Although it must be said that Denham didn't actually infer that there was a dispute.

More of an opinion piece than anything.

I will start to question the point of continuing to barrack for the club if they let Jones walk due to finances.

I'll be done, that would be the final straw and a nice way to top off being crap for most of my MFC supporting existence.

I hope MFC realise what Jones means to this club and its supporters..

Although it must be said that Denham didn't actually infer that there was a dispute.

More of an opinion piece than anything.

I will start to question the point of continuing to barrack for the club if they let Jones walk due to finances.

I find it hard to believe that Jones is only on 250K a year. When did he sign his last contract?

I don't think the problem will be financial not even Melbourne are that stupid that they wouldn't give him what he wanted.

I'll be amazed if it doesn't drag on, this contract will more than likely be his last chance for success. I'll be amazed if he didn't wait to see what direction the club was heading before he would sign.

Not only should we not stuff up and go ahead and secure the skipper to a fair deal given his status at the club and his contributions to it over his time as a player, but we should also move forward and become the predators when it comes to free agents and out of contract players from other clubs.

I believe we've already been proactive with Dangerfield (and will continue to follow him up along with Tex Walker and Rory Sloane) but we should approach this bloke ~ Contract can wait, says young Giant Shiel.

We've been the targets for far too long.

Heard he is waiting until end of next season, we all know what that means,

Heard he is waiting until end of next season, we all know what that means,

you talking jones or shiel??!!

Re Shiel, you gotta love these guys. .... "At the moment [the contract] is the last thing on my mind. I still have a lot of things in front of me [that] I have to work on to just get ready for the game," Which is now common football language for something like " This will be my last year at GWS and Im open to best offers. Within reason I'll try to do my best to play well for them in 2015 but its all about whats next for me now"

Just hope Jones doesn't do the same thing.

I know I'm stating the bleeding obvious here, but if we're going to land a star through FA next year we're going to need to see a big jump up the ladder.

We can no longer be talking about incremental improvement. Neeld belittled and patronised the players in that way when talking about how far behind the 8-ball we were. Roos at the very least injected some belief and confidence. It's now up to the players to take it a step further.

Signs are good early considering we almost have a full squad ready to attack the pre-season. We've strengthened our backline. We'll have a more potent attack.

It's time the football gods gave us a chop out.

Because if we land a star or two at the end of next season.

Make no mistake, it will be a game changer for this club.

Go dees.

If the club were to trade or not match any offer put to Jones. I would not be re-newing my membership for a long time.

Jonesy deserves the Captains wage.

Nothing more and certainly nothing less

We have to pay 40+ players improving the list each year.

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.

New Maccas in the 'Rat hey THT? Don't they have 4 already (to share amongst a population of 80K)?

New Maccas in the 'Rat hey THT? Don't they have 4 already (to share amongst a population of 80K)?

Classy place

Jonesy deserves the Captains wage.

Nothing more and certainly nothing less

We have to pay 40+ players improving the list each year.

So, you want him paid the same as Grimes...3 B & F's, good brownlow polling, hardly ever missed a game thru injury? Really? Really? Nothing against Grimes but they aren't in the same salary bracket, IMO.

$10m & 40+ players = average $230 - 240k each. Obviously a lot of young players on less (there always will be) allows other players to be paid more. You do the maths on what we can afford. (Especially if we heavily front-end his contract into 2015 when we have heaps of salary cap available).

GC would be circling for a replacement for Ablett as their seniour midfielder. They will give him 5 years and top $.

Jonesy should be paid whatever it takes to stop him even thinking about a FA offer.

We are not all pizzants like you Fl og!

Dead set. Is this necessary?

I know I'm stating the bleeding obvious here, but if we're going to land a star through FA next year we're going to need to see a big jump up the ladder.

We can no longer be talking about incremental improvement. Neeld belittled and patronised the players in that way when talking about how far behind the 8-ball we were. Roos at the very least injected some belief and confidence. It's now up to the players to take it a step further.

Signs are good early considering we almost have a full squad ready to attack the pre-season. We've strengthened our backline. We'll have a more potent attack.

It's time the football gods gave us a chop out.

Because if we land a star or two at the end of next season.

Make no mistake, it will be a game changer for this club.

Go dees.

You can criticise Neeld for lots of things but you must not have been listening when you suggest that Neeld kept mentioning how far behind the eight ball (mixed metaphor) we were as opposed to Roos injecting confidence and belief. I don't think a week went by that Roos didn't mention how "far behind the pack" we are. Roos has been far more vocal about how poor we have been for many years than Neeld ever was. The major difference is nobody believed or took Neeld seriously whereas Roos commands respect when he speaks.

Strangely the only thing of concern about Jones' request is the length of it.

Id almost go the other way and offer a 4 +1+1 with the last 2 years definitely subject to performance, fitness and standing at club..i.e the old Chestnuts of incentives etc

He'll be 27 when he hits the park next year.....just saying Yep in his prime. Deserves better pay than getting...all things equal write him his check. 3 mill over 4 and we'll look at the last 2 when we get there.

You can criticise Neeld for lots of things but you must not have been listening when you suggest that Neeld kept mentioning how far behind the eight ball (mixed metaphor) we were as opposed to Roos injecting confidence and belief. I don't think a week went by that Roos didn't mention how "far behind the pack" we are. Roos has been far more vocal about how poor we have been for many years than Neeld ever was. The major difference is nobody believed or took Neeld seriously whereas Roos commands respect when he speaks.

Absolutely spot on. Other than not being a great coach, Neeld and most other inexperienced coaches lack the credibility that experience and success brings, that makes it harder to get things done. The other thing is Roos and Neeld could give you the exact same message and elicit a completely different reaction.

The Jones contract is extremely important, not only because he is a crucial player but he is our leader and captain and it will have a huge bearing on the psyche of the players when negotiating with the MFC.

Like all good clubs we will be trying to ask our loyal players to sign on at a discount in the interests of group success. It's a very hard sell at the moment.

A lot hinges on this deal, we must keep Jones, but we need to try to find a way to not pay overs. If Jones gets overs we will struggle to keep the better players on our list. If he takes one for the team others will follow.

That has nothing to do with whether he deserves it or not.

A lot hinges on this deal, we must keep Jones, but we need to try to find a way to not pay overs. If Jones gets overs we will struggle to keep the better players on our list. If he takes one for the team others will follow.

That has nothing to do with whether he deserves it or not.

I agree, and it's why I think this will take some time for this to settle. This is currently our most sensitive and important contract, it's unreasonable to expect it to be sorted in short order.

Absolutely spot on. Other than not being a great coach, Neeld and most other inexperienced coaches lack the credibility that experience and success brings, that makes it harder to get things done. The other thing is Roos and Neeld could give you the exact same message and elicit a completely different reaction.

The Jones contract is extremely important, not only because he is a crucial player but he is our leader and captain and it will have a huge bearing on the psyche of the players when negotiating with the MFC.

Like all good clubs we will be trying to ask our loyal players to sign on at a discount in the interests of group success. It's a very hard sell at the moment.

A lot hinges on this deal, we must keep Jones, but we need to try to find a way to not pay overs. If Jones gets overs we will struggle to keep the better players on our list. If he takes one for the team others will follow.

That has nothing to do with whether he deserves it or not.

The thing that worries me is if we are seen to 'stuff Jones around' and ask him to take one for the team, then pay a 'silly' amount for an FA ($1m was rumoured for Dangerfield) our credibility with players will take a hit (hypocritical?) - won't help club morale/culture either.

We may need to pay our club champions that are integral to our culture a premium (doesn't have to be 'silly') from time time. I think they will work it out but the longer it takes the more worried I become about 'silly' offers from other clubs.

The thing that worries me is if we are seen to 'stuff Jones around' and ask him to take one for the team, then pay a 'silly' amount for an FA ($1m was rumoured for Dangerfield) our credibility with players will take a hit (hypocritical?) - won't help club morale/culture either.

We may need to pay our club champions that are integral to our culture a premium (doesn't have to be 'silly') from time time. I think they will work it out but the longer it takes the more worried I become about 'silly' offers from other clubs.

I think Jones would love to play with an overpaid star than with no star at all.

I also don't believe he has been tremendously underpaid.

I worry that he was also on a front ended contract and might be an Unrestricted Free Agent but he will earn a wage that some of you will think is too much.

The equivalent wage of $600k in 2008 is $800k in 2015.

They are the same percentage of their respective salary caps.

The worth of the best players is growing rapidly.

Pay him what he asks, he has earned it.

So, you want him paid the same as Grimes...3 B & F's, good brownlow polling, hardly ever missed a game thru injury? Really? Really? Nothing against Grimes but they aren't in the same salary bracket, IMO.

$10m & 40+ players = average $230 - 240k each. Obviously a lot of young players on less (there always will be) allows other players to be paid more. You do the maths on what we can afford. (Especially if we heavily front-end his contract into 2015 when we have heaps of salary cap available).

GC would be circling for a replacement for Ablett as their seniour midfielder. They will give him 5 years and top $.

Jonesy should be paid whatever it takes to stop him even thinking about a FA offer.

Mate for a start Frank Grimes shouldn't be Captain.

He is lucky to get a game imo

So Jonesy deserves a lot more than Grimes.

But from what i gather he wants 5 years. Now on the surface that is a very fair call.

But he is an inside mid who gets bashed around every game.

So 5 years is a big call for the club so i can see why talk have slowed.

I want him to stay, but not at any cost.

He's only 26. 5 years is not a big call. It's actually a very easy call. We lose Jones and we lose an enormous part of this club.

The deal needs to get done. Don't mess around with this.

Absolutely spot on. Other than not being a great coach, Neeld and most other inexperienced coaches lack the credibility that experience and success brings, that makes it harder to get things done. The other thing is Roos and Neeld could give you the exact same message and elicit a completely different reaction.

The Jones contract is extremely important, not only because he is a crucial player but he is our leader and captain and it will have a huge bearing on the psyche of the players when negotiating with the MFC.

Like all good clubs we will be trying to ask our loyal players to sign on at a discount in the interests of group success. It's a very hard sell at the moment.

A lot hinges on this deal, we must keep Jones, but we need to try to find a way to not pay overs. If Jones gets overs we will struggle to keep the better players on our list. If he takes one for the team others will follow.

That has nothing to do with whether he deserves it or not.

This is essentially what I was saying earlier in the thread.

Mate for a start Frank Grimes shouldn't be Captain.

He is lucky to get a game imo

So Jonesy deserves a lot more than Grimes.

But from what i gather he wants 5 years. Now on the surface that is a very fair call.

But he is an inside mid who gets bashed around every game.

So 5 years is a big call for the club so i can see why talk have slowed.

I want him to stay, but not at any cost.

He's only 26. 5 years is not a big call. It's actually a very easy call. We lose Jones and we lose an enormous part of this club.

The deal needs to get done. Don't mess around with this.

I can see where you're coming from WYL, but I think giving Jones a 5 year deal is fine, given his special place at the club. This bloke has been the heart and soul every week for at least the last three gloomy years. I think if we negotiate a five year deal, we can negotiate a smaller yearly wage or front load it to the equivalent. I'd be happy with a five year deal at $600k pa. If it's front loaded, we could go hard after FAs in the next two to three years.

However, the caveat for me is that if he is asking for 5 years at say $1mill, that's overs for me. We want to remunerate Jones for all his hard work over the last few years and set him up for the future, but we also have to be mindful that we're acting in the best interests of the club as a whole. No one player is bigger than the Melbourne Football Club.