Nathan Jones

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Jones has always had an ability to find the footy in the clinches and he is at a stage in his development where his decision making when in possession is improving rapidly.

After his run of poor form last year he has done some mental reprogramming and is not running flat out towards our end of the ground everytime he takes possession. He is breaking tackles looking inside and bringing players into it. Even if he doesn't obtain a disposal his ability to force a contest ie a ball up when the ball is in dispute is unrivalled in our side.

Probably our most important player along with Moloney in the clinches. I love his passion and his energy and his willingness to take the game on. You can feel his desire to impose himself on the footy game.

Reminds me a little of Todd Viney with his strength around the stoppages.

[iw_s 0]

His best game in a long time and he was enjoying some great feeding from Meesen too.

[H_T 3,043]

I agree with his decision making and his urgency with the ball it has improved.

[Hannabal 4]

Jones has always had an ability to find the footy in the clinches and he is at a stage in his development where his decision making when in possession is improving rapidly.

After his run of poor form last year he has done some mental reprogramming and is not running flat out towards our end of the ground everytime he takes possession. He is breaking tackles looking inside and bringing players into it. Even if he doesn't obtain a disposal his ability to force a contest ie a ball up when the ball is in dispute is unrivalled in our side.

Probably our most important player along with Moloney in the clinches. I love his passion and his energy and his willingness to take the game on. You can feel his desire to impose himself on the footy game.

Reminds me a little of Todd Viney with his strength around the stoppages.

Great post. Jones has improved tremendously this year and I hope he gets the plaudits he deserves.

[MelbournePassion 7]

His best game in a long time and he was enjoying some great feeding from Meesen too.

Yeah a great young kid who shined today. Meesen was excellent last week and this week as well. I think it will be hard for Spencer to come back into the side with Meesen in it, and also the performance of PJ was outstanding.

[MelbournePassion 7]

Jones isn`t getting ran down from behind as much as last year and is getting the most out of himself to.

[Kiss of Death 747]

I was surprised he only had 16 possessions after the game - he was getting a lot of praise from the Tigers supporters behind me.

[Ghost 0]

Improving week in week out. Making great use of the ball now. Will just get better and better.

[rusty_corner 0]

I only saw the second half but i thought he was cleary the best player on the ground.

Everytime he had the ball in his hands, a scoring opportunity was made.

I have always loved Jonesy effort. Today reassured me he will be a GUN!

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I was surprised he only had 16 possessions after the game - he was getting a lot of praise from the Tigers supporters behind me.

Praise from Tigers supporters???? that's never happened before.

[Hannabal 4]

and also the performance of PJ was outstanding.

Don't think he's up to it. But you and others will disagree.

[Longsufferingnomore 1,629]

Jones has always had an ability to find the footy in the clinches and he is at a stage in his development where his decision making when in possession is improving rapidly.

After his run of poor form last year he has done some mental reprogramming and is not running flat out towards our end of the ground everytime he takes possession. He is breaking tackles looking inside and bringing players into it. Even if he doesn't obtain a disposal his ability to force a contest ie a ball up when the ball is in dispute is unrivalled in our side.

Probably our most important player along with Moloney in the clinches. I love his passion and his energy and his willingness to take the game on. You can feel his desire to impose himself on the footy game.

Reminds me a little of Todd Viney with his strength around the stoppages.

I love his enthusiasm. Instead of just walking off before the start of the game with other benchwarmers Jones went back to the melbourne boys in a huddle and was pumping them up. You can just feel his passion even from the stands. When he was interviewed after the game he spoke of the team as winners not just his game. Red and blue pumps thru his veins.

[MelbournePassion 7]

I love his enthusiasm. Instead of just walking off before the start of the game with other benchwarmers Jones went back to the melbourne boys in a huddle and was pumping them up. You can just feel his passion even from the stands. When he was interviewed after the game he spoke of the team as winners not just his game. Red and blue pumps thru his veins.

Oh yeah, you gotta love that. Ever since Nathan Jones has debuted I`ve liked him and I still do. I can see a couple of Bluey truscotts in him.

[Kiss of Death 747]

Praise from Tigers supporters???? that's never happened before.

They were pretty good guys, i was listening in to their conversations and they knew their stuff... i was a long way away from their cheer squad.

Had to put up with them on the train on the way home, piercings, rainbow dyed hair, some horrific stitched together yellow blankets with black tassels, mouths you wouldn't bring home to your mother and UGG BOOTS

[norwood_demon 196]

I would like to add to this stream of commendations for Nathan Jones. He was criticised in this Forum last year when, as a 20yo, he was our prime mid-fielder and the target of opposition tags. As a youngster (and I use the term advisedly and accurately), he still had some deficiencies (decision-making, disposal). But his commitment and guts have never been questioned.

This year, our opposition are tagging our senior midfielders. Nathan has also dramatically improved his decision-making. He is swerving after collecting the ball to break tackles and to avoid the tackles-from-behind that confounded him last year. His disposal still needs work but that's improving too. As just one example, I saw him on Saturday in Q3, stand, in traffic, on the half-back flank, and deliver a 30m left-hand handball inboard (that's further than I can kick by the way!), that hit the target. Melbourne supporters have rightly regretted Scott Thompson's return home to Adelaide. In Nathan, we have a very similar, if not potentially better, player. If he continues improving, dare I suggest that we already have 25% of our "Fab Four"?

In closing, I would also like to suggest that Scott West might have a hand in Nathan's (continued) improvement. Our midfield has "needed some work" since Brett Ratten left the Club.

[AzzKikA 2,371]

Yeah i think Brock being back has helped Nathans game MASSIVELY! He is now not the person that receives the #1 tagger from the opposition, which makes me feel heaps better, Jones now has more space and time, which allows his decisions to be better and his kicks/handballs to hit targets. Unfortunately it means Brocky's game pays for it.

[demon_king 13]

I couldn't beleive he only had the 16 touches. They were raving about him, specifically his third quarter, on the radio. When I got home and watched the replay I could see why. I think so far he has bounced back well from a bit of an off year last year.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Yeah i think Brock being back has helped Nathans game MASSIVELY! He is now not the person that receives the #1 tagger from the opposition, which makes me feel heaps better, Jones now has more space and time, which allows his decisions to be better and his kicks/handballs to hit targets. Unfortunately it means Brocky's game pays for it.

I actually think Jones deserves the tag more than McLean. I suspect there are other issues with Brock.

I can see Jones really benefitting from the development and guidance he has received thus far in the past 2 years. Hell the bloke is only 20yo!

[drdrake 3,157]

The problem with Jones in the past is he tried to take on the world instead of giving the first option. He could always play and will get better and better over the next few years.

With Davey firing he will get the number 1 tag every week, this is why we need Jones, Mclean and I think more importantly Sylvia firing so they can become the play makers and we don't have the reliance on Davey. The reason why I think Sylvia is more important and I believe his kicking skills can hurt the opposition more than the other two, especially if he can keep kicking the long goal.

Jones is a gem, we just need to add a a little more speed around him.

[H_T 3,043]

They were pretty good guys, i was listening in to their conversations and they knew their stuff... i was a long way away from their cheer squad.

Had to put up with them on the train on the way home, piercings, rainbow dyed hair, some horrific stitched together yellow blankets with black tassels, mouths you wouldn't bring home to your mother and UGG BOOTS

Poor souls. At least some of them have their teeth intact, unlike the filth.

[Sir Why You Little 36,939]

Nathan Jones Rocked last week & i reckon Scott West has had a bit to do with that. This year his energy is more refined. He is now learning how to use it effectively. Jonesy could be an elite Midfielder if he keeps learning. He already has strength & passion which certainly help. Go for it Nathan you can do it.

[deeflog 679]

Don't think he's up to it. But you and others will disagree.

your kidding aren't you?

[Deeoldfart 8,005]

I must admit to thinking that Jonesey's career might have plateaued for good in '08. Never doubted his hardness or commitment, but thought he was a bit one dimensional with average skills and limited awareness (sort of an up-market Godders?). We are only four games into '09, but his efforts so far have started me revising my thinking. Keep up the good work Jonesey!

[Goodvibes 3,596]

I was one who was really worried about Jones late last year and I saw nothing in the first up pre-season game to change my opinion. I was really worried about his kicking and decision making and felt his ability to win the ball in the middle and find an option by hand didn't impress enough to make up for the other deficiencies in his game. His form over the past 3 weeks, along with the performances of Martin have been my individual highlights of the year so far. Jones is winning a lot of quality ball in close and consistently puts other players into space through creative handball, he's picking out targets at a high success rate over 30 - 40 metres and he's running hard to gain some cheaper ball as well. This is a significant step and if McLean continues to improve after his long lay-off (I think he's got just a little better each game) and Sylvia can show that his game against Richmond wasn't a one off in the midfield then we're starting to get a pretty solid onball division together. Morton, Blease and Strauss will hopefully cash in on the first dibs ability of the aforementioned three and Grimes, Maric and Davey will add further cream. Let's not talk about next years top pick just yet. But I definitely favour a mid over key position or ruck. The midfield we all crave is getting a little bit closer and the improvement of Jones is a huge step in that process. Glad to be wrong on this occasion.

[dee-luded 2,959]

The problem with Jones in the past is he tried to take on the world instead of giving the first option. He could always play and will get better and better over the next few years.

With Davey firing he will get the number 1 tag every week, this is why we need Jones, Mclean and I think more importantly Sylvia firing so they can become the play makers and we don't have the reliance on Davey. The reason why I think Sylvia is more important and I believe his kicking skills can hurt the opposition more than the other two, especially if he can keep kicking the long goal.

Jones is a gem, we just need to add a a little more speed around him.

Not just speed, But genuine class, slippery, silky class.