From Robbo's article: The tackle.

[Whispering_Jack 29,240]

yes jones made up for his last qtr fade out last week.

I'm sure Nathan Jones isn't the type for making excuses but he did get a knock in the head early in the game and I think was still wearing the legacy of it during the week. Having been on the receiving end of similar (albeit at a far inferior level) these things sometimes catch up with you during a game and it wouldn't surprise me if that explains his lower output than usual v GWS.

[jnrmac 19,905]

We also feature in the dislikes, of course:

"7. Toumpas ahead of Wines

Paul Roos isn’t happy with unknown recruiters criticising the Demons for trading away pick No.2, but he should expect it won’t be the last time either, names or no names. The fact is comparisons will continue. Have well and truly seen enough to say Toumpas over Wines was a mistake also. In fact, Wines, taken at No.7, would be ahead of Whitfield (No.1), O’Rourke (2), Plowman (3), Toumpas (4), Stringer (5), with only Macrae (6) rivalling Wines in output."

So why aren't GWS being criticised? Why is it only Melbourne?

The media are scum.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

I suppose so, when you look at it that way.

I hate the whole idea of Sheahan's list. How can he produce a pre-season list of the top 50 players in the competition that is radically different to the postseason list that he publishes just a few months prior (with 0 games being played in between)? The list holds no merit to me.

One is a list of the past year best 50 performers and one is a predicted list of the best 50 players in the comp if they all play to there best. Pretty simple really, it has nothing to with how many games have been played between seasons. They are different lists.

[nutbean 8,838]

I am on record for saying that I don't mind Robbo.

Firstly he doesn't come across as an arrogant " I know better than anyone else" like Smith and Barrett to name but two.

Most importantly ( which I have also pointed out before) he has on other occasions also said that he got it wrong. That [censored] Barrett looks like you have murdered his first born if you disagree with anything he says but has never yet looking in the rear vision mirror and fessed up to how many he gets wrong ( which is all of them).

On Robbo not rating Jones - many in football circles don't. He plays like his life depends on it and I love that and you pretty much know what you will get from him week in and week out - but many on here suggest he is elite - Pendlebury is elite and Jones is no Pendlebury.

[DeeZee 7,296]

Jones MUST feature in Sheahens top 50 this year.

If he keeps going like this he will be.

It seems the media have finally started to wake up to Jonesy

[DeeZee 7,296]

On Robbo not rating Jones - many in football circles don't. He plays like his life depends on it and I love that and you pretty much know what you will get from him week in and week out - but many on here suggest he is elite - Pendlebury is elite and Jones is no Pendlebury.

Selwood is no Pendlebury either ......especially skills wise, yet he is elite.

You dont have to be Elite in all areas to be Elite.

Some have Elite skills, others are great marks and goal kickers, and some are ball magnets,who have heaps of courage.

To be able to find the ball so often week after week is what makes a champ, and Jones is one , and getting better.

Will go down as a legend of this club...with two and possibly three best and fairests to his name.

[nutbean 8,838]

Selwood is no Pendlebury either ......especially skills wise, yet he is elite.

Jones is no Selwood either

( He well may become a "Selwood" but today and now - nope)

[nutbean 8,838]

Will go down as a legend of this club...with two and possibly three best and fairests to his name.

You won't get an argument from me on this.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,652]

Jones is no Selwood either

( He well may become a "Selwood" but today and now - nope)

Unfair. There's four to choose from.

[Machsy 2,858]

Or in other words Toumpas compares equally to 5 of the other top 7 picks including the number 1 pick, it just so happens 2 guys have started their careers super well.

Plus remember O'Meara, Daniher, Viney and Crouch would've gone in the top 5 of unaltered drafts. I'd actually have them as O'Meara/Daniher depending on needs, then Whitfield, then Viney and Crouch.

Our so called pick 4 with Toumpas was more like a pick 8 when you add in the 2 father sons and 2 17 year old mini drafts. It pays to remember that at times.

Don't underestimate how good Whitfield is - almost the equal of O'Meara imho.

[Biffen 12,841]

Jones is no Selwood either

( He well may become a "Selwood" but today and now - nope)

Has Tulip like qualities-the only shining light in some dark days.

Jones would star in any team.

He has held the club together.

[chook fowler 19,264]

Comparisons are odious - Jones is Jones and gives us plenty. Who knows what he would have been like if he didnt have to do it all in the midfield unassisted as hes done in the last few years. Made mincemeat of Murphy in a one on one and he"s no slouch. Jones may well be in all

australian contention this year and not before time.

[nutbean 8,838]

Has Tulip like qualities-the only shining light in some dark days.

Jones would star in any team.

He has held the club together.

Being a shining light in dark days is the only comparison to Tulip.

Whether he would be a star in another team - who knows - but I am a huge believer that your job is made easier if you have some quality around you and I suspect you are right that if you put him in Hawthorns team he would go to another level.

And he has absolutely held the club together - you cannot fault his heart and endeavour.

[Biffen 12,841]

Obviously a bit more of an inside player than Flower but in terms of loyalty and professionalism when all around him aren't either,he has given the club some hope and pride when no others have.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I was having a bit of a sook yesterday about not enough coverage of Nathan Jones's whooping of murphy. Here is at least some coverage.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-coach-paul-roos-pays-tribute-to-cocaptain-nathan-jones-for-his-role-on-marc-murphy/story-fndv8pdq-1226881927921

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-captain-nathan-jones-takes-honours-in-tagging-job-on-carlton-skipper-marc-murphy/story-fndv8pdq-1226881843367

[rpfc 28,052]

'A million monkeys at a million typewriters' comes to mind...

[P-man 13,366]

On Robbo not rating Jones - many in football circles don't.

I think the winds are finally changing on that. He has been respected for a while but I think people are now starting to recognise he is a genuine A grader and a walk up start to any midfield.

He has started off the season to be in AA discussions at the end of the year, but that will largely depend on how well the team does as a whole.

[Dockett 32 1,237]

No offence to Tulip a truly wonderful player however Jonesy does already have two B & F's.

[Nasher 33,607]

Unfair. There's four to choose from.

And he is better than three of them.

[DeeSpencer 24,784]

Don't underestimate how good Whitfield is - almost the equal of O'Meara imho.

I totally rate Whitfield. Just think both Daniher and O'Meara were true number 1 picks as well, all 3 should be true superstars and Viney and Crouch I think most recruiters had above Toumpas and O'Rourke. The out of the box performances are that of Wines and Macrae being good not Toumpas being bad.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,217]

I think the winds are finally changing on that. He has been respected for a while but I think people are now starting to recognise he is a genuine A grader and a walk up start to any midfield.

He has started off the season to be in AA discussions at the end of the year, but that will largely depend on how well the team does as a whole.

His game has gone to a new level this year, used to get caught a bit with the ball, this has changed. Disposal and general awareness has improved. Having Cross, Tyson, Viney ect help. The goal he kicked on Saturday was a ripper, hope to see more of them.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

I don't like these comparisons. Nate Jones is Nate Jones. He plays like Nate Jones, and that is hard at it, head over the ball and working his ass off for the whole game.

[DemonOX 8,701]

It's great to hear POSITIVE news about the dees ON FIELD for a change.

It's been far to long and will hopefully continue

[Deecisive 1,709]

Re the continuing wines issue, my take on it is, approach him and see if he wants to come back to Melbourne both city and club. We should have some $$'s to spare to encourage him to move. That way we have Toumpas on the outside wines and viney on the inside.

[nutbean 8,838]

No offence to Tulip a truly wonderful player however Jonesy does already have two B & F's.

Actually I always found it interesting the MFC players that got the Bluey in those days.

Not that Flower ever shied away from a contest but he wasn't a crash and bash player.

In his era ( of horrible football played by us) when it came to the Bluey we rated the ultra courageous above all else. Laurie Fowler took Blueys away from Flower in my opinion. I'm not devaluing Fowler who was suicidal brave but he was no Flower.

I think also we had an expectation of Robbie Flower - He was great nearly every game he played but we got used to that and somehow just expected it.