The Nathan Jones Appreciation thread.....

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Will join the club. Love his work. So much so, I shave my head!

I might do the same! My wife won't be happy but I'll just blame it on Mark Neeld how can I be held responsible for my own actions?

[Hannibal 5,814]

I need to post here. I've been an unashamed critic, but applaud the improvements he's made to his game. His kicking has improved, his decision making has improved, his pace has improved and he's reaping the rewards of effort. He's having an A grade year and I hope he gets to experience some success. I respect this guy.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I'll put my hand up as one who criticised him a fair bit over the last couple of years, but he's really stepped up a notch, this year in particular.

His attack on the ball is second to none; it's a pity that some of the others can't follow his lead.

[monoccular 17,427]

With Jack Viney in the team next year, I believe he'll rise to elite class.

All the young incumbents must grab hold of his shirt tail in October and hang on!

Whilst I sincerely hope you are right about JV, but I think this expectation may be a little premature for 2013.

Fully fit Gys and JT, and a focused Moloney I would hope may make an earlier impact.

[Nasher 33,614]

I complained last year. I haven't complained at all this year.

It's hard to believe he only turned 24 this year. It feels as if he's been around so long that it's easy to get confused and think that he's part of the problem, when in reality from day one he's had to carry far more than his fair share of load. His best footy is still probably 3 years off.

I reckon Clint made a good point about his durability too. In a world where all of our young guns seem to be built of tissue paper, he's barely missed a game since he walked in the door.

[timD 994]

I complained for the last few years. He is also my faviourite player and has been so for a while.

I hope that his rewards come think and fast as a proud player for the MFC. He genuinely deserves it.

[stuie 7,374]

Always loved this guy.

He's like a Junior Junior.

Rock on Nate yewwwwwwwwwww....

[jurrahcane 70]

Nathan Jones - take a bow. Heart as big as Pharlap. The one shining light for MFC in 2012.

Plenty of "sceptics" had Jonesy out the door ... "can't kick was the standard around the traps". He kicks it 50+, and gets the footy. Only a few others in MFC can say that. He missed one game in 3 years. B&F for sure in 2012. Well done

[Nasher 33,614]

He missed one game in 3 years. B&F for sure in 2012. Well done

By my calcs, since he was picked for his first game in round 17 2006, he's missed a total of 6 games. Less than one a season on average.

33 Wins.

3 Draws.

93 Losses.

Ouch.

[Deano74 156]

He has been a rare highlight this year. Surely will be our BF.

[Guest]

By my calcs, since he was picked for his first game in round 17 2006, he's missed a total of 6 games. Less than one a season on average.

33 Wins.

3 Draws.

93 Losses.

Ouch.

It's bloody sad so many blokes who bled for our club and stayed around get served up crap like this.

[Chook 15,013]

It's bloody sad so many blokes who bled for our club and stayed around get served up crap like this.

If more blokes bled for our club like Jones does, we wouldn't be in this position.

[Jaded No More 68,913]

Thank you Jonesy, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me a continuous reason to go to games. For providing moments of positively, in a season of utter darkness. For having a go, all the time, every second, of every game, whether you are tagged, or hurt, or have had a gutful.

I will not blame you if you chose to go elsewhere at the end of the year, if you took your continued improvement to a team that will provide you with the opportunity to play and win finals before you are dead.

But let it be known, that if you leave, I will probably pack up my membership scarves and call it a day too.

Edited July 29, 2012 by Jaded

[Jaded No More 68,913]

I reckon Clint made a good point about his durability too. In a world where all of our young guns seem to be built of tissue paper, he's barely missed a game since he walked in the door.

Yep, and he barely missed a beat after breaking his back, and when he injured his calf a few weeks ago, he was waking up every 2 hours to ice it. That's why he was back within a week, when it takes others 2-3 weeks.

His dedication is unbelievable, even more so, when he is a lone solider leading a pack of morons through enemy lines.

Edited July 29, 2012 by Jaded

[Guest]

If more blokes bled for our club like Jones does, we wouldn't be in this position.

I was more referring to blokes like Robbie Flower, Jonesy and Junior Mac, not the current bunch of pretenders (not all of them, but there are plenty) who pull on a guernsey each week.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Always loved this guy.

He's like a Junior Junior.

Rock on Nate yewwwwwwwwwww....

Not meant to any way disrecpect Junior, but I don't think this description does Jones justice.

He's much more than that.

[stuie 7,374]

Not meant to any way disrecpect Junior, but I don't think this description does Jones justice.

He's much more than that.

Not talking about as a player, but as a club man, and as a heart of the team.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Thank you Jonesy, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me a continuous reason to go to games. For providing moments of positively, in a season of utter darkness. For having a go, all the time, every second, of every game, whether you are tagged, or hurt, or have had a gutful.

I will not blame you if you chose to go elsewhere at the end of the year, if you took your continued improvement to a team that will provide you with the opportunity to play and win finals before you are dead.

But let it be known, that if you leave, I will probably pack up my membership scarves and call it a day too.

What a [censored] post. He finally displays the virtues of a first round draft pick, for which he's been rightly lauded, and you won't blame him if he wants to leave because it's a little bit tough ?

Yet in the same instance you probably want other players to show the same heart. Is that hypocritical ? Players appreciate success even more when they've done the hard yards. Let's encourage them to stay true to the cause and not look for the easy road out.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

BRILLIANT thread! What a shinning light in a season from hell! I remember when Jones used to cop flack from posters for having his own website- trying to promote himself when he should be concentrating on his football etc etc, but he has proven a lot of people wrong with his contiued development and now has elevated himself to almost A grade status. Sets the example every week, it's just a shame so few are willing or able to follow suit!

Definitely our most important player right now and if we had a few more of his type we wouldn't be in the pickle we find ourselves in.

Well done Jones. Really looking forward to seeing some Jones/Viney action next year

[Adam The God 30,232]

He's had a fantastic year. Deserves all the praise he receives at the moment. I'll admit I was wrong. I didn't think he had another gear up his sleeve, but he's certainly blown that notion out of the water.

[Jonesbag 487]

Love Jones, absolute star. He is setting the standard of what is required to be a AFL footballer.

Model our club around this gem of a player. He is the only one pulling us through the shite atm.

Great stuff jonesy!

[diesel 420]

I always thought Nath would look a better player with better players around him but he's obviously decided not to wait. He is nearly as goos outside as he is inside as well and is covering the ground beautifully, something which I wouldn't have thought would happen a few years ago!

His win in the B & F should be the clearest in the last 10 years (if not longer) at this club.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Worth noting how long it took him to get to this level and how slow and unskilled he looked at times in the recent past.

Especially in regards to players like Trengove.

[Traja Dee 108]

My 8yo has gone from having little interest in footy to being a massive Dees fan in 3 months despite the form that we have shown. His favourite players are Mitch and Nathan, and he asked this question when he saw this morning's newspaper. It made me laugh so I though I'd share it with you guys on Demonland.

[Jaded No More 68,913]

What a [censored] post. He finally displays the virtues of a first round draft pick, for which he's been rightly lauded, and you won't blame him if he wants to leave because it's a little bit tough ?

Yet in the same instance you probably want other players to show the same heart. Is that hypocritical ? Players appreciate success even more when they've done the hard yards. Let's encourage them to stay true to the cause and not look for the easy road out.

What?

Where the hell did I say I wanted him to leave?

Of course I want him to stick with us and help us succeed, but honestly, I just can't blame players who have worked hard and constantly put in, if they just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and want out.

It's only human to want success, and Nathan Jones has experienced so little of it at Melbourne. Maybe he looks at Brad Green and thinks "I don't want to get to 250 games and not experience any real success".

I think he is really loyal, so it's not an issue, but we constantly look at good players coming out of contracts at sh*t clubs and think "why would they stay there". So how is Jones any different?