man oh man, so many people on here have changed their tune on this bloke.

if some of you had had your way he wouldn't even be playing at this club!

but to be fair we are all guilty of doubting some players sometime in the past and it is really awesome to be proven wrong!

I meant no disrespect to Jones with my 10% talent 90% heart call. I just think that what makes Jones the player that he has become is his attitude and approach to the game, much more so than his skills.

Plenty of players on our list with equal or superior skills who haven't grown or shown as much durability or improvement as Jones has. And that comes down to wanting it, and working for it. Jones wills himself to contests while so many others don't. And that's a damn hard thing to do when you are getting demolished week in week out with no support from your teammates.

I love that he has never been a downhill skier.

Jones, worth a BUMP.

Predicting a ginormous year for this guy next year. He's still young and by my reckoning is one of only a few senior players who have improved every year since coming to the club. With his results in the 3k time trial today, I really feel that he's set up to take his game to the next level. If I'm right, I hope you all remember that I called it.

EDIT: PS, Bump

Shameless self-promotion once again. Nicholson also aced that time trial and played a vital role in our win on the weekend.

Jaded - I do get the gist of your 10/90 assertion, but IMVHO he has a lot more talent than that, though few if any get, through application, more out of what they are endowed with than NJ.

Not sure if others have noticed this as much as I have, but as much as I love Nathan Jones, could someone please teach him the art of the pretend handball attempt when he is tackled to the ground, costs us a free kick nearly each week. Perhaps Jordie could take him aside and have a word, because he is a machine at it. But apart from that, as you were Nathan.

Chunk...Mr Likeable and Mr Workhorse.

I see future captain.

He has improved and I admit I didn't think he had much improvement if any left in him. Shows what I know haha.

I meant no disrespect to Jones with my 10% talent 90% heart call. I just think that what makes Jones the player that he has become is his attitude and approach to the game, much more so than his skills.

Plenty of players on our list with equal or superior skills who haven't grown or shown as much durability or improvement as Jones has. And that comes down to wanting it, and working for it. Jones wills himself to contests while so many others don't. And that's a damn hard thing to do when you are getting demolished week in week out with no support from your teammates.

I love that he has never been a downhill skier.

Sometimes I shake my head at the things you write. Talent incorporates his ability to run long and hard (get to more contests). It involves reading the play and understanding where to be to get the ball. From juniors Jones has always had talent and plenty of it, for some reason your perception has changed on him. You also seem to underestimate his evaisive skills and ability to kick goals, and great ones at that. My point is Jones has plenty of talent, you just seem to associate a hard nosed hard working player with that of less talent and more 'heart'.

Sometimes I shake my head at the things you write. Talent incorporates his ability to run long and hard (get to more contests). It involves reading the play and understanding where to be to get the ball. From juniors Jones has always had talent and plenty of it, for some reason your perception has changed on him. You also seem to underestimate his evaisive skills and ability to kick goals, and great ones at that. My point is Jones has plenty of talent, you just seem to associate a hard nosed hard working player with that of less talent and more 'heart'.

I think his ability to kick goals has been one of his opportunities to improve and he has improved that so far this season. Looking forward to seeing him improve further after another Mission/ Neeld preseason.

Sometimes I shake my head at the things you write. Talent incorporates his ability to run long and hard (get to more contests). It involves reading the play and understanding where to be to get the ball. From juniors Jones has always had talent and plenty of it, for some reason your perception has changed on him. You also seem to underestimate his evaisive skills and ability to kick goals, and great ones at that. My point is Jones has plenty of talent, you just seem to associate a hard nosed hard working player with that of less talent and more 'heart'.

I never said Jones is not talented. He clearly is. Nobody who lacks talents manages such a long run of games as Jones has.

I was simply pointing out that Jones gets the most out of his talent, while others more talented than him don't.

Fair to agree that Jones isn't the best skilled player going around, but few have had better more consistent seasons, especially in such a poorly performing team. And that is a credit to his character. He has made the most of every opportunity, worked on his deficiencies and added more strings to his game.

I wish Sylvia took a leaf out of Jones' book!

Nate Jones is my hero.

Nuff said.

Ive often accuses this lad of being right there for effort and has more than a little ability and talent but lacked polish.

I can detect a bit of a shine this year, not blindingly sparkling...but hes gone up a notch. Well done