FAREWELL MATT JONES

[McQueen 17,862]

Got a crank at the elite level in arguably our worst season ever on many levels. Finished top 5 B&F along with Terls.

Goodness gracious me they were dark years.

However, the bloke had played 60 more AFL games than me and the rest of you and he should walk away proud.

[Nasher 33,047]

5 hours ago, ProDee said:

You were wrong, but not by a lot.  He played 5 more games.

Stu and some others must be flabberbasted (sic).

5 games, out of a possible 8. I'd put that in the realms of "by a lot" when the forecast was zero. He was closer to playing every game than never playing again. It was clearly a dumb call at the time and has proven to be so in time.

Moot point now, obviously.

 

[spirit of norm smith 12,886]

Matt Jones was on the edge after 2015 and had to keep fit and fire in 2016.  It did not happen.

He had pace but ultimately his disposal, decision making and tackling were lacking.

Thanks for your service but we move on.

[Biffen 12,323]

What exactly is a football brain?

Is it a good thing or an insult?

[Earl Hood 5,788]

4 hours ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

I'm not so much criticising the decision but you surely see the reasons for keeping him. I stand by my opinion that he would be useful depth next year given his run and spread. We lack that in any sufficent quantities, spread in particular. However, I am also not all that torn up by him leaving, I suspect most who thought he would be good depth would be similar.

Where has the decision been announced? It is not on the mfc site that I can see. 

[stuie 7,374]

1 minute ago, Earl Hood said:

Where has the decision been announced? It is not on the mfc site that I can see. 

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-27/melbourne-makes-first-list-changes

 

[Earl Hood 5,788]

1 minute ago, stuie said:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-09-27/melbourne-makes-first-list-changes

 

Whoops sorry Stuie, I was so taken up with the Grimes announcement I missed that Matt was one of the three delisted at the same time. 

[Whispering_Jack 27,959]

I understand that some people are considering handing out awards to other posters. Not a bad idea. Perhaps we can call the awards "Holidays"?

Please stick to the topic and enough of the personal attacks, otherwise the new awards start kicking in immediately.

Thanks for your co-operation.

[Dante 2,562]

In the last game of the 2015 season I thought he was terrible and was surprised when he was selected early in the year, however he put in some reasonable performances and deserved he spot until injured.

He came to us when we were on our backs on the floor and despite the lack of competition finished in the top 5 in the B&F so he was still better than a lot of other players on our list. 

I was never a big fan but I have to say he gave it his all, so I thank him for his contribution over the last 4 years and wish him well in the future. 

[Winners at last 4,709]

He was "lucky" to play 60 games. Good on him. 

_______________________________________________________________

Alistair "Big Jack" Nicholson played over 100!! And was on the list for 11 years!!!!

Making his debut in 1997 in the number 8 guernsey, the large figure of the man known as "Big Jack" was a strong presence in defence for the Demons. Nicholson, a specialist key position defender, was most suited to full-back and was much maligned during his career, described by critics as "old, slow and useless" and "unfashionable".^[1] However, Nicholson was shown a lot of faith by coach Neale Daniher, and was signed on until the end of the 2007 season.

 

[dazzledavey36 48,704]

Don't know what a Wikipedia page of Alistair Nicholson has to do with Matt Jones but ok..

Edited September 29, 2016 by dazzledavey36

[binman 37,917]

8 hours ago, Members' Wing said:

Surely nobody with any semblance of a footy brain thought Matt Jones would get another contract?

I did. Though not shocked he didn't.

[Moonshadow 16,157]

9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Got 60 games in 4 years which is not a bad effort at all. Should hold his head up high and be proud that he's achieved something on here many would love to do. He's a fully qualified sparky do at least he has that to fall back on.

A footy career in the EFL beckons.

Good luck in the future Jonesy.

Hasn't he got a furniture making workshop going with Gawny? The guy has quite a few strings to his bow.

I congratulate him on 60 games for the club and a top 5 in the Bluey. Has given his all and can certainly hold his head high. I like players that make the most of their opportunities.

I wonder if he might get picked up by another club as a DFA. Brisbane?

[Gorgoroth 12,308]

I was one of M Jones biggest critics, and TBH I thought this year was probably his best in terms of his use of the ball. 

I am not surprised he got delisted but he gave his all for the club, good luck in the future Matt.

[Cranky Franky 1,483]

17 hours ago, bingers said:

He was "lucky" to play 60 games. Good on him. 

_______________________________________________________________

Alistair "Big Jack" Nicholson played over 100!! And was on the list for 11 years!!!!

Making his debut in 1997 in the number 8 guernsey, the large figure of the man known as "Big Jack" was a strong presence in defence for the Demons. Nicholson, a specialist key position defender, was most suited to full-back and was much maligned during his career, described by critics as "old, slow and useless" and "unfashionable".^[1] However, Nicholson was shown a lot of faith by coach Neale Daniher, and was signed on until the end of the 2007 season.

 

"Big Jack" ???  I only heard him called Big Al or Sideshow Bob.

[Winners at last 4,709]

50 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

"Big Jack" ???  I only heard him called Big Al or Sideshow Bob.

Yeah, me too. But Wikipaedia never lies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[beelzebub 22,225]

22 hours ago, Biffen said:

What exactly is a football brain?

Is it a good thing or an insult?

It's nouse, an attribute.

[Demon Dynasty 15,361]

Pretty accurate call by AJ.

Matt was ok when receiving the ball well in the clear and on the move going forward. In other words he looked better on the run coming i50. Couldnt hit the scoreboard very well when he had the opp himself though.

In a 50/50 contest he quite often froze and just took the tackle rather than using other alternatives such as agility/skills or quick reflexes and decision making to release the ball to someone in a better position (or loose) with hand ball or by foot. He did this on occasions and when he did he showed signs but was just unable to do it often enough or to a high enough standard to cut the mustard.

If caught down back he would also suffer a little too often from poor decision making if the heat was on (which it usually is down back of course).

Some of the above negatives were on show again last week. I think the fact it was VFL level only, sealed his fate.

Showed glimpses and a decent servant. Good luck to him wherever he goes from here.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Rusty Nails

[monoccular 16,042]

On 29/09/2016 at 4:23 PM, Abe said:

I think Matty Jones got the most out of his potential, drafted as a mature age player he probably thought he'd missed his chance at AFL level but he came in and played a few years and some pretty good game and had a crack in every game he played, even when others didn't all the time. 

all the best for the future matty.

 

On 30/09/2016 at 3:01 AM, Moonshadow said:

Hasn't he got a furniture making workshop going with Gawny? The guy has quite a few strings to his bow.

I congratulate him on 60 games for the club and a top 5 in the Bluey. Has given his all and can certainly hold his head high. I like players that make the most of their opportunities.

I wonder if he might get picked up by another club as a DFA. Brisbane?

One can only ask that every player plays to their maximum - Matt Jones and Jordie McKenzie stand out in my mind as guys who did just that.  Gave their all, but unfortunately their ceilings were not high.  Compare them with the likes of Col or Trapper, full of talent but did not give their all.  At least Matt and Jordie can hold their heads high. 

Edited October 2, 2016 by monoccular
Bloody autocorrect ?

[barneymfc 152]

6 hours ago, monoccular said:

 

One can only ask that every player plays to their maximum - Matt Jones and Jordie McKenzie stand out in my mind as guys who did just that.  Gave their all, but unfortunately their ceilings were not high.  Compare them with the likes of Col or Trapper, full of talent but did not give their all.  At least Matt and Jordie can hold their heads high. 

bit hard on trapper gave a lot more than the party boy

[poita 3,573]

He was certainly in the mix to be delisted, but I'm surprised that he was the first to go.

I had thought that we would clear the obvious 5 or 6, and the futures of the next bunch (eg M.Jones) would be determined by the results of the trade period.

I think Matt would be pretty pleased to have played 60 games when he was running around at Box Hill 5 years ago, but he has the right to feel aggrieved if Newton and Michie get contracts for next year ahead of him.

[mrtwister 650]

I heard it was more that his body is pretty banged up. His back/rib issues this year were apparently rather significant and he/the club doesn't think he'll get through another vigorous AFL season.