Nathan Jones

[speed demon 818]

Jones may be in our best 22 players but he is not necessarily in our best team of 22. Sure, Jones has generally been performing better than Wonaeamirri, Bennell and Jurrah but he is not competing for their place. He is not, however, better than either Moloney or Trengove. To put himself ahead of our other midfielders he needs to match his strong work under the packs with effectively getting the ball out to teammates more often.

I'm glad the FD have taken the logical but tougher approach and selected the best team ahead of the best players (ofcourse if Jones is sore then the decision is just logical).

[DeezMan 4]

Any truth here?

Have heard the same thing from a source unknown of its reliability.

PJ would have been omitted but due to Jamar he retains his spot. Depends if Bailey thinks PJ can take Graham by himself . Vickery is not named. Miller that second backup ruckman if required.

[Hannabal 4]

Maybe you reassess what you expect/hope Nath Jones to be?

No reassessing needed. I'm quite aware of his capabilities. He's a C grader with occasional B grade days. I love his heart and commitment, but I also realise his limitations. In time you'll realise that the club does too.

I only care about one thing and that's winning a flag. I very much doubt that Jones will be in that premiership team. He may help us get to that last day in Sept (Oct) and he may even play depending on injuries, but he'll become peripheral. That doesn't mean that I don't like him, or that I don't admire him, or that I don't recognise that he's played very good games occasionally. It means that I see better players in our midfield and that I recognise that we need better players in our midfield to win a flag. It's all about the flag, champ.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

So the next thing we hear coming into next season, will be that Jones is only on the periphery, and that he'll be put up as trade bait to lure a KP player from a club who has a surplus, and a dire need for hard inside players.

I could be accused of being relentlessly positive, but Jones has been playing in and under, as a teenager and a player in his early twenties. He's done a good job without being great. When he reaches his mid to late twenties, that will be his peak time as a player, particularly one who relies so heavily on his hardness in order to be effective. Are we going to wave goodbye to him, or at best just select him only when we're having injuries or need a bit of extra toughness? It seems like a shame...

If he's not getting 22 games a season in the next few years he may even SEEK a trade. If one week off becomes two, and two becomes a month... and then for the next couple of years he really IS out of favour, then it's not ridiculous to suggest a club might want to take him off our hands.

If that happened, I bet he'd be one of those players who suddenly finds a gear at a new club. Perhaps a club needing a tough-nut. And once HE'S one of the older players on the ground, the young kids will be bouncing off HIM for a change.

He's a good player (note I didn't say great) and I just get nervous when this club lets good players go.

[Chook 15,022]

So the next thing we hear coming into next season, will be that Jones is only on the periphery, and that he'll be put up as trade bait to lure a KP player from a club who has a surplus, and a dire need for hard inside players.

I could be accused of being relentlessly positive, but Jones has been playing in and under, as a teenager and a player in his early twenties. He's done a good job without being great. When he reaches his mid to late twenties, that will be his peak time as a player, particularly one who relies so heavily on his hardness in order to be effective. Are we going to wave goodbye to him, or at best just select him only when we're having injuries or need a bit of extra toughness? It seems like a shame...

If he's not getting 22 games a season in the next few years he may even SEEK a trade. If one week off becomes two, and two becomes a month... and then for the next couple of years he really IS out of favour, then it's not ridiculous to suggest a club might want to take him off our hands.

If that happened, I bet he'd be one of those players who suddenly finds a gear at a new club. Perhaps a club needing a tough-nut. And once HE'S one of the older players on the ground, the young kids will be bouncing off HIM for a change.

He's a good player (note I didn't say great) and I just get nervous when this club lets good players go.

Why? We can't be hanging onto every good player on the off-chance that they become great. All that's happening here is that he's being dropped. It may be for one week, or it may be for more. Whatever the case, I'm sure he still has enough time to work on the things he has to work on. There isn't something in the water here that makes our players unable to progress. It's just been poor coaching. Lucky for us though, we seem to have a good coach now.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Why? We can't be hanging onto every good player on the off-chance that they become great.

I would disagree with that, but it depends on your definition of "good." I reckon we DO have to hang on to players who crack 50 games of pretty good footy, and stick with them. For every Brad Miller, you get 3 Moloney/Jamar/JMacs. I think in this case, there were a handful of players who played worse, but that are in more desperate need of footy education. I'm thinking Wonna, Jurrah, Bennell. These types. Yes they play in a different position, but they all occupy one place in the 22. Jones gets dropped now, it sends him a message for his off-season that he's not a finished product. And that's ok, so long as the dropping of Jones IS constructive.

All that's happening here is that he's being dropped.

Yeah. I was just speculating a little. IMO I reckon he'll do what he always does. Work his butt off and come back stronger. Be it 2011 or later this year. I think this is mostly a reaction to some posters on here who seem almost excited that Jones has hit a stumbling block.

Whatever the case, I'm sure he still has enough time to work on the things he has to work on.

Yep. He has a handful of strengths, and only one or two weaknesses. Being pace and delivery, which in the modern game you can argue are the most important attributes. He may never fix either, but he can work towards getting around them. Chip's a good example of this. Every passage you see him in he seems to play to his strengths. He's not a spectacular kick, but he works around it by placing himself in damaging positions, lifting his eyes, and running like the dickens to give himself space, and a leading player more varied options. I'd like to see Jones take on the tackler only in the clinches, not when he's on the run on a wing or at half forward. And I'd like to see him think about disposing earlier. BEFORE he takes a hit.

[Guest David Brent]

Jones oozes Norm Smith medal potential, he'll be around in a few years.

[DemonDan... 77]

No reassessing needed. I'm quite aware of his capabilities.

He's a C grader with occasional B grade days. I love his heart and commitment, but I also realise his limitations. In time you'll realise that the club does too.

Obviously this is where we differ.

Wouldve agreed with you a season or two ago, but i think this year he's really pushed up another level.. (his progression has been a bit slow and incremental, id concede that)

and he may find it a challenge to push up into and stay in that 'A-grade bracket' and as i said earlier, he almost certainly wont be seen as 'Elite',

but i think he's still a really important part of the team and will in time be favored over the Bennys, marics, mortons or jettas..

Time will tell hey!

[Roost It 1,434]

Obviously this is where we differ.

Wouldve agreed with you a season or two ago, but i think this year he's really pushed up another level.. (his progression has been a bit slow and incremental, id concede that)

and he may find it a challenge to push up into and stay in that 'A-grade bracket' and as i said earlier, he almost certainly wont be seen as 'Elite',

but i think he's still a really important part of the team and will in time be favored over the Bennys, marics, mortons or jettas..

Time will tell hey!

I think you need to find better uses for your shovel.

[ox_5 163]

Obviously its Nathan Jones' turn to cop the bashing of this week on Demonland.

The guy gives his all, is never going to be an out and out star and never was going to be. He is 22 years old and has played 80 odd games?

People forget how young he is.

[beelzebub 23,382]

Jones is young ?? Yep..thats in his favour

Jones bleeds for the jumper and gives 110% ?? yep.. totally commendable

Jones'sbag of tricks is a little limited compared to some of those aroun him and soon to knock on the door. . His upside is possibly not as great as required to hold down an auto selection. He seems to be being groomed for a specialist tagger's role. Should he be able to master this then his future is indeed bright. If he doesnt then he will be lining up with quite a few for not so many positions.

Its a tough gig for sure. He seems hungry and capable of learning. How capable of translating lessons to delivery ?? I dont know

[Hannabal 4]

Obviously this is where we differ.

Wouldve agreed with you a season or two ago, but i think this year he's really pushed up another level.. (his progression has been a bit slow and incremental, id concede that)

and he may find it a challenge to push up into and stay in that 'A-grade bracket' and as i said earlier, he almost certainly wont be seen as 'Elite',

but i think he's still a really important part of the team and will in time be favored over the Bennys, marics, mortons or jettas..

Time will tell hey!

We all want the same outcome, a flag. I don't see Jones as a premiership mdifielder. Would he get a game in Geelong's midfield ? Would he have got a game in Brisbane's triple premiership team ?

Btw, that's not to say that he's not better than some players that have played in premierships. For me it's a good thing that he's now struggling. Supporters should be happy that spots are tight.

As you say, time will tell.

[Hannabal 4]

Obviously its Nathan Jones' turn to cop the bashing of this week on Demonland.

The guy gives his all, is never going to be an out and out star and never was going to be. He is 22 years old and has played 80 odd games?

People forget how young he is.

Who has "bashed him" ?

Quotes please.

[ox_5 163]

Who has "bashed him" ?

Quotes please.

It's a figure of speech your highness.

[Nasher 33,617]

It's a figure of speech your highness.

Point is that there's no Jones bashing going on here, figuratively or otherwise. If you think saying he's B-C grade is bashing then I think you're being a touch precious. It's an honest assessment. Not everyone can be A grade, and clearly Jones isn't. That's not "bashing".

[ox_5 163]

Point is that there's no Jones bashing going on here, figuratively or otherwise. If you think saying he's B-C grade is bashing then I think you're being a touch precious.

Im well aware of that Nasher, thanks for that. And no, that isnt what I was referring to.

[Nasher 33,617]

Im well aware of that Nasher, thanks for that.

Well you must have been referring to something. If it's something in this thread I've clearly missed it.

[ox_5 163]

Well you must have been referring to something. If it's something in this thread I've clearly missed it.

Clearly.

[two sheds jackson 3]

Obviously its Nathan Jones' turn to cop the bashing of this week on Demonland.

The guy gives his all, is never going to be an out and out star and never was going to be. He is 22 years old and has played 80 odd games?

People forget how young he is.

Nobody has bashed him. The strongest criticism I've seen levelled at Jones in this thread was this: that he's a good honest tryer and is getting the job done at the moment, but has limited upside because of a lack of pace and class and will find himself increasingly pushed out of the side in the next couple of years by emerging young midfielders who offer more than he can. You might disagree with this, but it hardly constitutes player bashing.

While Jones is still very young, I'm not too sure his scope for improvement is as great as other players his age. He already has a mature body and is about as strong as he's going to be, he's not going to get any quicker, and he's not in the sort of position that say, Cale Morton is in, where he has all the right tools but has yet to "put it all together" and adjust to the AFL game. Of course he can still learn tricks and adjust his game so as to better cover his weaknesses, but I don't think he has a great deal of actual development left despite being a young player.

[Hannabal 4]

Clearly.

Then be a good Boy and do what you were asked. Post the quotes.

[beelzebub 23,382]

Jones has been a stellar contributor without necessarily being a stellar player. Hes been somewhat fortunate in that weve had many opportunities for likely triers in the midfiled...til now.

Hes played 88 games whilst still only 22. quite remarkable really. But again not so much a testametn to any outstanding abilities just good honest ones with a fabulous work ethic. No one questions his efforts. But effort alone wont guarantee anything in this team now. There's just too many vying for limited spots. How marvellous is that.

At 88 games you wil lsort of know what a player is about whilst not always knowing if yove seen the nth degree of development. Theres still much to play in Jones' game but it will become whether or not hes the best of available contenders to carry out those roles.

The bar has lifted at the club and continues to do so. Not all will follow its path successfully. Thats not failure for any particular player per se just a comentary on where this club is going.

Nathan is continuing to reinvent himself somewhat...and good luck to him.

[titan_uranus 25,042]

End of the day, Jones doesn't have a lot of skill, and playing AFL in a side like ours which bases its game upon skillful, fast ball movement, means that you can only go so far on the back of strength and courage.

We know his kicking is ordinary at best. We know that contributes to him getting caught holding the ball too often. We also know he is tough and hard at it, and is good in clearances. But when you're competing with Moloney, Trengove, McDonald, Scully, all of whom are more skilled and just as capable of getting a clearance, your spot in the side is no certainty.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

End of the day, Jones doesn't have a lot of skill, and playing AFL in a side like ours which bases its game upon skillful, fast ball movement, means that you can only go so far on the back of strength and courage.

We know his kicking is ordinary at best. We know that contributes to him getting caught holding the ball too often. We also know he is tough and hard at it, and is good in clearances. But when you're competing with Moloney, Trengove, McDonald, Scully, all of whom are more skilled and just as capable of getting a clearance, your spot in the side is no certainty.

Sweet Jesus.....

Jones was not dropped because of form. He has played every game and was rested this week as we had a similar player in Moloney back in the side.

I would argue that Jones has been one of our most improved this year and for people like yourself to say that his kicking is ordinary at best is ridiculous.

I would back Jones' kicking and bet that he could hit as many targets as Mcdonald, Scully and Moloney. Trengove is the only one who would have the better kick.

We hardly have any fantastic kickers in our side. Green and Davey would be the two elite and then there would be daylight.

People are being mistaken as to why he was left out of the side. Him not playing for Casey today should be enough to convince people like you why Titan.

Go and watch some footy.

[TrueGRITS 0]

Jones kicking is quite good when he is in space, he regularly hits targets in the fwd line when breaking the lines through the middle. If he gets the ball in the contest he has to through the ball on the boot its not that easy to hit someone on the [censored] with the pressure on the ball carrier...

I think jones is fighting for a spot with McKenzie, once JMac retires, maybe even Gysbert. They are all similar age bracket so there is no need to play the kids only who is the better player...

At the start of the year Jones was playing fwd mainly as a defensive high half fwd(always in the forward group during the breaks) which also means he maybe competing for Bennells and Dunns position.

[sylvinator 96]

Jones kicking is quite good when he is in space, he regularly hits targets in the fwd line when breaking the lines through the middle. If he gets the ball in the contest he has to through the ball on the boot its not that easy to hit someone on the [censored] with the pressure on the ball carrier...

I think jones is fighting for a spot with McKenzie, once JMac retires, maybe even Gysbert. They are all similar age bracket so there is no need to play the kids only who is the better player...

At the start of the year Jones was playing fwd mainly as a defensive high half fwd(always in the forward group during the breaks) which also means he maybe competing for Bennells and Dunns position.

I think, as mentioned before, Moloney, Jones, McKenzie and McDonald are 1 too many inside slowish midfielders.

When McDonald retires, it will be Moloney, Jones, McKenzie and Gysberts as the 'inside' options. Probably only 3 of these guys will play at any one time