just take that and accept it and don't really let it bother you, just move on.

"It will stay for now, obviously received a bit of a following from it.

"It will stay for a while at least."

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