Nathan Jones

[Bruce Almighty 0]

needs to be sent back to the magoos for making to many mistakes, cant just accept this mediocrity. Cant fault his effort and love the guy but just needs to get his skills up to the standard

[Little Goffy 14,639]

Whatever.

[Johnny Karate 559]

needs to be sent back to the magoos for making to many mistakes, cant just accept this mediocrity. Cant fault his effort and love the guy but just needs to get his skills up to the standard

Jones has had his best season thus far he is getting the hard ball, not getting caught as much and his disposal (bar r9) has been improving rapidly. Only a putrid opportunist or someone who hasn't watched a game would advocate his dropping.

[Bruce Almighty 0]

so it is ok to continously turn the footy over?

[Yencks 8]

so it is ok to continously turn the footy over?

no it isnt...but jones hasnt been doing that this year

[Freak 100]

In football there are 3 scenarios; when your team has the ball, when the other team has the ball and when the ball is contested. Nathan Jones is the best at the latter situation..and for that reason alone..must remain in the team.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

Why is Jones always listed on the extended bench on Thu night, and why did he start on the bench on the weekend?

I think this thread has merit. I appreciate that he had a BOG V West Coast, but these strong performances are few and far between. He's turning into a turnover merchant. It's as if Jones kicks the ball with his eyes closed - it just goes anywhere.

Bailey has dropped him before and wouldn't be afraid to do it again. Surely all is not beer and skittles with N Jones.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

In football there are 3 scenarios; when your team has the ball, when the other team has the ball and when the ball is contested. Nathan Jones is the best at the latter situation..and for that reason alone..must remain in the team.

I come at this from a different slant. It's clear that from his first game through to now he has excelled at getting the pill and doing the hard stuff. For this reason alone, he is one of the more required players in the club. Probably between the 5th-10th most important to retain. When he hits his mid-twenties he'll be smashing through opponent with such ease that it won't matter how he kicks it...

That said, it is vital that he keep improving. We don't want to be lamenting his kicking in 5 years time to the same degree we are now. So the only question in my mind is what will help him improve his kicking/decision making? ie get him to alter certain specific habitual problems he has. For example. when streaming into goal un-molested he is a very good (and surprisingly deep) kick at goal. He's no Maric, but he can do damage. But the difference when under ANY kind of duress is huge. Sylvia in his early days used to throw it on his boot at the first opportunity too, and as a consequence it would go down the thoat of an opposition player regularly. He's learned over time to surpress that instinct and look for higher percentage targets, or open spaces that players can run onto.

There's no reason Jones can't do this. So at the end of the day where will he learn this skill most quickly? Staying in the ones or dropping back where he'll find a bit morespace and confidence. Both approaches might work effectively... As far as I'm concerned in a purely development year, he hasto stay where he is. If we were pushnig for finals, then a single week in the twos would be more appropriate. For mine, he stays where he is until round 22.

[demon85 17]

Why is Jones always listed on the extended bench on Thu night, and why did he start on the bench on the weekend?

I think this thread has merit. I appreciate that he had a BOG V West Coast, but these strong performances are few and far between. He's turning into a turnover merchant. It's as if Jones kicks the ball with his eyes closed - it just goes anywhere.

Bailey has dropped him before and wouldn't be afraid to do it again. Surely all is not beer and skittles with N Jones.

He starts on the bench because he isnt currently the best midfielder on the team - but he's far from the worst. In my opinion he sure is a handy midfielder to have on the bench and is developing nicely.

Its always easier to be a critic mate.

[PeterJames 46]

While he is in the best 22 then he gets a game...

If we dropped everyone who turns the ball over we wouldn't have 10 players in there!!

He has vastly improved i think and will only get better!

Who would you replace him with???

[Gorgoroth 13,019]

I find that Jones seems to get the ball and not get rid of it quick enough and then runs himself into trouble the does a bad handball or kick, he needs to take the first option and not try to break through tackles constantly, that I think is where he is going wrong.

[Nasher 33,617]

cant just accept this mediocrity.

Accepting mediocrity bleeds red and blue, and is a real Ryan O'Keefe type player. Gee I love cliches. *spew*

On the real subject, Jones is a best 22 player and I can't see him getting dropped. His game has flaws, but since there's nobody better waiting for his spot at Casey, he can work on them while playing at the top level.

[Weedster 174]

I find that Jones seems to get the ball and not get rid of it quick enough and then runs himself into trouble the does a bad handball or kick, he needs to take the first option and not try to break through tackles constantly, that I think is where he is going wrong.

I think you're right, but it also needs players down to ground being on the move.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

After some improved disposal and decision making early in the season he has really fallen back into old ways the last 3 weeks. 56% disposal efficiency last weekend is diabolical any way you look at it, even if you assume like Freak that an inside player will have low effectiveness by virtue of where and when they win the ball. Personally I would be dropping him this week purely to work on these deficiencies.

[H_T 3,049]

In football there are 3 scenarios; when your team has the ball, when the other team has the ball and when the ball is contested. Nathan Jones is the best at the latter situation..and for that reason alone..must remain in the team.

I agree Nathan Jones is best at the latter situation...when the ball is in a contested situation, although I might add, when our team has the ball he does work off the ball to create an opportunity by finding space for his teammates.

I find that Jones seems to get the ball and not get rid of it quick enough and then runs himself into trouble the does a bad handball or kick, he needs to take the first option and not try to break through tackles constantly, that I think is where he is going wrong.

I think Moloney also had this problem, I think Jones is working hard to rectify this by learning of how to dispose of it when the heat is on by learning to be strong in his legs and hold his ground, also by ensuring his hands are free (much like Voss did well).

Accepting mediocrity bleeds red and blue, and is a real Ryan O'Keefe type player. Gee I love cliches. *spew*

On the real subject, Jones is a best 22 player and I can't see him getting dropped. His game has flaws, but since there's nobody better waiting for his spot at Casey, he can work on them while playing at the top level.

Agree.

After some improved disposal and decision making early in the season he has really fallen back into old ways the last 3 weeks. 56% disposal efficiency last weekend is diabolical any way you look at it, even if you assume like Freak that an inside player will have low effectiveness by virtue of where and when they win the ball. Personally I would be dropping him this week purely to work on these deficiencies.

I wouldn't BRFE, i agree with Nasher, he can work on them whilst playing AFL, as there is really no one better waiting in the wings at Casey.

[loges 6,767]

I find that Jones seems to get the ball and not get rid of it quick enough and then runs himself into trouble the does a bad handball or kick, he needs to take the first option and not try to break through tackles constantly, that I think is where he is going wrong.

Absolutely spot on condemned, needs to go to sleep repeating over & over first option, first option

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

Absolutely spot on condemned, needs to go to sleep repeating over & over first option, first option

Agree that they have their own deficiencies but I would play Bell or Bartram ahead of him this weekend. Noted that Bell has awareness issues but has been performing well in the middle and offers something different to Jones/Moloney/Mclean. Bartram wil be required this weekend I think to play on DalSanto/Hayes/Ball.... I dont think that Jones ia lost cause but just needs to go back and concentrate on working on his decisions and precision. I think that would be better at VFL level than against the rampaging Saints.

[Zarate Kid 20 0]

haha geeez, yea he makes some mistakes, but um, hello, so does the rest of the team, robbo made plenty on sunday too.

So in our young and inexperienced side we shuld drop those kinda guys from the team, and bring in who?

[rpfc 28,779]

I think the better question is: Is there a 21 yr old playing who doesn't turn it over?

We judge him harshly because of his fantastic 2006 (and Bate as well BTW) but he is doing what the older players were doing then and 6 clearances on the weekend is a great return against the Hawks. He will be unstoppable in a few years time when he has more than Davey to give to and run the lines for him.

Genuine ball winners are hard to find.

[Zarate Kid 20 0]

i guess that means we should trade him then too yea?

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

I think the better question is: Is there a 21 yr old playing who doesn't turn it over?

We judge him harshly because of his fantastic 2006 (and Bate as well BTW) but he is doing what the older players were doing then and 6 clearances on the weekend is a great return against the Hawks. He will be unstoppable in a few years time when he has more than Davey to give to and run the lines for him.

Genuine ball winners are hard to find.

What is the point of winning the ball if you give it straight back?I am judging him on his output the last few games. I unlike alot of posters do not consider a players age, previous playing history or draft position when reviewing their performance. I think Jones has shown improvement this year and for him to develop further he needs to go back to the VFL to work on his deficiencies and then be promoted when he is ready to apply them at AFL level.

[Ryan Dee 140]

I cant believe im even hearing this crap about jones. Hes a top player. Hardly much to kick to up forward atm.

[rpfc 28,779]

What is the point of winning the ball if you give it straight back?I am judging him on his output the last few games. I unlike alot of posters do not consider a players age, previous playing history or draft position when reviewing their performance. I think Jones has shown improvement this year and for him to develop further he needs to go back to the VFL to work on his deficiencies and then be promoted when he is ready to apply them at AFL level.

You don't consider a player's age?

We are rebuilding, and if Wheatley was playing slightly better football than Grimes/Cheney/McNamara but they were still playing well, would you still choose Wheatley?

If you do, I admire your commitment to your ethos, but I wouldn't want you on the selection committee.

The underlying problem with Nathan Jones is the lack of time he has to dispose of the footy and the perceived lack of time he has to dispose of the footy. Sometimes the quickness of the game sees him tackled with the ball, sometimes it sees him being rushed to kick it because of actual pressure, and sometimes he kicks it under little pressure or pressure of his own making.

They may drop him to work on his kicking skills and to relieve some pressure on a 21 year old, but his deficiency is his in-close decision making and kicking under pressure - neither of which will rectified in the VFL. The standard is lower (of course) and the game slower.

[Ryan Dee 140]

and you cant just drop a player for one skill which he isnt the BEST at.

Lance franklin and simon black have one of the worst CLANGERS to Disposals ratio's in the AFL.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

You don't consider a player's age?

We are rebuilding, and if Wheatley was playing slightly better football than Grimes/Cheney/McNamara but they were still playing well, would you still choose Wheatley?

RPFC, you have misunderstood my point. Age should not be considered when reviewing a players individual performance on a given day. Age is an imperative along with many other factors when comparing players for team selection.

This really comes to the question as to where will Jones best develop/improve on his deficiencies, that being disposal and decision making. I do not believe that he is best placed to improve this against the best pressuring side in the competition. I can understand how other may disagree.