So much panic. Jones rightly wants what he deserves, and we all think that is probably a lot more than what he earns now. MFC will know that, but being that there has been a trading period, de listings, new draftees about to enter the club, they just can't come out and say here, gave 800k for 5 years, not can they just now to any players demands.

Contracts take time, and this will take time, it's a big rise and a long term offer, many things to get right, there is no reason to think Jones won't stay at the club. As much as he has been great for the club, the club has been great for him, it goes back to the so called lack of development at the club. Jones was poor in may areas, he worked hard, the club worked hard and he improved.

It will happen.

I'm confident he'll remain a Dee for life. And that the Dees will look after him.

Perhaps the club is presently a bit tetchy because it's trying to build a war chest to secure a big name at the end of 2015.

This shouldn't impact upon what Jones deserves though.

I feel confident that the two parties will meet at a point that both will be happy. I think he has every right to look at what we paid Clark and what we pay Dawes and say ask for what he feels he deserves.

I also feel that as he has been paid unders for a while, whatever extra we given him would be recognition for how much effort he has put into the club for so long.

Very. Thank you, DO.

I can see us offering a $600-700k contract. I suspect Roos will look to build a culture where blokes will take slightly less, in order to achieve slightly more. ie. the Geelong model.

That only works when you are achieving slightly more to start with.

First comes success, then salary cap squeeze, then asking players to take slightly less to keep the team success coming.

You don't ask players of the second bottom club to take slightly less to keep the dream happening....

If we lose Jones when he wants to stay, we deserve to be bottom feeders for eternity.

Sort it out and move on.

What appears to be an overs deal today will not seem that way this time next year. We have room in our cap this year so we should use it to redress the past and make sure his future is secured.

Love to know what the stalemate actually is...

You don't ask players of the second bottom club to take slightly less to keep the dream happening....

Well not the one player who actually puts in each week. Most of our list should be on an annual wage of about $30K each.

If we are trying to lure a free agent on big coin to play in 2016, and the afl has adjusted payments so if your salary cap one year is lower you can make up for it the next, structure jones' contract so that next year he is on good money but the followng year he will get a real good pay packet as well as whoever we can attract. we will be able to pay more.

How we have been paying the full salary cap to our list the last few years is beyond me. lot of wasted dollars.

The MFC should pay him whatever is the appropriate market rate for this type of player in the AFL.

But if he does not accept that amount of salary, then it important to remember he is just one player and the bigger picture needs to be considered by the MFC.

The Club should implementing a salary strategy that will enhance the entire players list and not just a hand full of players. Everyone can be replaced (not suggesting all at once) and the Club will not die if and when they are replaced.

IMO AFL Football is all about having a champion team and not a team of champions.

It is concerning to read some posts that are advocating the Club should be paying him that ever he wants.

The MFC is a business which requires long term planning and appropriate decision making. Hopefully gone are the days when the MFC just made poor decisions about its players list etc.

Personally I do like to reward loyalty but the MFC should not have to sell the farm to do so.

If time is needed in the contract negotiations then let not rush this process.

Look what happened the last time the MFC did not do its due diligence, Mark Neeld was appointed Senior Coach!

I am still having nightmares about that era of the MFC history.

The MFC should pay him whatever is the appropriate market rate for this type of player in the AFL.

But if he does not accept that amount of salary, then it important to remember he is just one player and the bigger picture needs to be considered by the MFC.

The Club should implementing a salary strategy that will enhance the entire players list and not just a hand full of players. Everyone can be replaced (not suggesting all at once) and the Club will not die if and when they are replaced.

IMO AFL Football is all about having a champion team and not a team of champions.

It is concerning to read some posts that are advocating the Club should be paying him that ever he wants.

The MFC is a business which requires long term planning and appropriate decision making. Hopefully gone are the days when the MFC just made poor decisions about its players list etc.

Personally I do like to reward loyalty but the MFC should not have to sell the farm to do so.

If time is needed in the contract negotiations then let not rush this process.

Look what happened the last time the MFC did not do its due diligence, Mark Neeld was appointed Senior Coach!

I am still having nightmares about that era of the MFC history.

You been reading "The Golden Book of Cliches" Flo g?

You been reading "The Golden Book of Cliches" Flo g?

Professor do you want your book back?

Professor do you want you book back?

Jesus Christ!

If Jones comes out and says "I'm going to concentrate on my footy and look at it at the end of the year" we r screwed and my kids will for the first time see a grown man cry.

Until it gets to this stage I have the box of tissues at the ready!

If Jones comes out and says "I'm going to concentrate on my footy and look at it at the end of the year" we r screwed and my kids will for the first time see a grown man cry.

Until it gets to this stage I have the box of tissues at the ready!

You mean to say, you have not been crying at any point over the past eight years?

You are the true Iron Man of the DL forums.

I met Nathan Jones today with my 8 year old and 4 year old daughters. He was in Ballarat for a promotional visit for a new McDonalds. I must say I didn't ask him about his contractual situation but I can say he is a top bloke that was happy to have a chat with myself and my daughters. My eldest daughter has a poster of him on her wall so she was a little awestruck. He signed her guernsey. With regards to contracts, these days anything goes unfortunatley. We have spent the past 6 months hoping we would get Patrick Dangerfield. Could you imagine being a Crows fan thinking Dangerfield might leave for an opposition club? That would be be nerve racking, as would thinking Nathan might leave us for someone else. He is our our best player. He will be targeted. Let's hope we have the funds and potential in place to make him want to stick with us. I feel he will end up up a demon immortal.

What hes asking isnt that far removed from what hes probably worth.

Its a request that can be used to gauge a response.

Im sure something as an offer can be concocted to suit both parties

He plays well, wants to be a Dee.... Sort it !!

Simples

You mean to say, you have not been crying at any point over the past eight years?

You are the true Iron Man of the DL forums.

We are not all pizzants like you Fl og!

PJ & Roosy aren't stupid, they know what he is worth to the club (and I am not talking about his salary) Nate wants to stay so it will get done I have no doubt. IMO opinion when Chunk retires he will be revered as a Demon great along with the likes of Flower, Neiter, Jimmy, RDB, Norm and others

Denham says Jones has put his offer to the club.

If this is at all accurate, they need to just man up and give him what he's asking. He's won the last three B&F's, he should be our highest paid player. Give him as long a deal as he wants and pay what we need to pay. He's worth it.

I know we're planning to land a big fish next year, but let's first focus on extending the contract of our best player first.

If Jones leaves due to money (not because he wants the cheap way to success like Frawley, Rivers or Clark) then whatever achievements credited to Roos and Jackson so far would be flushed down the dunny.

He deserves to be over paid. No other mfc player does. He sure as hell deserves more than Dawes, and it's an embarrassment that he's not.

Don't stuff around with this Melbourne! Jones doesn't atrike me as the kind of guy to be money hungry, so unless he's asked for something ridiculous, I really hope we don't insult him by trying to negotiate a cheaper contract!

I know we're planning to land a big fish next year, but let's first focus on extending the contract of our best player first.

If Jones leaves due to money (not because he wants the cheap way to success like Frawley, Rivers or Clark) then whatever achievements credited to Roos and Jackson so far would be flushed down the dunny.

He deserves to be over paid. No other mfc player does. He sure as hell deserves more than Dawes, and it's an embarrassment that he's not.

I think it will be alright, I cant even begin to imagine what it would feel like if we let Jones go.. It could just about push me over the edge really

I think it will be alright, I cant even begin to imagine what it would feel like if we let Jones go.. It could just about push me over the edge really

As me, especially if it were to Hawthorn or Geelong. Luckily I don't think that would be the case, he deserves a 5 year deal on very good $.

I imagine the young players, especially the midfielders look up to him the most. Would be horrible to lose him.

I agree with Denham. I feel so cheap.

Pay the man.