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Gawn: How Jones Saved Me

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in Melbourne Demons

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One of the best articles I've read about Melbourne in a long while. Max has a good understanding of MFC and is developing a strong loyalty to the club. Also wants success for the club. We are developing the building blocks to success with good leadership and a bunch of guys wanting to create their own slice of history for MFC.

Well done Max

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    Nice read. Gawn has grown so much as a player and has been superb this season. His ruck craft, workrate and leadership yesterday were unbelievable and seeing a bloke his size lay some big tackles would be very uplifting. 

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    6 hours ago, DV8 said:

    not interested in paywalls

    I just clicked on it and got the article. I'm not a subscriber.

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    14 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

    I just clicked on it and got the article. I'm not a subscriber.

    Same for me. 

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    Nathan Jones in my mind cemented a place in the hearts of club supporters during the early years of free agency. When other players of his vintage couldn't get out fast enough, the Jones response was a determined "I'm not going anywhere", to sign on for three mid-season. That was true leadership, and for me as a spectator who can only go along for the ride, one of the only signals that there might actually exist people at the club who wouldn't give up on it.

    There's no doubt in my mind Nathan Jones belongs amongst the all time club greats. The fact that he's had to ply his trade in a team that was awful most of the time only enhances his standing, as he's had to do it with little to no support.

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    @Nasher

    The interesting thing was that around 2013 (like the rest of us), he had nearly given up hope. I remember him collaborating with Emma Quayle on an article where he admitted that he nearly had given up. That was a fairly ambiguous statement as it didn't really entail what actions he would take. 

    The fact that he was able to gut through that and, in my eyes at least, become a more complete player and a true leader is a testament to him.

    Prior to 2014, Nate was more about himself. He was the lone shining light. Like Neita before him, he grew into the captaincy role.

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    1 hour ago, Nasher said:

    There's no doubt in my mind Nathan Jones belongs amongst the all time club greats. The fact that he's had to ply his trade in a team that was awful most of the time only enhances his standing, as he's had to do it with little to no support.

    This is one reason why we HAVE to make finals. Nathan deserves finals. It's like Robbie in '87.

    Can we let this guy finish his career without experiencing the glory he has earned? (Yes I know he played in 2 early on ... 1906 from memory?)

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    What is the  verdict on Max's list of top Demons players?

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    9 hours ago, deespicable me said:

    One of the best articles I've read about Melbourne in a long while. Max has a good understanding of MFC and is developing a strong loyalty to the club. Also wants success for the club. We are developing the building blocks to success with good leadership and a bunch of guys wanting to create their own slice of history for MFC.

    Well done Max

    You're easily pleased.

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    Typical Max Gawn humour:

    "As a young fella, ‘Nath’ was a rough Mt Eliza boy whose hair was gone by 11 and had tatts covering his skin before puberty had arrived.

    Deep down he would define himself as a bogan, although nowadays he does drink expensive red and dresses in only dark shades of clothing."

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    Brought tears to my eyes to read this. Honestly can’t think of another player in the game right now who deserves a flag more than Jonesy. Just hope this group of players give him what he so richly deserves, after all he has given them!

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    9 hours ago, deespicable me said:

    One of the best articles I've read about Melbourne in a long while. Max has a good understanding of MFC and is developing a strong loyalty to the club. Also wants success for the club. We are developing the building blocks to success with good leadership and a bunch of guys wanting to create their own slice of history for MFC.

    Well done Max

    .....and that's the way he's playing every week, as he wipes away the ants......

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    4 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

    Dude, all the links on Demonland to the Hun work.

    Not a subscriber either.

    Hi rm, it didn't work for me.  The page opened then quickly shifted to paywall. then I tried a number of ways to get past it without success so I just shut it.

     

    Go-D's.

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    7 hours ago, chookrat said:

    Nice read. Gawn has grown so much as a player and has been superb this season. His ruck craft, workrate and leadership yesterday were unbelievable and seeing a bloke his size lay some big tackles would be very uplifting. 

    chookr, please could you put the link up, and I'll try it again.

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    6 hours ago, Nasher said:

    Nathan Jones in my mind cemented a place in the hearts of club supporters during the early years of free agency. When other players of his vintage couldn't get out fast enough, the Jones response was a determined "I'm not going anywhere", to sign on for three mid-season. That was true leadership, and for me as a spectator who can only go along for the ride, one of the only signals that there might actually exist people at the club who wouldn't give up on it.

    There's no doubt in my mind Nathan Jones belongs amongst the all time club greats. The fact that he's had to ply his trade in a team that was awful most of the time only enhances his standing, as he's had to do it with little to no support.

    Thanks for this, Nash. I sometimes forget about Jonesy's loyalty, so it's important that I'm reminded of it.

    Jonesy IMO is a limited player, but he's got the most out of himself and the thing that I really value is loyalty. None of us should forget his loyalty to the club.

    I can't see him winning another BnF as he has some decent competition now, but if we win a flag, he should be spoken in the same terms as Robbie and the greats from our premiership era.

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    10 hours ago, Nasher said:

    Nathan Jones in my mind cemented a place in the hearts of club supporters during the early years of free agency. When other players of his vintage couldn't get out fast enough, the Jones response was a determined "I'm not going anywhere", to sign on for three mid-season. That was true leadership, and for me as a spectator who can only go along for the ride, one of the only signals that there might actually exist people at the club who wouldn't give up on it.

    There's no doubt in my mind Nathan Jones belongs amongst the all time club greats. The fact that he's had to ply his trade in a team that was awful most of the time only enhances his standing, as he's had to do it with little to no support.

    Thats why it' imperative that when this club wins a Flag he's holding that cup up high for a the [censored] he has been through.

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    5 hours ago, A F said:

    Thanks for this, Nash. I sometimes forget about Jonesy's loyalty, so it's important that I'm reminded of it.

    Jonesy IMO is a limited player, but he's got the most out of himself and the thing that I really value is loyalty. None of us should forget his loyalty to the club.

    I can't see him winning another BnF as he has some decent competition now, but if we win a flag, he should be spoken in the same terms as Robbie and the greats from our premiership era.

    If we win a flag, Nathan Jones will instantly be the greatest Melbourne figure of all time in my mind.

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    13 hours ago, Nasher said:

    Nathan Jones in my mind cemented a place in the hearts of club supporters during the early years of free agency. When other players of his vintage couldn't get out fast enough, the Jones response was a determined "I'm not going anywhere", to sign on for three mid-season. That was true leadership, and for me as a spectator who can only go along for the ride, one of the only signals that there might actually exist people at the club who wouldn't give up on it.

    There's no doubt in my mind Nathan Jones belongs amongst the all time club greats. The fact that he's had to ply his trade in a team that was awful most of the time only enhances his standing, as he's had to do it with little to no support.

    Deserves a statue.

    Amazed by some of the recent criticism of him on here (A F in this thread), he's still criminally underrated.

    His kick to Lewis was really special, very few inside midfielders would even dream of kicking the ball that well.

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    11 hours ago, Big Carl said:

    What is the  verdict on Max's list of top Demons players?

    Not the greatest. La Fontaine was pretty handy. Wells, Alves, Alan Johnson, B Lovett all better than a number on his list. 

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    I remember quite a few years ago now I was at training at Subi and this guy came out about 1/2 an hour before the rest of them and quietly went about goal kicking practise by himself. I thought it amazing.

    He later sat at our sponsors table and as requested replied that his one tatt was in honour of his dog.

    Our club owes so much to this quiet achiever and his mentor Paull  Hopgood " Hoppy " from Mt Eliza 

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    Great article.Max is a very good Wordsmith ( for a bloke who “ only” went to his local secondary school ! )

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    23 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    Not the greatest. La Fontaine was pretty handy. Wells, Alves, Alan Johnson, B Lovett all better than a number on his list. 

    Add Gary Hardeman to that list.

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