2017 Player Reviews: # 2 Nathan Jones

[Demonland 66,978]

CAPTAIN HERO

There were a few eyebrows raised in February when it was announced that Jack Viney would join Nathan Jones as co-captain of the club, a position he held on his own from 2014 under Paul Roos. It was thought that Jones himself had some reservations about the decision but the combination worked well for the club as both hard nut midfielders saw Melbourne challenge strongly for a top four placing two thirds of the way through the season.

That was until the third quarter of the game against the Western Bulldogs when he strained a quad muscle and missed six vital weeks in the latter part of the season (and Viney followed him onto the injury list soon after).

The injury hit Demons lost momentum during this period before cruelly crashing out of the top eight in the final round.

For his part, Jones provided strong and energetic leadership through his hard, tough and uncompromising football when he was on the field and we look forward to him fulfilling the dream of another finals campaign next season.

Date of Birth: January 20, 1988

Height: 180cm

Weight: 87kg

Games MFC 2017: 16

Career Total: 239

Goals MFC 2017: 10

Career Total: 115

 

Season 2017 AFL Statistics

Kicks: 207

Handballs: 232

Disposals: 439

Marks: 63

Scores: 10 goals 6 behinds

Goal Assists: 14

Tackles: 86

Hitouts: 0

Clearances: 54

Clangers: 44

Inside 50s: 89

Rebound 50s: 29

Frees For: 17

Frees Against: 11

[jnrmac 19,509]

Love Jonesy. We missed him when he was injured.

Needs to step back a little and let the younger ones take the heat. Feel that when the heat is off he will become an even more important player as he reads the ball so well. His disposal will likely improve with the time he then has to dispose of the ball.

All that said, doesn't really have the leadership qualities that allows him to drag/will the players across the line like Viney does. There was one particular game where he did that (GC I think) but if there is a knowck I reckon its this. Not for lack of endeavour or trying mind you.

Warrior.  

[hemingway 7,608]

3 hours ago, jnrmac said:

Love Jonesy. We missed him when he was injured.

Needs to step back a little and let the younger ones take the heat. Feel that when the heat is off he will become an even more important player as he reads the ball so well. His disposal will likely improve with the time he then has to dispose of the ball.

All that said, doesn't really have the leadership qualities that allows him to drag/will the players across the line like Viney does. There was one particular game where he did that (GC I think) but if there is a knowck I reckon its this. Not for lack of endeavour or trying mind you.

Warrior.  

Agree with most of your comments. 

Never to sure about the leadership question. Sometimes great captains are great players who by their sheer will and brilliance can win matches off their own boot and in so doing lift the whole team. Their individual efforts then are seen as an indication that they are great leaders. Despite Nathan's will, he does not have this capacity.  However, his guts and determination mean something. He appears also to set high standards on the training track, acts as a mentor to many of the youngsters and represents the club on and off the field superbly. In short, he has a number of leadership qualities. He will do me. 

[Biffen 12,567]

Needs a hand bashing in.Makes mistakes due to sheer fatigue ,contest after contest, ramming in when he actually has more class and outside talent than most of the others.

Head to fault him-his deficiencies are those of his team mates who don't put in hard enough ,often enough or for long enough.

[hemingway 7,608]

13 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Needs a hand bashing in.Makes mistakes due to sheer fatigue ,contest after contest, ramming in when he actually has more class and outside talent than most of the others.

Head to fault him-his deficiencies are those of his team mates who don't put in hard enough ,often enough or for long enough.

Fair comment Biff

[beelzebub 22,742]

I found over time ive become more and more conflicted about this bloke.

Have to love and respect all the pros.

Am not convinced (still) as to certain areas. 

The undisputed is;  i wish all the team would TRY like he does. Not always the result...but always the effort.

[Adzman 2,086]

Our most important player. When he went down we started to lose momentum and when it was all said and done we never recaptured the momentum required to propel us to September.

I really hope this bloke gets to spend the final years of his career playing finals footy. He bloody deserves to!! 

 

[Larry 1]

Too many turn-overs from him. The pace of the game has caught up with Him. 

[poita 3,759]

I'm a massive fan, but I thought he was just okay for most of this season, particularly in the last month. Clearly injury didn't help, but his impact was down before that.

I will never, ever question his effort, but his decision making was pretty average at times this year. I would like to see him take the game on more with a long kick, rather than dinky short passes and handballs. He is one player on our list who should have more kicks than handballs, rather than his current ratio.

[whatwhat say what 20,435]

i loathe it when he has his 'cotchin' games and starts going sideways and backwards all the time, but you can't fault his endeavour and application

i still like the idea of him playing more on the outside as he's damaging moving into space, but he's still one of our best inside mids as well

he's never going to be a 'star' of the competition, but he's a classic workhorse

i think this was his first soft tissue injury in quite some time? we definitely missed him for 6 weeks

[homsar 400]

14 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

i loathe it when he has his 'cotchin' games and starts going sideways and backwards all the time, but you can't fault his endeavour and application

i still like the idea of him playing more on the outside as he's damaging moving into space, but he's still one of our best inside mids as well

he's never going to be a 'star' of the competition, but he's a classic workhorse

i think this was his first soft tissue injury in quite some time? we definitely missed him for 6 weeks

Apparently was his first one ever, which is pretty amazing!

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Like many others, started the season well, got injured, and couldn't quite get back to his best.

His disposal noticeably dropped off the last month as well, which is  an area I generally think he has improved tenfold, and sometimes gets unfairly targeted for.

[hardtack 10,187]

5 hours ago, Larry said:

Too many turn-overs from him. The pace of the game has caught up with Him. 

Larry's first post was suggesting Jones request a transfer out of the club, and now this.  As previously suggested, Moe and Curly are in need of your assistance.

Edited September 12, 2017 by hardtack

[DEE fence 4,602]

i was super impressed with his pace this year. I actually think he found a step.

[ProperDee 1,698]

Gotta love the bloke.  Bleeds red and blue, leaves nothing in the shed and most importantly, leads by example, the most important trait for a leader.  My first player selected every week.

[DeeZone 8,192]

Love Jonesey I thought that he was heading towards his best ever year until injury struck, his kicking was a real feature of his game earlier in the year, let's hope he can return to that form in 2018 and beyond, heart and soul of the club. Thanks Jonsey.............!!!!!!!!!

[Bang Na Demon 132]

18 hours ago, DaisyDeeciple said:

i was super impressed with his pace this year. I actually think he found a step.

He's also improved his evasive skills, particularly in tight

[red&blue1982 252]

Legend. The guy has been doing it on his own for years and sometimes I wonder whether he's shocked to finally have other players around him that can also perform at a high level around the ball. After returning from injury it didn't take him long to start crashing packs again! Love watching him.